UCLA\u2019s David Geffen School of Medicine intentionally used race for the last three years to discriminate against applicants during admissions \u2014 in particular white and Asian American candidates \u2014 according to U.S. Department of Justice allegations released Wednesday.<\/p>\n
In a seven-page letter<\/a>, the agency\u2019s Civil Rights Division wrote that the medical school \u201ccontinues to intentionally discriminate against applicants based on their race after the Supreme Court\u2019s decision in Harvard by granting and denying admission on the basis of race.\u201d That 2023 decision \u2014 Students for Fair Admissions vs. Harvard \u2014 barred race-conscious admissions at colleges and universities but allowed schools to consider how race affected students if they wrote about their experiences in essays.<\/p>\n A UCLA medical school spokesperson said that admissions are \u201cbased on merit\u201d and that the school follows the law.<\/p>\n The admissions process is \u201cgrounded in a rigorous, comprehensive review of each applicant. We are confident in our practices and our mission to maintain access to a high-quality education for all qualified students,\u201d the spokesperson said in a statement. \u201cWe are carefully reviewing the Department of Justice\u2019s report. The David Geffen School of Medicine is committed to providing equal opportunity to all applicants and fully complying with federal and state laws.\u201d<\/p>\n The Justice Department said its findings followed a nearly yearlong review it conducted under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which outlaws race-based discrimination by recipients of federal funding.<\/p>\n The department alleged that UCLA leadership \u201cintentionally selected applicants based on their race\u201d and adhered to \u201cthe dubious contention that patients receive the best care when treated by a doctor of the same race.\u201d It also said that admitted Black and Latino applicants had, on average, lower median Medical College Admission Test scores and grade-point averages than admitted white and Asian American applicants.<\/p>\n \u201cUCLA\u2019s admissions process has been focused on racial demographics at the expense of merit and excellence \u2014 allowing racial politics to distract the school from the vital work of training great doctors,\u201d Assistant Atty. Gen. Harmeet K. Dhillon, the department\u2019s top civil rights lawyer, said in a statement. \u201cRacism in admissions is both illegal and anti-American, and this department will not allow it to continue.\u201d<\/p>\n The action against the medical school is the latest of several moves by Republican leadership and the Trump administration to probe alleged wrongdoing at the University of California and its academic health centers. <\/p>\n In March, the Justice Department said it was investigating UC San Diego, Stanford and Ohio State medical schools for potential racial discrimination in admissions, demanding seven years of data. The request included information about students\u2019 race, MCAT scores, undergraduate grade-point averages, home ZIP Codes, citizenship status, admission essays, and whether they are legacy admits or have family who donated to the schools. The department also asked for information about diversity, equity and inclusion programming.<\/p>\n The schools maintained that each followed the law in admissions processes. A UC San Diego spokesperson has said the university is cooperating with the investigation and the request for information \u201cin accordance with the requirements of federal law.\u201d<\/p>\n Last August, the Justice Department demanded a $1.2-billion settlement from UCLA after suspending $584 million in research grants to the campus for alleged federal law violations for using race in admissions, recognizing transgender women by their gender identity and not responding adequately to complaints of anti-Jewish incidents during a 2024 pro-Palestinian encampment. In September, U.S. District Judge Rita F. Lin ordered the grants be restored<\/a>.<\/p>\n