BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has opened an investigation into the University of Alabama, alleging violations of federal civil rights laws through race-based scholarships and segregation in university programs. The inquiry is part of a sweeping federal effort targeting 52 universities across the country, signaling a significant shift in how race and equity are addressed in higher education.
The investigation, announced Friday, focuses on potential violations of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits racial discrimination in programs receiving federal funding. While specific details about the University of Alabama’s alleged infractions have not been disclosed, the school is among seven institutions accused of engaging in race-based segregation.
This marks a dramatic reversal from policies that emerged during the Civil Rights Movement, when affirmative action and similar initiatives were introduced to address systemic inequities. The current administration under President Donald Trump has taken aim at diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, framing them as discriminatory and inconsistent with principles of meritocracy.
The University of Alabama has already faced controversy after closing its Black Student Union and LGBTQ+ resource center last year. These closures followed state legislation banning publicly funded DEI initiatives, reflecting a broader cultural and political shift in Alabama and other conservative-led states. The university, which received more than $143 million in federal funding last year, could lose access to this critical financial support if found in violation of Title VI.
U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon has emphasized that the administration’s actions are intended to ensure fairness by eliminating what it views as race-based preferences. Critics argue that this approach undermines decades of progress toward addressing racial disparities and fails to account for historical inequities that continue to affect marginalized communities.
For Alabama, this investigation strikes at the heart of its identity as a state deeply tied to the history of the Civil Rights Movement. From the marches in Selma to the integration battles at its universities, Alabama has long been a focal point in America’s struggle over race and equality. Now, its flagship university finds itself embroiled in a new chapter of that struggle—one that challenges how institutions balance historical legacies with evolving interpretations of equality under the law.
The federal investigation reflects a broader cultural shift as America reconsiders its approach to race in public life. By targeting programs designed to promote diversity and inclusion, the administration is reshaping how educational institutions define fairness and opportunity. For many, it raises questions about what it means to pursue equality in a country still grappling with its history of racial division.
The University of Alabama has not commented on the investigation. Federal officials have not provided a timeline for when findings might be released.