News & Analysis as of

Equal Protection Students for Fair Admissions v Harvard College Affirmative Action

The Equal Protection Clause is a section of the 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution that provides that "no state shall...deny to any citizen within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the... more +
The Equal Protection Clause is a section of the 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution that provides that "no state shall...deny to any citizen within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws." Essentially, the Equal Protection Clause provides that the government must treat an individual the same way that it treats other individuals in the same circumstances. The 14th Amendment Equal Protection Clause applies only to state governments, but the requirements of the clause apply to the federal government through the Due Process Clause of the 5th Amendment. less -
Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart,...

Wisconsin Court of Appeals Finds Taxpayer-Funded College Grant Program to Be Unconstitutional

On February 26, 2025, the Wisconsin Court of Appeals, District II, determined that a program that provided taxpayer-funded educational grants to financially needy students of specific racial, national origin, and ancestry...more

Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart,...

U.S. Department of Education’s ‘Dear Colleague’ Letter Prohibiting DEI and FAQs Document Challenged in Federal Court

On March 5, 2025, the National Education Association (NEA) and its New Hampshire affiliate (NEA-NH) sued the U.S. Department of Education, challenging a recently issued “Dear Colleague Letter” (DCL) that informed schools that...more

Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart,...

DOJ Moves to Challenge Illinois Nonprofit Board Disclosure Law

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has been granted judicial leave to intervene in the American Alliance for Equal Rights’ (AAER) suit against the State of Illinois challenging the state’s diversity, equity, and inclusion...more

Bricker Graydon LLP

U.S. Department of Education releases FAQ for February 14th Dear Colleague Letter

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On March 1, 2025, the U.S. Department of Education (the Department) released a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document in connection with the February 14 Dear Colleague Letter (DCL). This document aims to clarify how...more

Jackson Lewis P.C.

A New Chapter for Educational Institutions: DOE Prohibits Use of Race in All Aspects of Student, Academic, Campus Life

Jackson Lewis P.C. on

The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) issued a Dear Colleague Letter (DCL) directing educational institutions that they are prohibited from using race in decisions pertaining to admissions, hiring,...more

Shipman & Goodwin LLP

OCR Issues “Dear Colleague” Letter on Racial Discrimination

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On February 14, 2025, the United States Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights (OCR) issued guidance clarifying how the Department will interpret federal laws that prohibit schools and other entities receiving...more

Troutman Pepper Locke

OCR’s Directive on Race-Conscious Policies in Higher Education

Troutman Pepper Locke on

On February 14, the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights (DOE) issued a Dear Colleague Letter (DCL), which calls for educational institutions to immediately cease race-conscious practices in student...more

Venable LLP

This is Not a Drill: Trump Administration 'Dear Colleague' Letter Virtually Eliminates Consideration of Race in Higher Education

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On February 14, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) issued a new "Dear Colleague" letter to "clarify and reaffirm the nondiscrimination obligations of schools and other entities that receive federal financial assistance...more

Morgan Lewis

US Department of Education Issues Sweeping Guidance on Race-Conscious Practices By Academic Institutions

Morgan Lewis on

The US Department of Education’s (the Department’s) Office for Civil Rights issued a sweeping “Dear Colleague” letter on February 14, 2025 outlining a new zero-tolerance policy for the consideration of race in any regard by...more

Husch Blackwell LLP

U.S. Department of Education Releases Dear Colleague Letter Addressing the Use of Race in Education, Announces Enforcement...

Husch Blackwell LLP on

On February 14, 2025, the U.S. Department of Education released a Dear Colleague Letter (DCL) concerning discrimination based on race, color, and national origin in K-12 and higher education. The DCL articulates the...more

Bond Schoeneck & King PLLC

OCR Issues Dear Colleague Letter Addressing DEI Programs Under Title VI

On Jan. 21, 2025, President Trump signed an Executive Order (EO), “Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity.” Broadly speaking, the EO purported to prohibit what it characterized as unlawful...more

Roetzel & Andress

U.S. Department of Education Releases Guidance on DEI Programs in Schools Receiving Federal Funds

Roetzel & Andress on

The legality of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (“DEI”) Programs has come under immense scrutiny beginning with the change in presidential administration. On January 21, 2025, President Trump issued executive order 14173...more

McGlinchey Stafford

Trump on Education: DOE Targets DEI, Threatens Federal Funding

McGlinchey Stafford on

On February 14, 2024, the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) within the Department of Education (DOE) issued a “Dear Colleague” letter threatening the federal funding of any academic institution that considers race in any manner...more

Littler

U.S. Department of Education’s New “Dear Colleague” Letter Targets DEI Programs and Signals New Era of Title VI Enforcement

Littler on

On February 14, 2025, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) released a “Dear Colleague” Letter (DCL) and emailed it to K-12 and post-secondary educational institutions around the country. The DCL...more

Miller Nash LLP

Challenges for Education Institutions Continue: New “Dear Colleague Letter” Targets Educational Equity Efforts

Miller Nash LLP on

On Friday, February 14, 2025, the United States Department of Education (DOE) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) issued a Dear Colleague Letter (DCL) setting out its interpretation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964,...more

Clark Hill PLC

Using the First Amendment to Uphold DEI Initiatives

Clark Hill PLC on

In Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President & Fellows of Harvard Coll., 600 U.S. 181 (2023), the Supreme Court all but ended affirmative action and held, inter alia, that race-conscious admissions policies in higher...more

Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP

What to Know About the War Being Waged Against DEI

Can you still have DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) programs? How about affirmative action plans? The Supreme Court’s June 2023 decision in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard garnered national attention in holding...more

Partridge Snow & Hahn LLP

Another Attack on Diversity and Inclusivity Efforts Post Students for Fair Admissions (SFFA) Supreme Court Decision

The American Alliance for Equal Rights (AAER) filed suit against McDonald’s in federal court over the corporation’s scholarship program for high school students of Hispanic and Latino descent, the Hispanic American Commitment...more

Foley Hoag LLP

SFFA In The Courts: Where We Are Before the Administration Change

Foley Hoag LLP on

It has been over a year since the Supreme Court issued its decision striking down Harvard’s and the University of North Carolina’s admissions policies in Students for Fair Admissions (“SFFA”) v. Harvard College and SFFA v....more

Rumberger | Kirk

Should Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Policies Vanish After Landmark Supreme Court Ruling?

Rumberger | Kirk on

Last June, the United States Supreme Court held in Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President & Fellows of Harvard Coll that affirmative action policies at universities violate the Constitution’s Equal Protection Clause...more

Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart,...

DEI Under Scrutiny, Part VI: Supreme Court Declines to Hear Case Over Race-Neutral Measures Allegedly Intended to Increase Racial...

The Supreme Court of the United States declined to review a case alleging that facially race-neutral admissions criteria at a selective Virginia public high school were unlawfully intended to strike a racial balance, leaving...more

Bowditch & Dewey

Supreme Court Allows West Point to Continue to Use Race in Admissions (For Now)

Bowditch & Dewey on

On June 29, 2023, admissions policies and practices of many higher ed institutions were forced to pivot when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that using race to make admissions decisions violated the Equal Protection Clause of...more

Davis Wright Tremaine LLP

Project W - Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Charting a Path Forward

With the recent spate of legal challenges against DEI initiatives, business leaders are being forced to balance their commitment to principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion with the risk of costly and time-consuming...more

Greenberg Glusker LLP

[Webinar] What’s Next for DEI Initiatives in the Wake of the SCOTUS Affirmative Action Decision? - January 24th, 10:00 am - 11:00...

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This presentation will include: - Case discussion - Decision's implications for clients, law firms, and courts - Potential solutions...more

Venable LLP

The Supreme Court Cases Employers Should Be Keeping an Eye on in the New Term

Venable LLP on

Earlier this year, we wrote about some of the major cases and legal developments for employers to watch in 2023. With the start of the U.S. Supreme Court's new term last month, we are back to provide insight into the next...more

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