A civil rights organization has filed a complaint against the University of San Diego (USD), alleging racial discrimination in several of its scholarship programs. The Equal Protection Project claims that six of USD's scholarship programs violate Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits federally funded educational institutions from discriminating based on race, color, or national origin.

Cornell Law professor William Jacobson, founder of the Equal Protection Project, emphasized the need for USD to uphold non-discrimination standards. He questioned the lack of intervention by administrators to ensure equal access to education and expressed concern over scholarships that appear to exclude students based on race.

The complaint specifically points to scholarships such as the FUSO Alumni Network Scholarship, which prioritizes Filipino students, the Comité México Scholarship for students of Mexican or Mexican-American heritage, and the Black Alumni Network Scholarship, which favors Black students. Similar concerns were raised about the Latino Alumni Network Scholarship, the Augusto Boal Endowed Scholarship, and the Gwendolyn Brooks Endowed Scholarship, all of which allegedly give preference to students of color.

The complaint references a recent Department of Education letter reaffirming Title VI protections. The letter emphasizes that treating individuals differently based on race is illegal and prohibits the use of race in various educational decisions, including admissions, financial aid, and scholarships. Institutions not complying with Title VI risk losing federal funding, which is significant for USD, given its reliance on federal funds for research and student aid.

Jacobson stressed that regardless of the terminology used, such as "anti-racism" or "diversity, equity, and inclusion," discrimination based on race is unlawful. He urged the Department of Education to enforce Title VI promptly, even during the current transition period.