Introduction to the Investigation
The U.S. Department of Education has announced that it is opening investigations into two Texas universities, including Rice University in Houston, for allegedly engaging in race-exclusionary practices in their graduate programs. This decision comes after the universities partnered with the PhD Project, an organization that provides insights and networking opportunities to doctoral business students.
The Allegations
The DOE alleges that Rice University and the University of North Texas-Denton violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act by partnering with the PhD Project. The organization’s goal is to diversify corporate America by increasing the number of underrepresented business professors in the U.S. The PhD Project claims to have increased the number of historically underrepresented business professors in the U.S. from 294 in 1994 to over 1,700 today.
The PhD Project’s Mission
The PhD Project was founded in 1994 with the goal of creating more role models in the front of business classrooms. The organization provides support and resources to doctoral business students from underrepresented groups, with the aim of increasing diversity in the business world. According to the PhD Project’s website, it has helped over 1,500 members earn their doctoral degree, with 240+ students currently in PhD programs. The organization claims that 90% of its members complete their business PhD, compared to the national average of 70%.
Recent Controversy
The PhD Project has been in the spotlight recently after a conservative activist shared an email exchange between professors at the Mays Business School at Texas A&M University, discussing their plans to attend a PhD Project conference. This led to Governor Greg Abbott threatening the job of A&M President Mark Welsh III, who later announced that the school would not be participating in the conference. Eight other Texas public universities that had been listed as partners of the PhD Project followed suit, either pulling out of the conference or disavowing the organization.
Changes to the PhD Project’s Website
Amid the controversy, the PhD Project appears to have scrubbed language from the "About Us" section of its website. The section now simply states that the organization was founded in 1994 with the goal of creating more role models in the front of business classrooms. The website no longer mentions the organization’s goal of diversifying corporate America or increasing the number of underrepresented business professors.
Conclusion
The investigation into Rice University and the University of North Texas-Denton is ongoing, and it remains to be seen what the outcome will be. The controversy surrounding the PhD Project has sparked a wider debate about diversity and inclusion in higher education, and the role of organizations like the PhD Project in promoting these values. As the investigation continues, it is likely that more information will come to light about the PhD Project’s practices and the universities’ involvement with the organization.
