A federal investigation has concluded the University of Kentucky violated the Civil Rights Act by partnering with a program that restricted participation based on race. The university now must report all partnerships with race‑based eligibility provisions to remain in compliance. The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights found that even though the University of Kentucky no longer maintains a formal relationship with The Ph.D. Project, the university had “endorsed, promoted, and benefited” from it.
The Ph.D. Project is a program designed to build a pipeline for underrepresented minority students into doctoral business programs; it limits participation by race. The resolution agreement requires the university, within 60 days, to submit a report identifying any organizations it partners with that restrict involvement based on race. University leadership admitted the task will be intensive, noting the need for coordination across multiple departments.
The DOE’s letter stated that Title VI and related regulations prohibit participation in programs that discriminate on race or national origin. The university must now evaluate all external partnerships to ensure compliance with federal civil rights laws. This case marks a significant shift in federal enforcement as race-based programming in higher education faces heightened scrutiny following the Supreme Court’s 2023 affirmative action ruling.
