Lexington, KY, October 7, 2025
News Summary
The University of Kentucky has been found to violate civil rights laws by the U.S. Department of Education’s OCR due to its partnership with The PhD Project, an organization discriminating against students from non-targeted racial backgrounds. The investigation revealed that UK’s financial support for a restricted conference breached Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. Following the findings, UK has severed ties with the organization and is now reviewing its partnerships for compliance with federal regulations.
Lexington, KY – The University of Kentucky (UK) has been found in violation of civil rights law by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) due to its partnership with The PhD Project, a nonprofit organization aimed at supporting underrepresented students in pursuing business degrees. The OCR’s investigation revealed that the project implemented discriminatory practices that excluded students from other racial backgrounds, thereby breaching Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
The investigation, which began after a complaint was filed in March, focused on the university’s support for The PhD Project’s annual conference. This conference was restricted to applicants identifying as Black, Hispanic/Latinx, or Native American/Canadian Indigenous, effectively shutting out individuals from different racial backgrounds. OCR determined that UK had actively endorsed and benefited from the program by paying annual partnership fees, covering travel expenses for its faculty members participating in the conference, and promoting its doctoral programs at the event.
As part of its involvement, the University of Kentucky invested $5,000 annually in the partnership and facilitated student attendance by covering travel costs for faculty. Following the OCR’s findings, UK severed its relationship with The PhD Project and committed to uphold federal regulations in the future through a resolution agreement signed by UK President Eli Capilouto.
The OCR has mandated that the university submit a report within 60 days outlining any other affiliations with organizations that might be viewed as racially discriminatory, along with plans to terminate any such partnerships. Simultaneously, the university is working to establish a team dedicated to reviewing its associations for any potential racial bias.
In the broader context, this investigation is part of a nationwide inquiry into discrimination in educational programs, which has included over 50 universities. Notably, 45 of these universities have been identified as violating the Civil Rights Act. OCR has made it clear that compliance will be closely monitored moving forward, emphasizing the potential referral of non-compliant institutions to the U.S. Department of Justice.
The PhD Project has also responded to these concerns by revising its conference participation rules, now allowing applicants from a broader range of racial backgrounds. Previously, the event faced backlash for its approach, particularly during the Trump administration, when its policies were seen as racially segregated.
President Capilouto has reinforced the university’s commitment to not only adhering to federal regulations but also fostering a diverse campus environment.
FAQs
What is the main issue regarding the University of Kentucky?
The University of Kentucky violated civil rights law by participating in The PhD Project, which discriminated against students based on race and national origin.
Who conducted the investigation into the University of Kentucky?
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR).
What were the findings of the OCR investigation?
The OCR found that UK’s partnership with The PhD Project, which excluded applicants of certain racial backgrounds, violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act.
What steps is the University of Kentucky taking following the findings?
The university has cut ties with The PhD Project, decided to review its partnerships for potential racial discrimination, and agreed to comply with federal regulations.
How many universities were investigated for similar issues?
Over 50 universities were examined, out of which 45 were found in violation of the Civil Rights Act.
Key Features of the Investigation
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Investigation Initiation | Started after a complaint was filed in March |
| Discriminatory Program | The PhD Project’s conference limited participation based on race |
| Annual Partnership Fee | UK paid $5,000 to participate |
| Monitoring Compliance | OCR will monitor UK’s adherence to new guidelines |
| Broader Inquiry Context | 45 out of 50 examined universities found in violation |
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Additional Resources
- WLKY: Federal Investigation into UK
- Wikipedia: Civil Rights Act of 1964
- Kentucky Lantern: UK’s Link to PhD Project
- Google Search: University of Kentucky civil rights investigation
- WKYT: US Dept. Ed: UK Violated Civil Rights Act
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Race Discrimination
- WHAS11: University of Kentucky Civil Rights Act Violation
- Google News: UK civil rights act violation
- WDRB: UK’s Partnership Violated Civil Rights Act
- Google Scholar: University of Kentucky civil rights case
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