DOJ Investigating Whether Harvard’s China-Based Aid Programs Discriminate
“Schools cannot take federal dollars and then turn around and accept money from foreign sources to give financial aid that deliberately excludes American citizens — doing so is illegal, and we will stop it wherever we find it.”
Harvard has once again gained attention from the Department of Justice, this time for possibly discriminating against American students.
On Monday, the DOJ announced it had opened an investigation into Harvard University to determine if its China-based financial aid programs excluded American citizens.
Commenting on the investigation, Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division said the allegations against the school include accepting foreign funds and using those funds to provide scholarships exclusively to foreign students.
“Every American student should have an equal opportunity to compete for college scholarships, grants, and other kinds of financial aid and benefits,” Dhillon said.
“Schools cannot take federal dollars and then turn around and accept money from foreign sources to give financial aid that deliberately excludes American citizens — doing so is illegal, and we will stop it wherever we find it.”
According to the DOJ press release, Harvard’s financial disclosures show the university has received $4.5 billion in foreign funding, more than any other American university. Additionally, Harvard’s largest source of foreign income, which accounts for $630 million, comes from China.
“Harvard appears to be accepting these funds and, in adherence to their restrictions, providing student financial aid to foreign students, presumably Chinese, based on their national origin — to the potential detriment of students of other national origins, including American citizens,” read the press release.
Discrimination based on national origin is not new among American universities, as many have been exposed for offering preferential scholarships to students who identify as “DACA/undocumented.” The Equal Protection Project has challenged several universities for offering scholarships “only to DACA-eligible or ‘undocumented’ students,” which constitutes a violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act.
The University of Louisville, University of Nebraska Omaha, University of Miami, University of Michigan, and Western Michigan University were all challenged on the basis of offering scholarships that “provide unlawful exclusionary funding based on national origin.”
“Protecting equal access to education includes protecting the rights of American-born students,” commented Equal Protection Project Founder William A. Jacobson.
“Discrimination against American-born students must not be tolerated.”
In a letter written to Harvard, the Department of Justice noted that if discrimination is found in their investigation, the necessary means will be taken to “secure compliance.”
“If we cannot secure compliance by voluntary means, we may take formal action to secure compliance, which could include suspending, terminating, or refusing to grant or continue your federal financial assistance, as well as commencing a civil action,” read the letter.
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Comments
China could of side stepped this problem by setting up its own system to award tuition grants.
However, by creating a large donation, China buys influences along with admission slots.
China wants both influence on USA education and educated nationalist (AKN spies.)