The Trump administration’s campaign against diversity programs in higher education led 31 universities to sever ties with The PhD Project, a nonprofit that helps racial minorities earn doctoral degrees, following an Education Department investigation by its Office for Civil Rights.

Education Secretary Linda McMahon framed the actions as enforcing federal law and reaffirming equal opportunity on campuses.

The Education Department said the 31 universities will review other partnerships to ensure Title VI compliance and to identify any other race-based participation restrictions.

At the University of Utah, only a small number of PhD Project participants were admitted to its business school—2 out of 170 admitted over 14 years—according to university statements.

The PhD Project reiterated its mission to diversify business school faculty and did not address the recent government actions directly in its reply.

MIT Sloan School of Management reported ending its participation after notifying the government in 2025 and later signed a resolution without admitting liability or wrongdoing.

MIT paid a nominal fee to participate in PhD Project events, allowed staff to answer questions about attending MIT, and subsequently ended participation and reached a resolution agreement.

MIT’s withdrawal occurred before formal disclosure, with the university stating it did not admit liability or wrongdoing while the Office for Civil Rights investigation proceeded.

MIT had recruited prospective PhD candidates through PhD Project events and provided information to applicants before ceasing participation and settling after the Title VI finding.

The article bases its claims on statements from the Trump administration and coverage by AP, relying on official announcements and journalistic reporting.

The University of North Dakota left The PhD Project after joining to access its applicant database for faculty recruitment.

The piece situates the event within a broader controversy over DEI initiatives in higher education, without detailing all universities involved or the specific nature of ties severed.