The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has formally alleged that Yale School of Medicine continued to employ race-based admissions practices, utilizing "racial proxies" to circumvent the Supreme Court's 2023 prohibition on affirmative action. This accusation, which aligns with concerns raised on social media, claims Yale favored Black and Hispanic applicants over White and Asian candidates. The DOJ's findings indicate that internal documents revealed leadership actively studied and used these proxies to achieve desired racial outcomes in its "holistic review" process.
According to the Justice Department, investigators found that Black applicants to Yale’s medical school had significantly higher odds of securing an interview, up to 29 times more likely than equally qualified Asian applicants. Data also showed that median GPAs and MCAT scores for admitted Black and Hispanic students were consistently lower than those of their White and Asian counterparts, yet their admission rates were higher. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon stated, "Yale has continued its race-based admissions program despite the Supreme Court and the public’s clear mandate for reform."
The DOJ's allegations stem from a year-long investigation into Yale’s admission policies, which concluded that the institution intentionally discriminated based on race. The department cited Yale's own documents, which demonstrated efforts to use racial proxies to maintain diversity post-ban, and noted that the lack of change in admissions outcomes after the Supreme Court ruling indicated a "willful failure to comply." This enforcement action follows similar accusations against UCLA’s medical school and reflects a broader federal push to ensure compliance with federal anti-discrimination laws.
The 2023 Supreme Court decision in cases against Harvard and UNC ended affirmative action in admissions, prompting universities nationwide to adjust their selection processes. While Yale has not issued a direct statement on these specific claims, some academics have argued that the Trump administration, which initiated these investigations, is imposing an incorrect interpretation of the ruling, suggesting the Supreme Court decision allowed for consideration of race when weighing factors beyond test scores. The DOJ, however, is seeking a voluntary resolution and has indicated it may pursue legal action if Yale does not comply.
