UW taking steps regarding U.S. Department of Education investigation

The University of Wyoming says it will cooperate with an investigation by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights — and is, in fact, already taking steps in response to alleged “race-exclusionary” practices by a national organization that has been connected with graduate programs in one of the university’s colleges.

According to the University, The Department of Education has identified UW as one of 45 institutions that potentially violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act by partnering with The Ph.D. Project, which provides doctoral students with insights into degree pursuit and networking opportunities, but limits eligibility based on the race of participants. UW’s College of Business has been a partner in the program as a way to increase its pipeline of graduate students.

In response to state legislation that prohibited the university from engaging in “diversity, equity and inclusion” programs, UW in May 2024 eliminated its Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and began a comprehensive review of university practices to eliminate those that promote differential treatment of individuals or classify people on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, ethnicity or national origin. The College of Business’s participation in The Ph.D. Project was one of the items flagged in the review, and UW is discontinuing the relationship.

Among other actions, the university also has halted any requirements for prospective employees to submit statements regarding DEI; has ceased the requirement for employees to be evaluated on components of DEI; and requires all hiring decisions to be based only on merit.

In response to a new state law passed in the just-concluded session of the Wyoming Legislature — which takes effect July 1, 2025 — UW has and is taking additional actions, including eliminating requirements for any DEI training as well as eliminating instruction that promotes DEI concepts or “institutional discrimination.”