The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) announced Feb. 19 that WashU is among 31 universities that reached settlements with the agency following investigations into partnerships with The Ph.D. Project, a nonprofit that promotes doctoral study in business among underrepresented groups.

In March 2025, OCR opened investigations into 45 universities, including WashU, over their collaborations with the organization, alleging that it “discriminates on the basis of race.” In its Feb. 19 announcement, the agency said it had secured resolution agreements with 31 institutions to address those violations. 

The resolution agreements between the OCR and universities end civil rights investigations without a court proceeding. Under such agreements, universities usually commit to specific corrective actions and federal monitoring.

According to OCR, the 31 institutions had already ended their partnerships with The Ph.D. Project or agreed through the settlements to terminate them. The agreements also require each institution to review other external affiliations for potential Title VI violations, and OCR said negotiations are ongoing with the remaining universities.

Because OCR did not release institution-specific terms, it is unclear whether WashU ended its involvement before the agreements were finalized or as a result of the federal action, or whether the University will be subject to ongoing reporting or oversight requirements.

“This is the Trump effect in action: Institutions of higher education are agreeing to cut ties with discriminatory organizations, recommitting themselves to abiding by federal law, and restoring equality of opportunity on campuses across the nation,” U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said.

Vice Chancellor for Marketing and Communications at WashU, Julie Flory, said the University had no comment on the announcement.

After the investigations were first announced in March 2025, Flory told Student Life that WashU had supported the program with “a small amount of funding” and was reviewing its participation. At that time, an Olin Business School Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) webpage listed WashU as a participating university, though the extent of student involvement remained unclear.

Archived versions of that webpage indicate the reference was removed in spring 2025. A snapshot dated March 24, 2025, includes a bullet stating that Olin was a participating university in The Ph.D. Project, while a snapshot dated April 24, 2025, no longer contains that language. The Olin EDI website itself is no longer publicly accessible and currently appears restricted to administrators.

WashU has not announced whether it will replace the partnership with alternative efforts, nor has it provided details on how the settlement will affect University programs.

Federal officials described the settlements as part of a broader effort to enforce civil rights law across higher education and prevent similar arrangements in the future.

“We are hopeful that other institutions with similarly discriminatory practices will follow suit, paving the way for a future where we reject judging individuals by the color of their skin and once again embrace the principles of merit, excellence, and opportunity,” McMahon said.