University of Oregon investigated for DEI practices

The University of Oregon is under federal investigation along with 50 other universities. This investigation comes from the U.S. Department of Education and focuses on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices in higher education. Specifically, the University of Oregon is being looked at for concerns about "racial preferences and stereotypes" in its graduate programs. The probe centers on the university's involvement with The PhD Project, a nonprofit organization that supports underrepresented groups in academia. Allegations suggest that the University of Oregon and others may have violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act from 1964, which prohibits race discrimination. Recently, the Department of Education issued a letter demanding that schools eliminate DEI initiatives or face potential loss of federal funding. This letter accused schools of discriminating against students based on race, including white and Asian students. In response, the Eugene School District 4J has joined a national lawsuit against this directive. The University of Oregon has stated that it takes these allegations seriously. The university believes it is complying with the law and has continuously reviewed its practices. They are open to working with the Office for Civil Rights to resolve the matter. This investigation is part of a broader federal effort to tighten regulations on DEI initiatives, which intensified after President Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at overhauling the Department of Education.