The U.S. Department of Education is opening an investigation into 45 universities — including the University of Kansas — for alleged violations of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act.

Title VI prohibits discrimination based on race or national identity.

The DOE says the investigation is related to allegations that the universities partnered with The Ph.D. Project, a nonprofit that says it supports racial minorities seeking a doctorate degree in a business-related field.

“The Department is working to reorient civil rights enforcement to ensure all students are protected from illegal discrimination," saidU.S. secretary of education Linda McMahon in a news release . "The agency has already launched Title VI investigations into institutions where widespread anti-Semitic harassment has been reported and Title IX investigations into entities which allegedly continue to allow sex discrimination; today’s announcement expands our efforts to ensure universities are not discriminating against their students based on race and race stereotypes.”

The Ph.D. Project said that while it has historically been for racial minorities, that it has changed its application process in the past year.

"For the last 30 years, The PhD Project has worked to expand the pool of workplace talent by developing business school faculty who inspire, mentor, and support tomorrow’s leaders. Our vision is to create a broader talent pipeline of current and future business leaders who are committed to excellence and to each other, through networking, mentorship, and unique events," the Ph.D. Project said in a statement. "This year, we have opened our membership application to anyone who shares that vision. The PhD Project was founded with the goal of providing more role models in the front of business classrooms, which remains our goal today."

A Feb. 14 letter from the department warned universities that they should end any form of racial preference screening in both admissions, hiring and financial aid. The letter is one of many ways the administration has attacked diversity, equity and inclusion programs.

In 2023 the U.S. Supreme Court decided that racial preferences in college admissions is unlawful, and Craig Trainor, acting assistant secretary for civil right sin the U.S. Department of Education, said it set forth a framework to evaluate the use of race in admissions.

"In recent years, American educational institutions have discriminated against students on the basis of race, including white and Asian students, many of whom come from disadvantaged backgrounds and low-income families," Trainor wrote in the letter.

The University of Kansas, along with 44 other universities, are under investigation for "allegedly engaging in race-exclusionary practices in their graduate programs." Another seven colleges and universities are under investigation for awarding race-based scholarships and "race-based segregation."

KU spokesperson Erinn Barcomb Peterson said the university is still working to learn more about the investigation, and that its leadership team has been assessing all university activity as called for in the letter.

The Ph.D. Project didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

(This story was updated to add new information and because an earlier version included an inaccuracy.)