Two Texas universities—Rice University and the University of North Texas (UNT) in Denton—are under federal investigation for their involvement with a program aimed at increasing diversity in doctoral programs, the U.S. Education Department announced Friday.
The investigation, initiated by the Trump administration, focuses on the universities’ engagement with The PhD Project, a 31-year-old organization dedicated to helping underrepresented minority students gain access to doctoral and leadership programs. Federal officials argue that the program may involve race-based preferential treatment, which could violate Title VI, a law prohibiting discrimination in federally funded education programs.
What Is The PhD Project?
For over three decades, The PhD Project has worked to diversify academia by supporting minority students on their path to earning doctoral degrees. Despite these efforts, the National Center for Education Statistics reports that in 2020-21, a staggering 63.1% of doctoral degrees were awarded to white students, while Black, Asian, Hispanic, and Pacific Islander students combined accounted for less than 13% of doctoral graduates.
The program’s annual conference, set for March 20-21, helps aspiring doctoral students navigate the path to earning a PhD, offering networking opportunities with academic and professional leaders.
Backlash and Political Pressure
The controversy heated up when Texas A&M University pulled out of The PhD Project’s conference after Gov. Greg Abbott criticized the program, following a post by conservative activist Christopher Rufo claiming the event was seemingly only open to nonwhite and non-Asian scholars.
The federal investigations come after the Education Department issued a “Dear Colleague Letter” warning schools that receive federal funding to end race-based programs and scholarships. Education Secretary Linda McMahon doubled down in a statement:
“Students must be assessed according to merit and accomplishment, not prejudged by the color of their skin. We will not yield on this commitment.”
In addition to investigating Rice and UNT, the Education Department is also looking into six universities for race-based scholarships and one for a program exclusive to students of a certain race.
Larger Implications for DEI in Texas
These investigations follow a broader push against Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs in Texas. Senate Bill 17, which went into effect in January 2024, bans DEI hiring practices and support programs at public universities. Many students and faculty have voiced concerns that this restricts access to critical resources for historically underserved communities.
The Texas Conference of the American Association of University Professors called the federal investigations part of a larger effort to dismantle DEI initiatives, stating on social media:
“We must work across the state and across public and private institutions to fight back against the growing attack.”
As the debate over diversity in higher education continues, Rice University, UNT, and The PhD Project have not yet responded to media requests for comment.
