On Friday, the federal government targeted a program called the Ph.D. Project, along with 45 graduate schools across the U.S., as part of efforts to reduce diversity initiatives. Established in 1994, the Ph.D. Project aims to increase racial diversity among professors in business schools. This effort is meant to enhance education for all students.
The schools under investigation include well-known institutions like Yale and Cornell, as well as public universities such as Ohio State and Arizona State. The goal of the investigation is to examine whether these programs give unfair advantages based on race. Linda McMahon, the Secretary of Education, emphasized that students should be evaluated solely on their achievements, not their skin color.
Since its inception, the Ph.D. Project has seen a significant rise in the number of Black, Hispanic, and Native American students earning doctorate degrees in business—from just 294 to about 1,700 in recent years, according to data from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. Out of these, 1,303 are currently teaching in colleges across the country. The project receives funding from corporate sponsors, including the KPMG Foundation and LinkedIn, with annual revenues reported at around $2 million.
This scrutiny aligns with broader trends in education policy. Recent surveys indicate that a majority of Americans support merit-based admissions without racial considerations. In light of this, the Trump administration has been vocal against any programs that prioritize one racial group over another, arguing that even seemingly neutral programs can be discriminatory.
The implications of this investigation have sparked various public reactions. On social media, discussions are heated, with some supporting the move as a step towards equity, while others view it as a potential setback for diversity in academia. As these developments unfold, the conversation around educational equity and diversity continues to evolve.
For further details, you can check the Department of Education’s official statement.
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Source linkDiversity Initiatives,Business Schools,Education Department (US),McMahon, Linda E
