UVA to pause civil rights probe under DOJ admissions guidance

The U.S. Justice Department announced Wednesday that the University of Virginia has agreed to pause federal civil rights investigations by adopting federal guidance that bars unlawful racial discrimination in admissions and hiring, the department said. The agreement requires the Charlottesville public university to submit relevant information and data to the department on a quarterly basis through 2028 and, the department said, obligates the university president to certify quarterly compliance.

The review of the university’s admissions and financial aid processes began in April, when the Justice Department opened an inquiry into whether programs tied to diversity, equity and inclusion violated federal civil rights laws. Officials accused university leadership of not moving quickly enough to end DEI practices that federal guidance seeks to prohibit. The university did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The investigation and subsequent agreement followed months of heightened scrutiny that also prompted the resignation in June of President James Ryan. In announcing his departure, Ryan said he had decided to step down because "the stakes were too high for others on...