The U.S. Department of Justice determined that George Washington University’s medical school engaged in illegal racial discrimination in its admissions process.
What did the DOJ say about George Washington University’s admissions practices?
On Thursday, the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division announced that George Washington School of Medicine and Health Sciences intentionally used race as a factor when evaluating applicants for its 2024 and 2025 incoming classes, according to a news release.
The department said the university’s actions violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, and the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2023 decision in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard.
Blavity reported that the Supreme Court ruled against affirmative action, stating that colleges and universities cannot use race as a determining factor in admissions decisions. This decision now serves as the standard for all U.S. institutions of higher education.
Black applicants were reportedly accepted at higher rates than applicants of other races
After the controversial ruling, the DOJ found that George Washington University issued university-wide admissions guidance stating that it could not give any preference or favorable assessment based on racial or ethnic identity, according to the news release. However, the university’s medical school application used other tools to determine an applicant’s race, such as essay questions, which admissions officers used to select applicants for interviews.
“As a result of GW Med’s admissions practices, black applicants had a significantly higher probability of being selected for an interview, and received disproportionately higher interview scores, than comparable Asian applicants,” the news release states.
George Washington University is also accused of admitting Black students with significantly lower MCAT scores than Asian or white applicants in 2024 and 2025. Additionally, the medical school regularly denied admission to Asian and white applicants in favor of less credentialed Black and Hispanic applicants.
George Washington University President speaks out
On Friday, George Washington University President Ellen Granberg said university officials are “closely reviewing” the DOJ’s letter, but “firmly” believes the DOJ’s findings are incorrect, according to the GW Hatchet.
“The University has been and remains steadfastly committed to non-discrimination and Title VI compliance while advancing our academic mission and pursuing excellence in preparing health care leaders,” Granberg said in Friday’s email.
The DOJ’s investigation into George Washington University is the latest move the department has made in its effort to combat DEI and other race-based actions in colleges and universities.
The department said it will continue investigating medical schools for compliance with federal nondiscrimination laws, including Title VI and the Supreme Court’s ban on race-conscious admissions. When it finds violations, the federal agency will seek settlements to bring admissions practices into compliance and may file lawsuits if those efforts fail.