WASHINGTON (AP) — The University of Virginia has agreed to abide by White House guidance forbidding discrimination in admissions and hiring, becoming the latest of many campuses to strike deals with the Trump administration amid scrutiny from the U.S. Justice Department. The announcement follows a review initiated by the Justice Department in April, which accused university officials of not adequately addressing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices that President Donald Trump identified as unlawful.
Under the terms of the agreement, the University of Virginia must provide compliance data quarterly through 2028, with the president personally verifying adherence each quarter. The pressure from the Justice Department notably impacted President James Ryan, who resigned in June, stating that the risks were too significant for those on campus if he chose to oppose federal directives.
This agreement puts the University of Virginia in line with previous settlements reached by institutions like Columbia University, which paid $200 million to the government, and Brown University, which disbursed $50 million to Rhode Island workforce development programs, to end similar federal investigations. Critics of Ryan highlighted a delay in ramping down the university's DEI initiatives in accordance with a resolution from the university's governing board.
As a public institution, the University of Virginia has drawn attention in the Trump administration's broader campaign to reshape higher education and address concerns around antisemitism. The scrutiny has extended to various public universities, widening the scope of federal scrutiny that previously focused more on elite institutions. The Charlottesville campus gained notoriety in 2023, accused of merely renaming DEI initiatives rather than terminating them altogether, prompting expanded investigations by federal officials.
Under the terms of the agreement, the University of Virginia must provide compliance data quarterly through 2028, with the president personally verifying adherence each quarter. The pressure from the Justice Department notably impacted President James Ryan, who resigned in June, stating that the risks were too significant for those on campus if he chose to oppose federal directives.
This agreement puts the University of Virginia in line with previous settlements reached by institutions like Columbia University, which paid $200 million to the government, and Brown University, which disbursed $50 million to Rhode Island workforce development programs, to end similar federal investigations. Critics of Ryan highlighted a delay in ramping down the university's DEI initiatives in accordance with a resolution from the university's governing board.
As a public institution, the University of Virginia has drawn attention in the Trump administration's broader campaign to reshape higher education and address concerns around antisemitism. The scrutiny has extended to various public universities, widening the scope of federal scrutiny that previously focused more on elite institutions. The Charlottesville campus gained notoriety in 2023, accused of merely renaming DEI initiatives rather than terminating them altogether, prompting expanded investigations by federal officials.
