Justice Department accuses Yale medical school of illegally using race in admissions

Key Points:

• The Justice Department accused Yale University of illegally considering race in admissions to its medical school, alleging that Black and Hispanic applicants have a significantly higher chance of admission despite lower academic credentials compared to white and Asian applicants.
• The DOJ's investigation found that Yale's admissions practices violate Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and the department is seeking a voluntary resolution but may pursue legal action if compliance is not achieved.
• Yale's School of Medicine defended its admissions process as rigorous and committed to academic excellence, stating it will review the DOJ's letter.
• This action follows a similar DOJ notification to UCLA's medical school regarding race-based admissions, coming after the 2023 Supreme Court ruling banning affirmative action in college admissions.
• The DOJ criticized Yale for continuing race-conscious admissions despite the Supreme Court ruling, highlighting data that showed no change in admissions outcomes and alleging a willful failure to comply with federal law.