The U.S. Department of Justice announced Thursday it will investigate four prominent California universities regarding their admissions practices, focusing on potential illegal consideration of race in student selection.
The investigation targets Stanford University and three University of California campuses - Berkeley, UCLA, and UC Irvine. The DoJ will conduct "compliance reviews" to examine whether these institutions violated the 2023 Supreme Court ruling that banned affirmative action in college admissions.
Attorney General Pam Bondi stated the investigation aims to restore "merit-based opportunity" in college admissions. The Department did not provide specific evidence prompting the investigation or detail a timeline for the review process.
In response, University of California representatives emphasized their long-standing compliance with state law. UC spokesperson Rachel Zaentz noted the system has not considered race in admissions since 1997, when California's Proposition 209 banned affirmative action in public education.
Stanford University, which reported decreased enrollment of underrepresented minority students after the 2023 Supreme Court ruling, maintained it follows all legal requirements. University spokesperson Dee Mostofi stated Stanford stopped considering race in admissions following the Court's decision.
In a parallel development, the Department of Health and Human Services launched a separate investigation into UCLA's medical school regarding potential discrimination in its admissions process.
The investigations come amid broader scrutiny of diversity initiatives in higher education. Several universities nationwide have recently scaled back or eliminated diversity programs and offices in response to federal pressure.
College admissions experts note these investigations could significantly impact institutions during peak admissions season, requiring substantial resources to address compliance reviews while managing regular operations.
The Department of Justice indicated these investigations may represent initial steps in a broader examination of university admissions practices across the country.