Justice Department reviews William & Mary programs for possible race discrimination.
One program under review is the William & Mary Scholars program for first-year undergraduate students. The program offers scholarships that can cover at least the full cost of in-state tuition and fees. The school gives top consideration to applicants who show an interest in diverse people and perspectives, according to the department. The DOJ is also reviewing programs through William & Mary’s School of Education. One of those programs is the Martha L. Muguira Fellowship, which provides financial assistance based on need and gives a preference to Hispanic or Latino women.
Another program, the Holmes Scholars program, is offered at the doctoral level through the School of Education. The program provides mentorship and other career-related benefits to what the school describes as future education leaders of color. Those benefits include access to job fairs, job postings, professional development and training related to education policy and advocacy.
William & Mary’s Law School also has programs being reviewed by the department. The Lemon Legal Scholars Program provides financial assistance and mentoring to graduates of historically Black colleges and universities who are accepted into the school’s law program. The program can provide as many as five full scholarships covering tuition and fees. Participants also receive networking opportunities, academic guidance and access to events involving law school faculty, administrators and alumni.
The law school also advertises a Reaching Back Scholarship. The need-based scholarship gives preference to graduates of historically Black colleges and universities or applicants who contribute to the diversity of the law school. The federal review will determine whether the use of race in these programs is allowed under Title VI. The department’s Civil Rights Division said it will examine the programs and related policies before reaching any conclusions.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon said the department will examine whether scholarships and other opportunities at the school specifically favor applicants of particular races. She said the review will look at programs regardless of how those programs are described or presented by the university.
For William & Mary, the review could lead to additional questions about how its scholarship and student benefit programs are designed and who qualifies for them. The Justice Department’s notice does not state that any student has been denied a scholarship or benefit because of race, nor does it announce any finding against the college. At this stage, the agency has not reached a final decision about whether William & Mary violated federal law. For now, William & Mary’s programs remain under review, with the federal government expected to examine the rules and practices connected to the scholarships and student benefits before deciding what action, if any, should follow.
Sources:
DOJ probes College of William & Mary alleging discrimination in favor of minorities
Join the conversation!