WASHINGTON – The University of Oklahoma’s Tulsa medical school is under federal investigation for alleged “race-based” practices in its admissions process.
However, the initial announcement coming from the Department of Government Efficiency listed a nonexistent “University of Tulsa Medical School” as under investigation. The release was later corrected to read, “University of Oklahoma, Tulsa School of Medicine,” a reference to the OU-Tulsa School of Community Medicine. That program has a total of 119 students and an average of 30 per graduating class.
Last month, universities received a letter from the civil rights division of the federal Department of Education instructing them to cease using race preferences and stereotypes as a factor in their "admissions, hiring, promotion, compensation, financial aid, scholarships, prizes, administrative support, discipline, housing, graduation ceremonies, and all aspects of student, academic, and campus life.”
It is unclear which OU scholarships or admissions processes violate this order.
A spokesperson from OU said, “We are aware of the announcement from the Department of Education and are looking into the matter.”
Additionally, OU has released directives to students and faculty regarding diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives to comply with executive orders from President Donald Trump and Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt.
U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said in the release, “The agency has already launched Title VI investigations into institutions where widespread antisemitic harassment has been reported and Title IX investigations into entities which allegedly continue to allow sex discrimination; today’s announcement expands our efforts to ensure universities are not discriminating against their students based on race and race stereotypes.”
The Trump administration is using federal grants as leverage to enact these discrimination changes, with $400 million in grants retracted from Columbia University earlier this week as a result of this policy.
McMahon said, “Students must be assessed according to merit and accomplishment, not prejudged by the color of their skin. We will not yield on this commitment.”
These policy changes also come on the tail of a sweeping layoff for the Department of Education and speculation over an executive order that would dismantle the department to its barest of obligations. However, only an act of Congress can fully close a cabinet-level department.
Gaylord News is a reporting project of the University of Oklahoma Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication. For more stories by Gaylord News, go to GaylordNews.net.
