Tulane Med School Program For “Underrepresented” College Students Challenged By Equal Protection Project
Confronting what has become a common tactic nationally – using “underrepresented” as a proxy for race and ethnicity.
Since its launch in February 2023, the Equal Protection Project (EqualProtect.org) has challenged almost 900 discriminatory programs and scholarships at more than 300 colleges and universities. While most of our claims have been at the Department of Education Office for Civil Rights, increasingly we have filed at the Departments of Health and Human Services, Department of Justice, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). In all, over 50 federal investigations have been opened as a result of our complaints.
Medical schools have been a focus of ours, with our sister CriticalRace.org website’s Medical School Database serving as a foundation for data analysis, including rebranding of DEI offices.
Our most recent Civil Rights Complaint at HHS against Tulane Medical School focuses on one aspect of rebranding – the use of “underrepresented” as a proxy for race and ethnicity:
We bring this civil rights complaint and request for investigation against Tulane University School of Medicine (“Tulane Medical School” or “Tulane”) regarding its IMPRESS program which appears to discriminate on the basis of race, color, and/or national origin in violation of Title VI and/or Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act.
Tulane University School of Medicine operates the Introduction to the Medical Profession: a Rotation to Empower Students (“IMPRESS”) program through its Department of Surgery.2 IMPRESS is a multi-week summer program for first- and second-year college students interested in pursuing careers in medicine. The 2026 program ran June 8, 2026 through July 17, 2026.3 The 2027 program is scheduled to run from June 7, 2027, through July 16, 2027.4 Participants receive professional development opportunities, exposure to medical specialties and technologies, one-on-one career mentorship, housing, and meal stipends….
Tulane repeatedly describes IMPRESS as a program intended for students from “underrepresented backgrounds in medicine.”5 Tulane considers “underrepresented backgrounds” in medicine to include “African American, Hispanic, Vietnamese, Native American/Alaskan Natives, Pacific Islanders.”6 For example, Tulane’s Office of Academic Excellence and Community Engagement describes IMPRESS as a course in which students from “underrepresented backgrounds in medicine” receive mentorship and career guidance. Tulane’s Fellowship Advising webpage similarly characterizes IMPRESS as an intensive course for first- and second-year college students from “underrepresented backgrounds in medicine.”7 ….
Additionally, Tulane’s Department of Surgery describes IMPRESS as a program designed for students from “underrepresented backgrounds in medicine,” providing participants with professional mentorship, career guidance, and exposure to medical specialties and technologies….
Finally, Tulane’s medical school course catalog describes a fourth-year medical student elective associated with IMPRESS.9 According to the catalog, the elective is intended to provide fourth-year medical students with opportunities to assist in recruiting and teaching “underrepresented minorities in medicine” who participate in IMPRESS. The use of the term “minorities” in the course description confirms that Tulane considers those “underrepresented in medicine” to be non-whites.10
We conclude with this request for investigation:
HHS has the authority to investigate Tulane University School of Medicine’s administration of IMPRESS, including its eligibility requirements, recruitment practices, and participant selection criteria. HHS should determine whether Tulane uses race, color, or national origin in determining access to IMPRESS’s educational, professional-development, and financial benefits. HHS should also examine whether these practices violate applicable federal antidiscrimination laws, conflict with Executive Orders 14173 and 14332 or applicable federal funding requirements, or are inconsistent with any certifications or representations Tulane has made concerning its compliance with federal law. Where authorized and warranted, HHS should pursue appropriate remedial measures, including proceedings to suspend or terminate federal financial assistance or referral to the Department of Justice for judicial enforcement. After all, “[t]he way to stop discrimination on the basis of race is to stop discriminating on the basis of race.” Parents Involved in Cmty. Sch. v. Seattle Sch. Dist. No. 1, 551 U.S. 701, 748 (2007).
The Daily Wire covered the filing:
A prominent Louisiana medical school may be discriminating based on race through a mentorship program, according to a civil rights complaint filed by a conservative watchdog with the Trump administration.
The Legal Insurrection Foundation filed a complaint Monday against Tulane University School of Medicine over a medical mentorship program aimed at students from “underrepresented backgrounds in medicine.” The definition used by the New Orleans-area school in recent years for “underrepresented background” excludes white and most Asian students….
“We identified this program, which goes beyond DEI,” William Jacobson, the group’s president and a law professor at Cornell University, told The Daily Wire. “We’re challenging it because we believe it’s a civil rights violation.” ….
He added that many schools across the country are submitting the term “underrepresented” for racial and ethnic classifications because they know they can’t use racial classifications….
One definition used by the university for “underrepresented in medicine” is “African American, Hispanic, Vietnamese, Native American/Alaskan Natives, Pacific Islanders.” This appears to be exclusively a racial definition and excludes white people and Asians.
“It’s also a violation because it would deter whites and Asians from even applying. Why would you apply to a program where you’ve already been told it’s for certain races and ethnicities, and you are not one of them?” he told The Daily Wire….
Jacobson said the description could deter others from applying….
“HHS should determine whether Tulane uses race, color, or national origin in determining access to IMPRESS’s educational, professional-development, and financial benefits,” the complaint urges. “HHS should also examine whether these practices violate applicable federal antidiscrimination laws.”
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Comments
Paula: Aren’t Republicans underrepresented at Tulane Med School?
Tulane: Well, yes they are.
Paula: So if you add more African Americans, Hispanic, Vietnamese, Native Americans & Alaskan Natives that won’t help with that, will it?
Tulane: Unfortunately no. They are mostly Democrats. You see, we are looking at skin color, not character.
Paula: Oh I see. You’re looking for the type of students who attended the Learing Center?
Tulane: Exactly.
I’m impressed by the work that EPP is doing. It would really be informative if you could post a summary of your results—have your filings actually changed behavior?
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