US Accuses University of California of Racial Discrimination Against Students

The U.S. Department of Justice has formally accused the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) of racial discrimination in its medical school admissions process. The accusation stems from an investigation that concluded the university illegally judged applicants based on their race rather than academic qualifications like MCAT scores and GPA.

According to a statement from Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Civil Rights Division, UCSD "manipulated applicant data to achieve greater racial diversity in student admissions." This practice allegedly violates Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits educational institutions receiving federal funds from discriminating on the basis of race.

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Instead of relying on Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) scores or grade point averages, San Diego Med's covert application process illegally judged admission applicants based on their race.

"San Diego Med's blatant efforts to prioritize race are illegal, and we will end these practices," Dhillon stated. The Justice Department is pursuing an agreement with the university to reform its admissions policies and has warned of potential legal action if a resolution is not reached. The university is currently reviewing the Justice Department's findings.

This action is part of a broader initiative by the Trump administration targeting admissions practices at prominent U.S. universities. Similar actions have been initiated against Stanford University and the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). The conflict could jeopardize hundreds of millions of dollars in federal research funding for the University of California system if a settlement cannot be achieved.

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San Diego Med's blatant efforts to prioritize race are illegal, and we will end these practices.