DOJ opens probe into Harvards financial aid for alleged discrimination against American students

The Justice Department is reviewing whether Harvard University accepted foreign donations that improperly favored students from China and other countries over American students.The department said Monday that Harvard’s foreign-funding disclosures raised concerns that some donors imposed nationality-based restrictions on financial aid.Officials are examining whether those arrangements violate Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which bars federally funded institutions from discriminating based on national origin.“Every American student should have an equal opportunity to compete for college scholarships, grants, and other kinds of financial aid and benefits,” Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon said in a statement.“Schools cannot take federal dollars and then turn around and accept money from foreign sources to give financial aid that deliberately excludes American citizens — doing so is illegal, and we will stop it wherever we find it,” she continued.The DOJ said some China-based donors directed Harvard to use their money for aid programs benefiting students from particular countries.

The department alleged that complying with those restrictions could disadvantage students of other nationalities, including Americans.Officials stressed that the review remains ongoing and that the department has not reached any conclusions.The DOJ also did not identify the specific scholarships or donors under examination.Harvard denied that its financial aid policies violate federal civil rights law.“Harvard follows the law for required reporting of donations and, consistent with our legal obligations under Title VI, does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, or national origin in allocating financial aid,” the university said in a statement.Federal law requires colleges and universities to report foreign gifts and contracts worth at least $250,000.

The DOJ said a Civil Rights Division audit of those disclosures fou...