The Justice Department has launched a Title VII investigation into the University of California over alleged race- and sex-based discrimination in faculty hiring. (AP Photo/Ben Margot, File)
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN, LAW JOURNAL SUED FOR ALLEGEDLY DISCRIMINATING AGAINST STRAIGHT WHITE MALES
"These initiatives openly measure new hires by their race and sex, which potentially runs afoul of federal law," the Justice Department said in a press release.
"The Civil Rights Division’s Employment Litigation Section will investigate whether the University of California is engaged in a pattern or practice of discrimination based on race, sex, and other protected characteristics, pursuant to Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964."
Title VII prohibits an employer from discriminating against an individual on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin, Harmeet Dhillon, the assistant attorney general of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, said.
"Public employers are bound by federal laws that prohibit racial and other employment discrimination," Dhillon said. "Institutional directives that use race- and sex-based hiring practices expose employers to legal risk under federal law."
The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division wrote to the university on Thursday, informing it of the investigation.
"Our investigation is based on information suggesting that the University of California may be engaged in certain employment practices that discriminate against employees, job applicants, and training program participants based on race and sex in violation of Title VII," the letter reads.
"Specifically, we have reason to believe the University of California's ‘UC 2030 Capacity Plan’ precipitated unlawful action by the University of California and some or all its constituent campuses."
University of California, Berkeley entrance sign on the corner of Oxford Street and Center Street. (iStock)
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"The requirement to submit a diversity statement may lead applicants to focus on an aspect of their candidacy that is outside their expertise or prior experience," the letter obtained by Fox News Digital reads.
She added that employees and applicants can still reference accomplishments related to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) on their own, but requiring stand-alone diversity statements is no longer permitted.
Fox News’ David Spunt and Lindsay Kornick contributed to this report.
Michael Dorgan is a writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business.
You can send tips to michael.dorgan@fox.com and follow him on Twitter @M_Dorgan.
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