WASHINGTON, D.C. (WLNE) — The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) is investigating 45 higher learning institutions under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, with the University of Rhode Island among them. According to a DOE statement, the schools on the list are being inv estigated “following OCR’s February 14 Dear Colleague Letter (DCL) that reiterated schools’ civil rights obligations to end the use of racial preferences and stereotypes in education programs and activities.” These schools are accused of violating Title VI by partnering with The Ph.D. Project, which DOE labels as “an organization that purports to provide doctoral students with insights into obtaining a Ph.D. and networking opportunities, but limits eligibility based on the race of participants.” The DOE statement includes a quote from Secretary Linda McMahon that reads: The Department is working to reorient civil rights enforcement to ensure all students are protected from illegal discrimination. The agency has already launched Title VI investigations into institutions where widespread antisemitic harassment has been reported and Title IX investigations into entities which allegedly continue to allow sex discrimination; today’s announcement expands our efforts to ensure universities are not discriminating against their students based on race and race stereotypes. Students must be assessed according to merit and accomplishment, not prejudged by the color of their skin. We will not yield on this commitment. ABC6 reached out for comment from URI on this matter and received the following statement: The University has received notification from the Department of Education and will provide a response to the inquiry. The department letter states that “OCR’s opening of this investigation is not itself evidence of a violation of federal civil rights laws and regulations.” The University works diligently to comply with the regulatory landscape. We remain committed to our foundational values and our vital mission as a public land-grant institution. The February 14 “Dear Colleague Letter” notified colleges and universities receiving federal funding that they must stop using race preferences and stereotypes as a factor in admissions and other programs and activities: Educational institutions have toxically indoctrinated students with the false premise that the United States is built upon “systemic and structural racism” and advanced discriminatory policies and practices. Proponents of these discriminatory practices have attempted to further justify them—particularly during the last four years—under the banner of “diversity, equity, and inclusion” (“DEI”), smuggling racial stereotypes and explicit race-consciousness into everyday training, programming, and discipline. ABC6 also reached out to The Ph.D. Project for comment. Categories: News, Rhode Island ...read more read less