The U.S. Department of Education faces a lawsuit over alleged race-based criteria in its PhD grant program, sparking debate on educational equity and constitutional rights.
At a Glance
- Young America’s Foundation (YAF) sues Department of Education over McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program
- Lawsuit claims race-based qualifications violate Constitution’s equal protection clause
- Legal challenge follows Supreme Court’s decision striking down race-conscious college admissions
- Two White plaintiffs ineligible for program due to race and other criteria
- Case could have significant implications for diversity efforts in higher education funding
Conservative Group Challenges Federal Grant Program
The Young America’s Foundation (YAF) has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Education, challenging the constitutionality of a federal grant program aimed at increasing doctoral attainment among underrepresented students. The Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program, which targets low-income, first-generation students, and those underrepresented in graduate education, is now under scrutiny for its race-based criteria.
The lawsuit, filed on August 27, claims that the program’s race-based qualifications violate the Constitution’s equal protection clause. It seeks to block these criteria and have them declared unconstitutional. This legal challenge comes in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Students for Fair Admissions v. President and Fellows of Harvard College, which struck down race-conscious admissions in colleges.
The Department of Education is accused of discriminating against two white college students who did not meet the racial requirements for one of its top scholarship programs in a new lawsuit filed by a conservative law firm. | @dezward01 https://t.co/0aDDcLRICl
— National Review (@NRO) August 29, 2024
Plaintiffs Argue Discrimination Based on Race
The lawsuit includes two plaintiffs who are ineligible for the McNair program because they are White and do not meet other criteria for low-income, first-generation students. Benjamin Rothove and Avery Durfee argue they meet all criteria except for race-based exclusions, with Durfee being denied due to her family’s income level and Rothove solely based on race.
“Denying a student the chance to compete for a scholarship based on their skin color is not only discriminatory but also demeaning and unconstitutional,” Scott Walker, president of Young America’s Foundation and former governor of Wisconsin, said in a statement. “At YAF, we proudly defend our students’ right to be judged on their merit and abilities, not on race.”
The plaintiffs argue that these requirements are “racist and blatantly unconstitutional” and that federal law cannot impose racial considerations on universities. They seek to have the federal government notify participating institutions that racial restrictions no longer apply.
Impact on Higher Education Funding and Diversity Efforts
The McNair program, established in 1989 and named after a black scientist who died in the Space Shuttle Challenger explosion, is part of the federal TRIO programs aimed at helping disadvantaged students from middle school onward. In the 2023-24 academic year, over $60 million was awarded for McNair projects at more than 200 colleges.
This legal challenge could have substantial implications for educational policy, particularly how diversity and inclusion efforts are integrated within the framework of higher education funding. Some states, including Missouri and Ohio, have already taken steps to remove race-based criteria from scholarship programs following the Supreme Court ruling.
As the case unfolds, it will likely reignite debates about the balance between promoting diversity in higher education and adhering to constitutional principles of equal protection. The Department of Education has not yet commented on the pending litigation, leaving many to speculate on the potential outcomes and their far-reaching effects on educational equity and access to doctoral programs for underrepresented groups.
