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The Department of Justice has announced that it will investigate the University of California (UC) for alleged violations of Title VII discrimination in employment practices.
The agency announced Thursday that its Civil Rights Division is investigating the university’s individual campuses on potential race and gender-based discrimination in employment practices.
The university’s “UC 2030 Capacity Plan” directs campuses to hire “diverse” faculty members and meets race- and gender-based employment quotas, the Justice Department said.
The Department of Justice has launched the University of California Title VII investigation into alleged discrimination based on race and gender in faculty employment. (AP Photo/Ben Margot, File)
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“These initiatives openly measure new recruits by their race and gender that may violate federal law,” the Department of Justice said in a press release.
“The Civil Rights Division’s Employment Litigation Section investigates whether the University of California is engaged in patterns or practices of discrimination based on race, gender, or other protected characteristics, under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.”
Title VII prohibits employers from discriminating against individuals based on their race, color, religion, gender, or national origin, as Hermeet Dillon, the Attorney General of the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Office.
“Public employers are bound by federal laws that prohibit racial and other employment discrimination,” Dillon said. “Institutional directives using race and gender-based employment practices expose employers to legal risks under federal law.”
The Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division wrote a letter to the university on Thursday to inform the investigation.
“Our research is based on information suggesting that the University of California may be engaged in certain employment practices that discriminate against employees, job seekers, and participants in training programs based on the race and gender that violated Title VII,” the letter reads.
“Specifically, there is reason to believe that the University of California’s UC 2030 Capacity Plan caused illegal activities by the University of California and some or all of its components. ”
In March, UC removed a diversity statement from employment practices amid the threat of President Donald Trump that schools could lose federal funds. (istock)
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The UC said it will function in good faith with the Department of Justice when conducting the investigation.
“The University of California is committed to a fair and legitimate process in all its programs and activities, consistent with federal and state anti-discrimination laws,” a statement from UC provided to Fox News Digital Reads. “The University also aims to develop a campus environment where everyone is welcome and supported.”
The University’s UC 2030 Capacity Plan presents its goal of becoming a national model as a Hispanic Service Agency (HSI) and Minority Sales Agency (MSI) system. The plan outlines a pipeline strategy to diversify faculty and researchers through expanding graduate registration and outreach to institutions that serve underrepresented students. However, the DOJ argues that these initiatives could violate Title VII by acting as de facto employment quotas.
In March, UC removed a diversity statement from employment practices amid the threat of President Donald Trump that schools could lose federal funds.
University Provost Katherine S. Newman has sent a letter to the system leader informing new applicants that a statement of diversity is no longer needed. Newman writes that while some programs and departments need them, the university believes it did not have a diversity statement policy and could harm applicants’ assessments.
The entrance sign for the University of California, Berkeley, on the corner of Oxford and Centre Streets. (istock)
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“The requirement to submit a diversity statement could lead applicants to focus on aspects of candidates other than their expertise or previous experience,” a letter obtained by Fox News Digital Reads.
She added that employees and applicants can refer to their own results related to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), but they are no longer permitted to request an independent statement of diversity.
David Spunt and Lindsay Kornick of Fox News contributed to this report.
Michael Dorgan is a writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business.
You can submit tips to Michael.dorgan@fox.com and follow him on Twitter @M_Dorgan.
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