Important update on federal actions Campus Message

Campus Community,

The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has concluded that the University of Kentucky has violated the federal Civil Rights Act. Today, I want to share with you the details of that finding and what the federal government is directing us to do now.

As you may recall, beginning last March, an investigation by the OCR was launched because of our participation in The PhD Project. The non-profit organization promotes networking among colleges and universities to create a pipeline for minority students into graduate business programs.

We are among 45 universities under OCR investigation for our participation with the program, which federal authorities contend “discriminates against students on the bases of race and national origin,” according to the letter of finding. 

Although we quickly canceled our participation in the organization — consisting of about $5,000 annually to attend The PhD Project’s conference — the months-long investigation concluded that UK “endorsed, promoted and benefited from a program that limited participation based on race.”

We will, as always, seek to comply with the law and policy direction we are given by federal policymakers. That is our responsibility. I believe it also is how we can best protect our people, their work and our mission to advance this state.

Today, I signed a resolution agreement that will conclude OCR’s investigation. Going forward, as part of that agreement, OCR has directed UK to submit a report within 60 days that identifies any other organization that UK has an “agreement, membership or partnership” with that — like The PhD Project — “may restrict participation based on race.” 

We must also indicate our plans to “discontinue each membership or partnership,” or if not, provide “an explanation of the reason.” You can read the letter of finding and the resolution agreement at this link.

I have empaneled a team of university personnel from a number of campus units — procurement and contracting, the Provost’s office, Student Success, UK HealthCare, the Treasurer’s office and others — to immediately begin the process of identifying potential relationships that would be covered by this resolution agreement.

We will move quickly, but deliberately, to gather this information, evaluate whether it meets the criteria outlined by the federal government and determine whether we will terminate the relationship. 

This process will require a great deal of effort from a large number of people and units. We will do this work as efficiently as possible, seeking to minimize unnecessary disruption and, understandably, lessen anxiety and concern.

As we make determinations about these relationships, we will communicate in a clear and supportive fashion with those impacted. We will also, as appropriate, continue to keep the campus informed, even as the most important work we can do is to stay focused on our efforts in education, research, service and care.

The federal government — in this letter of finding and in other policy directives — has made clear that it is closely scrutinizing what we and other institutions do with respect to our financial support of identity-based organizations — both on campus and through external agreements.

We must take that policy direction seriously. At the same time, we also must continue to take seriously our goal to be a community where different people and different perspectives can belong.

Mere words don’t make such a community a reality. I know that. People do, working together with shared goals and commitments. Nevertheless, I do believe one of our hallmarks as a community, and what has made us successful, is our willingness to come together, share our perspectives, find common ground and move forward.

We must do that again. And in the coming days, I want to talk with you about how we can do that.

In the meantime, I ask that you continue the work you do so incomparably well — to teach, to heal, to serve and discover, all in the name of advancing this state.

Eli Capilouto

President