DOJ opens probe into prestigious college over alleged discrimination favoring minority students

The DOJ's Civil Rights Division announced it was opening a compliance review for the college's potential violations of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color or national origin in programs or activities receiving federal financial assistance.

"Awarding scholarships or offering coveted opportunities to students based on the color of their skin is illegal and offends the guarantees of our color-blind Constitution," Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon said in a statement.

"We will find out if scholarships or other student benefits at William & Mary favor applicants of certain races. The Department will not turn a blind eye to race-based preferences, however they are packaged or portrayed by universities," she continued.

The "W&M Scholars" program for first-year undergraduate students includes a scholarship that covers at least the full cost of in-state tuition and fees.

While the scholarship is not limited to any particular race, the DOJ said in a notice letter to the institution that applicants with an "interest in diverse people and perspectives" receive "top consideration." William & Mary's website lists that consideration alongside academic ability and potential and first-generation or limited-income status.

The W&M School of Education's need-based Martha L. Muguira Fellowship for graduate students gives a "preference" to Hispanic or Latino women, who have financial need, according to the DOJ. The W&M School of Education's doctoral-level Holmes Scholars program was described by the DOJ as giving "future education leaders of color" mentorship, access to job fairs and position announcements, as well as national-level professional development benefits, including policy and advocacy training and opportunities to present their research. William & Mary's current website describes Holmes Scholars as students "from traditionally under-represented backgrounds."

The DOJ said the W&M Law School offers the Lemon Legal Scholars Program. The DOJ said W&M Law offers up to five full scholarships covering tuition and fees that appear to be exclusively for HBCU graduates. William & Mary's current website, however, says the law school "will award at least five full scholarships" to HBCU graduates admitted to its J.D. program.

Recipients of this scholarship also receive networking opportunities, one-on-one academic advising regarding course load and bar exam preparation, as well as access to special events with W&M Law School faculty, senior administrators and alumni.

The law school also advertises the "Reaching Back Scholarship," which is a need-based scholarship that has a "preference" for HBCU graduates or those "who contribute to the diversity" of W&M Law School, the DOJ said.

Responding to the federal probe, William & Mary said in a statement that it is "committed to nondiscriminatory learning environments across our campus and complying with all state and federal laws."

The DOJ's Civil Rights Division said it had not reached any conclusions about the subject matter of the investigation.