Rice under investigation for ‘race-exclusionary’ practices

By James Cancelarich     3/27/25 1:26pm

The Department of Education is investigating Rice, alongside 44 other universities, for engaging in alleged “race-exclusionary” practices. The investigations come amid allegations that these universities’ partnership with The Ph.D. Project violates Title IX of the Civil Rights Act.

The Ph.D. Project is an organization founded “with the goal of creating more role models in the front of business classes,” according to its website. The ED’s Office for Civil Rights alleged in a press release that the organization limits the eligibility of participants based on their race.

Schools found to be in violation of Title IX could potentially lose their federal funding.

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“We are reviewing our participation in the Ph.D. Project and are cooperating with investigators from the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights,” Chris Stipes, a university spokesperson, wrote in an email to the Thresher. “Rice University is deeply committed to promoting an inclusive environment for all members of the community. We are dedicated to upholding the principles of diversity, academic freedom and excellence while ensuring strict adherence to all federal and state laws.”

Rice received about $129 million of federal research funding in 2024, according to the Office of Research.

This move arrives amid the Trump administration’s repeated attacks on diversity, equity and inclusion — especially on university campuses. 

The Department of Education released a “Dear Colleague” letter on Feb. 14, which warned universities about the potential for discriminatory conduct under DEI programs.

At Columbia University, Trump pulled over $400 million in federal funding and demanded that they ban masks on campus, increase the capability of campus police and allow oversight over its controversial department of Middle East, South Asian and African Studies as well as the Center for Palestine Studies, among other things. The funding is on track to be restored after Columbia capitulated to the conditions set by the federal government.

At Rice, the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion was renamed to the Office of Access and Institutional Excellence amid this federal scrutiny.

Rice’s federal funding was previously under threat when the National Institutes of Health planned to cut indirect funding to 15%, which would have reduced Rice’s funding by about $4 million. The order is currently held up by a temporary restraining order issued by a judge due to numerous lawsuits, one of which included testimony by Provost Amy Dittmar.

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