Notre Dame under investigation by Department of Education after Trump anti-DEI orders

This story has been updated to add new information.

SOUTH BEND — The University of Notre Dame is under investigation by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights for alleged racial discrimination, following President Donald Trump’s orders to abolish diversity, equity and inclusion programs in K-12 and higher education institutions.

In a letter sent to campuses and states around the country, Craig Trainor, the Education Department’s acting assistant secretary for civil rights, calls these programs discriminatory to white and Asian American students. He adds that schools reliant on federal money are now prohibited from “using race in decisions pertaining to admissions, hiring, promotion, compensation, financial aid, scholarships, prizes, administrative support, discipline, housing, graduation ceremonies, and all other aspects of student, academic, and campus life.”

In a press release published on March 14, the Education Department said 45 colleges and universities, including Notre Dame, are “under investigation for allegedly engaging in race-exclusionary practices in their graduate programs.”

When reached for comment, Erin Blasko, Notre Dame’s associate director of media relations, told The Tribune in an email, “As always, The University of Notre Dame follows the law and in no way practices or condones discrimination. As a Catholic university, we are fully committed to defending the dignity of every human person and ensuring that every person can flourish.”

According to the latest available data from the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2023, Notre Dame had a total student population of 13,174. Of the 8,968 undergraduates, 61% were white, 5% were Black or African American, 6% were Asian, and 14% were Hispanic or Latino. The university’s website says there are 8,923 undergraduates currently enrolled.

Email South Bend Tribune education reporter Rayleigh Deaton at rdeaton@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Education Department investigates Notre Dame after anti-DEI orders