Latest news with #ThePhDProject
CBS News
24-04-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Pittsburgh institutions weigh Trump administration's DEI orders
The Trump administration has ordered public schools, universities and private employers to get rid of diversity, equity and inclusion programs or lose federal funding or regulatory help. Will Pittsburgh institutions keep DEI programs or comply with orders? Only four percent of Carnegie Mellon University's student body is African American. As a result, the university has partnered with a non-profit organization called The PhD Project, which helps recruit minority candidates for post-graduate study and helps them get jobs afterwards. The Trump administration has ordered CMU and 44 other universities to get rid of The PhD Project or lose federal funding. From day one, the president has been on a mission to root out all forms of DEI, saying they are a form of reverse racism. Trump says he wants advancement based solely on merit. "We abolished 60 years of prejudice and hatred with the signing of one order," Trump said during a rally. "All approved by the U.S. Supreme Court. We're allowed to do it because we are now in a metric-based world." In addition to CMU, the University of Pittsburgh is a major medical research university receiving $700 million annually from the National Institutes of Health. Just this week, the NIH said it will cut all funding to universities that engage in DEI. "It's a difficult decision for universities," attorney Sam Cordes said. "Lots of universities, clearly the two in this town, get a lot of federal money." Pitt did not reply to a request for comment. And while CMU has signed a letter opposing federal interference, it's still weighing the federal DEI order. Harvard has received national attention for saying it will keep DEI and protect student speech. Cordes says universities are on the right side of the law. "It's a First Amendment issue," Cordes said. "Can I speak in favor of a certain position, and that position is finding diversity, equity and inclusion principles in my universities?" Trump's administration has also sent letters to the Departments of Education in all 50 states, demanding they get rid of all "illegal DEI programs" in their K-12 public schools or lose Title 1 funding, which provides reading programs for low-income students. The Pennsylvania Department of Education has sent a letter back saying it is in compliance with federal law, but the matter will not likely end there. "Diversity, equity and inclusion can't just be eliminated," Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers President Bill Hileman said. "It's part of the culture of our school district." States like Pennsylvania say it's not clear if the administration is demanding changes the elimination of things like Black studies. On Thursday, a federal judge in New Hampshire temporarily blocked the order, saying the federal letter "does not even define what a DEI program is." Hileman says teachers won't comply in any case. "We're going to continue to teach the contemporary truth about our society and our country and our world as well as our history," Hileman said. But the Trump administration has vowed not to relent. It intends to root out DEI in all of its forms.
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
PhD Project CEO Speaks: ‘We're Not Backing Down'
Alfonzo Alexander is only a couple of months into his job as CEO and president of The PhD Project, but he finds himself leading the organization through the most turbulent chapter in its 31 nonprofit is under federal investigation by the Trump administration's Department of Education, facing allegations it and dozens of the schools it worked with engaged in race-exclusionary practices that violate Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. Several schools that have supported the organization in past have publicly disavowed it. Asked what it's like to become a target of conservative activists, who began attacking the PhD Project in January as part of a broader effort to discredit and dismantle diversity, equity and inclusion programs across U.S. higher education, 'It's uncertain. It's scary,' Alexander admits. 'But we're focused on doing what's right, and we believe we'll be stronger for it.' A 20% HIT TO THE NONPROFIT'S FINANCES PdD Project president & CEO Alfonzo Alexander: 'We're tightening our belts, but we're not giving up on any of our partners. We're working to help them understand who we are now' Launched in 1994, The PhD Project has helped increase the number of Black/African American, Latinx/Hispanic American, and Native American professors in U.S. business schools from just 294 to more than 1,700. Of those, over 1,300 are currently teaching, and another 250 are enrolled in business Ph.D. programs. The nonprofit hosts an annual conference — held this year in Chicago — designed to introduce underrepresented professionals to academic careers. It also provides support for doctoral candidates through graduation and into faculty life. The Department of Education's investigation, announced March 10, names 45 business schools and universities affiliated with The PhD Project, including Yale, Cornell, MIT, NYU, and Berkeley. It claims the nonprofit's programming and partnerships may unlawfully limit participation based on race. Conservative critics have gone so far as to accuse the organization of 'racial segregation.' Several schools, including Arizona State, Iowa, Kentucky, and Wyoming, have withdrawn their support. In all, about 20% of institutional partners have stepped back, forcing the nonprofit to confront both financial and reputational fallout. 'WE'RE BROADENING OUR TALENT PIPELINE' Alexander, who officially took the helm as The PhD Project's CEO and President in January after years of working with the nonprofit, says the organization had already begun reexamining its policies before the investigation was announced. In response to growing political pressure, it has updated its mission and vision statements and removed race and ethnicity from its application criteria. 'We're broadening our talent pipeline,' he tells Poets&Quants in an interview Tuesday (March 25). 'We're now focused on outcomes, not identity. The mission is to expand the pool of workplace talent by developing business school faculty who encourage, mentor, and support tomorrow's leaders.' Saying the Department of Education appears to be acting on outdated information, Alexander is confident that the organization's changes will satisfy legal scrutiny. 'We are compliant with current federal guidelines, and we opened up this year's conference to applicants from a wide range of backgrounds,' he says. But the situation has taken a toll. 'We're going to have to seek new funding sources,' he acknowledges. The PhD Project has been reported to have a total budget of around $2 million, before the impact of the current controversy. 'We're tightening our belts, but we're not giving up on any of our partners. We're working to help them understand who we are now.' STAYING THE COURSE Despite the challenges, Alexander, remains optimistic. Since its inception, The PhD Project has achieved remarkable success: 1,700 graduates, a 90% Ph.D. completion rate (compared to a national average of 70%), and a 97% rate of graduates entering academia. Its network includes 71 current or former business school deans and eight university presidents. 'That's impact,' says Alexander, who came to lead The PhD Project after 17 years at the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy, the last six as its chief ethics and diversity officer. 'And it's exactly why this work must continue.' He also says that along with the increased scrutiny of the past two months, support from individuals and institutions has been overwhelming. 'We've received emails, donations, social media messages, blog posts — people sharing what this organization has meant to them,' he says. 'Even those who had to pause their support have done so apologetically.' Alexander sees the current crisis as an opportunity. 'We're resetting,' he says. 'We're developing new programs that comply with federal law but still reflect our mission of cultivating talent and excellence. A year or two from now, we'll look back and say: we came through this stronger.' For now, The PhD Project is staying the course. 'We believe in what we do. We believe in the power of education, representation, and mentorship,' Alexander says. 'And we're not backing down.' DON'T MISS and The post PhD Project CEO Speaks: 'We're Not Backing Down' appeared first on Poets&Quants.
Chicago Tribune
21-03-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
Facing anti-DEI investigations, colleges cut ties with nonprofit targeted by conservatives
Until recently, it was a little-known program to help Black and Latino students pursue business degrees. But in January, conservative strategist Christopher Rufo flagged the program known as The PhD Project in social media posts that caught the attention of Republican politicians. The program is now at the center of a Trump administration campaign to root out diversity, equity and inclusion programs in higher education. The U.S. Education Department last week said it was investigating dozens of universities for alleged racial discrimination, citing ties to the nonprofit organization. That followed a warning a month earlier that schools could lose federal money over 'race-based preferences' in admissions, scholarships or any aspect of student life. The investigations left some school leaders startled and confused, wondering what prompted the inquiries. Many scrambled to distance themselves from The PhD Project, which has aimed to help diversify the business world and higher education faculty. The rollout of the investigations highlights the climate of fear and uncertainty in higher education, which President Donald Trump's administration has begun policing for policies that run afoul of his agenda even as he moves to dismantle the Education Department. The Trump administration asked colleges to explain ties to The PhD Project There is a range of nonprofits that work to help minority groups advance in higher education but The PhD Project was not well known before Rufo began posting on X about its work with colleges, said Jonathan Fansmith, senior vice president of government relations at the American Council on Education, an association of college presidents. 'It's not hard to draw some lines between that incident and why 45 institutions that were partners with The PhD Project are getting this investigation announced,' he said. The 45 colleges under investigation for ties to the organization include public universities such as Arizona State, Ohio State and the University of California, Berkeley, along with private schools like Yale, Cornell, Duke and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The Education Department sent letters to the universities informing them its Office for Civil Rights had received a complaint and they were under investigation for allegedly discriminating against students on the basis of race or ethnicity because of a past affiliation with The PhD Project. The letters set a March 31 deadline for information about their relationship with the nonprofit. In a statement, the PhD Project said it aims to 'create a broader talent pipeline' of business leaders. 'This year, we have opened our membership application to anyone who shares that vision,' it said. Colleges tread carefully on inquiries that threaten federal funding Public reaction from the universities' leadership has been minimal and cautious, with most issuing brief statements saying they will cooperate with investigators and refusing further comment. Colleges may see reason not to push back. The Trump administration has shown willingness to withhold federal funding over issues involving antisemitism allegations, diversity programs and transgender athletes. At Columbia University, under fire for its handling of pro-Palestinian protests, the administration pulled $400 million in federal money and threatened billions more if it does not comply with its demands. 'There is a concern that if one university steps up and fights this then that university will have all of their funding cut,' said Veena Dubal, general counsel for the American Association of University Professors. 'They are being hindered not just by fear but a real collective action problem. None of these universities wants to be the next example.' Some colleges moved swiftly to stop working with The PhD Project. The University of Kentucky said it severed ties with the nonprofit on Monday. The University of Wyoming said in a statement that its college of business was affiliated with the group to develop its graduate student pipeline, but it plans to discontinue its membership. The University of Nevada, Las Vegas issued a statement saying three professors participated in the program, but two no longer work at the university and a third was killed in a shooting on campus in 2023. Arizona State said its business school is not financially supporting The PhD Project this year and it told faculty in February the school would not support travel to the nonprofit's conference. A campaign against the nonprofit's work began on social media Similar fallout came in Texas earlier this year, when Rufo began posting on X about the PhD Project. 'Texas A&M is sponsoring a trip to a DEI conference,' Rufo posted on Jan. 13. Rufo, a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, a conservative think tank, accused the university of 'supporting racial segregation and breaking the law.' The next day Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbot posted on X that the university 'president will soon be gone' unless he immediately 'fixed' the matter. Texas A&M responded by withdrawing from the conference, and soon after at least eight other Texas public universities that had participated previously in The PhD Project's conference also withdrew, the Texas Tribune reported. Rufo has not responded to a request for comment. Some of the schools under investigation raised questions about where the complaints against them originated. Montana State University said it follows all state and federal laws and was 'surprised' by the notice it received and 'unaware of any complaint made internally with regards to The PhD Project.' Six other colleges are being investigated for awarding 'impermissible race-based scholarships,' the Education Department said. Additionally, the University of Minnesota is being investigated for allegedly operating a program that segregates students on the basis of race. At the University of California, Berkeley, hundreds gathered Wednesday on the campus known for student protests. But this one was organized by faculty, who stood on the steps of Sproul Hall, known as the birthplace of the free speech movement in the 1960s. 'This is a fight that can be summed up in five words: Academic freedom is under assault,' Ula Taylor, a professor of African American studies, said to the crowd. In a campus email Monday, Berkeley Chancellor Rich Lyons did not specifically mention the investigation targeting his school. But he described the federal government's actions against higher education as a threat to the school's core values. 'A Berkeley without academic freedom, without freedom of inquiry, without freedom of expression is simply not Berkeley,' Lyons said. 'We will stand up for Berkeley's values and defend them to the very best of our ability.'
Washington Post
21-03-2025
- Politics
- Washington Post
Facing anti-DEI investigations, colleges cut ties with nonprofit targeted by conservatives
Until recently, it was a little-known program to help Black and Latino students pursue business degrees. But in January, conservative strategist Christopher Rufo flagged the program known as The PhD Project in social media posts that caught the attention of Republican politicians. The program is now at the center of a Trump administration campaign to root out diversity, equity and inclusion programs in higher education.
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Facing anti-DEI investigations, colleges cut ties with nonprofit targeted by conservatives
Until recently, it was a little-known program to help Black and Latino students pursue business degrees. But in January, conservative strategist Christopher Rufo flagged the program known as The PhD Project in social media posts that caught the attention of Republican politicians. The program is now at the center of a Trump administration campaign to root out diversity, equity and inclusion programs in higher education. The U.S. Education Department last week said it was investigating dozens of universities for alleged racial discrimination, citing ties to the nonprofit organization. That followed a warning a month earlier that schools could lose federal money over 'race-based preferences' in admissions, scholarships or any aspect of student life. The investigations left some school leaders startled and confused, wondering what prompted the inquiries. Many scrambled to distance themselves from The PhD Project, which has aimed to help diversify the business world and higher education faculty. The rollout of the investigations highlights the climate of fear and uncertainty in higher education, which President Donald Trump's administration has begun policing for policies that run afoul of his agenda even as he moves to dismantle the Education Department. There is a range of nonprofits that work to help minority groups advance in higher education but The PhD Project was not well known before Rufo began posting on X about its work with colleges, said Jonathan Fansmith, senior vice president of government relations at the American Council on Education, an association of college presidents. 'It's not hard to draw some lines between that incident and why 45 institutions that were partners with The PhD Project are getting this investigation announced,' he said. The 45 colleges under investigation for ties to the organization include public universities such as Arizona State, Ohio State and the University of California, Berkeley, along with private schools like Yale, Cornell, Duke and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The Education Department sent letters to the universities informing them its Office for Civil Rights had received a complaint and they were under investigation for allegedly discriminating against students on the basis of race or ethnicity because of a past affiliation with The PhD Project. The letters set a March 31 deadline for information about their relationship with the nonprofit. In a statement, the PhD Project said it aims to 'create a broader talent pipeline" of business leaders. 'This year, we have opened our membership application to anyone who shares that vision,' it said. Public reaction from the universities' leadership has been minimal and cautious, with most issuing brief statements saying they will cooperate with investigators and refusing further comment. Colleges may see reason not to push back. The Trump administration has shown willingness to withhold federal funding over issues involving antisemitism allegations, diversity programs and transgender athletes. At Columbia University, under fire for its handling of pro-Palestinian protests, the administration pulled $400 million in federal money and threatened billions more if it does not comply with its demands. 'There is a concern that if one university steps up and fights this then that university will have all of their funding cut,' said Veena Dubal, general counsel for the American Association of University Professors. 'They are being hindered not just by fear but a real collective action problem. None of these universities wants to be the next example.' Some colleges moved swiftly to stop working with The PhD Project. The University of Kentucky said it severed ties with the nonprofit on Monday. The University of Wyoming said in a statement that its college of business was affiliated with the group to develop its graduate student pipeline, but it plans to discontinue its membership. The University of Nevada, Las Vegas issued a statement saying three professors participated in the program, but two no longer work at the university and a third was killed in a shooting on campus in 2023. Arizona State said its business school is not financially supporting The PhD Project this year and it told faculty in February the school would not support travel to the nonprofit's conference. Similar fallout came in Texas earlier this year, when Rufo began posting on X about the PhD Project. 'Texas A&M is sponsoring a trip to a DEI conference,' Rufo posted on Jan. 13. Rufo, a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, a conservative think tank, accused the university of 'supporting racial segregation and breaking the law.' The next day Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbot posted on X that the university 'president will soon be gone' unless he immediately 'fixed' the matter. Texas A&M responded by withdrawing from the conference, and soon after at least eight other Texas public universities that had participated previously in The PhD Project's conference also withdrew, the Texas Tribune reported. Rufo has not responded to a request for comment. Some of the schools under investigation raised questions about where the complaints against them originated. Montana State University said it follows all state and federal laws and was 'surprised' by the notice it received and 'unaware of any complaint made internally with regards to The PhD Project.' Six other colleges are being investigated for awarding 'impermissible race-based scholarships,' the Education Department said. Additionally, the University of Minnesota is being investigated for allegedly operating a program that segregates students on the basis of race. At the University of California, Berkeley, hundreds gathered Wednesday on the campus known for student protests. But this one was organized by faculty, who stood on the steps of Sproul Hall, known as the birthplace of the free speech movement in the 1960s. 'This is a fight that can be summed up in five words: Academic freedom is under assault,' Ula Taylor, a professor of African American studies, said to the crowd. In a campus email Monday, Berkeley Chancellor Rich Lyons did not specifically mention the investigation targeting his school. But he described the federal government's actions against higher education as a threat to the school's core values. 'A Berkeley without academic freedom, without freedom of inquiry, without freedom of expression is simply not Berkeley,' Lyons said. 'We will stand up for Berkeley's values and defend them to the very best of our ability.' ___ Associated Press writer Collin Binkley contributed to this report. ___ The Associated Press' education coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP's standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at
