Justice Department launches probe into William & Mary scholarship practices

The U.S. Justice Department has initiated a civil-rights probe into the College of William & Mary, targeting scholarship and financial-aid programs across multiple schools such as the Law School and School of Education. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon said an audit uncovered policies that give “preference” to “diverse people and perspectives” and to graduates of historically Black colleges, which she says breaches the Supreme Court’s 2023 decision prohibiting racial preferences in admissions.

William & Mary has been ordered to submit relevant materials by Sept 8 and has affirmed its commitment to equitable learning environments while declining comment on the investigation. The department warned that continued non-compliance could lead to the termination of students’ eligibility for federal financial aid. This action follows similar DOJ inquiries into Duke Law, Yale School of Medicine, Harvard’s aid practices, and earlier probes of Virginia universities for DEI issues. The agency is using these investigations to enforce civil-rights compliance across higher-education institutions.