UVA bows to Trump, signs deal with administration

[Anonymous]

They did not sign the contract.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yea this is a big nothing but people are too stupid to know the difference

Seriously. I'm disappointed, but not shocked, by the lack of understanding here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Didn’t the last President quit to avoid having to do this?

Same question

[Anonymous]

They have an interim President in charge who formed a “committee.”

So no one has to own the decision and the new permanent President can blame those before him/her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2025/10/22/university-of-virginia-trump-administration-settlement/

Unbelievable. UVA signed the “settlement” agreement with the trump administration.

After kids applied two weeks before Nov 1 EA?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2025/10/22/university-of-virginia-trump-administration-settlement/

Unbelievable. UVA signed the “settlement” agreement with the trump administration.

After kids applied two weeks before Nov 1 EA?

It’s wont affect app numbers. They will still have too many qualified applicants.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2025/10/22/university-of-virginia-trump-administration-settlement/

Unbelievable. UVA signed the “settlement” agreement with the trump administration.

After kids applied two weeks before Nov 1 EA?

Basic reading comprehension is grossly lacking on this thread.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wait - does this mean UVA won’t give any added admissions consideration / hook, at all, to URMs?

WTF?

Why should ANY school still be doing this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Read the article. They didn't bow. DOJ is positioning a nothingburger as a win.

Reading comprehension, folks!

That’s what I understood just by skimming the push notification I got. That they agreed to basically nothing in the original demand.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Read the article. They didn't bow. DOJ is positioning a nothingburger as a win.

Reading comprehension, folks!

That’s what I understood just by skimming the push notification I got. That they agreed to basically nothing in the original demand.

Exactly!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Link to the DOJ announcement: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-announces-agreement-university-virginia-0

Essentially, UVA agrees that they aren't breaking the law and gives quarterly updates reiterating that they still aren't breaking the law. DOJ stops investigating them. Yawn.

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Department of Justice announced an agreement with the University of Virginia (“UVA”) that will protect UVA’s students, faculty, and employees from violations of federal civil rights laws, including from discrimination based on race, sex, or national origin.

As part of the agreement, the University of Virginia agrees to be bound by the Department of Justice’s “Guidance for Recipients of Federal Funding Regarding Unlawful Discrimination,” ensuring that UVA does not engage in unlawful racial discrimination in its university programming, admissions, hiring, or other activities. UVA will provide relevant information and data to the Department of Justice on a quarterly basis through 2028. The President of UVA will personally certify each quarter that UVA is in compliance with the agreement. The Department will pause its pending investigations into the university’s admissions policies and other civil rights concerns. The United States shall treat UVA as eligible for future grants and awards. If UVA completes its planned reforms prohibiting DEI at the university, the Department will close its investigations against UVA.

“This notable agreement with the University of Virginia will protect students and faculty from unlawful discrimination, ensuring that equal opportunity and fairness are restored,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Civil Rights Division. “We appreciate the progress that the university has made in combatting antisemitism and racial bias, and other American universities should be on alert that the Justice Department will ensure that our federal civil rights laws are enforced for every American, without exception.”

That guidance (Civil Rights Act of 1964, don't use race or proxies in hiring or admissions) : https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.justice.gov%2Fag%2Fmedia%2F1409486%2Fdl%3Finline=%26utm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/010001985c36b911-61c8d569-6d56-46d7-a035-616d9d8fe7e9-000000/TsIBQqBaWzEOyES8UUgQDNShsWJG3q3R3Tew_gKTTok=416

Trump's contract also requires no sex or gender DEI. Does UVA follow that already?

UVA was still following their own DEIA guidelines for hiring of faculty and staff. Unclear if this agreement extends to UVA hiring, or only admissions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:UVA made FAQs. I'm chuckling reading them. https://federalinfo.virginia.edu/

Did UVA break the law? No.
Will UVA lose research grants? No.
Will there be an external monitor? No.
Does this impact free speech rights? No.
Does UVA have to pay money to the government? No.
Does this impact independence or academic freedom? No.

But also:

Can the government still bring an enforcement action against UVA alleging civil rights violations?
Updated: 10/22/2025 - 03:23 p.m.
Yes. If the United States determines that UVA is making insufficient progress toward compliance, UVA will have 15 days to address the issue. If the United States determines that UVA has not made adequate progress within that time, or if we disagree with DOJ about what the law requires and cannot resolve that disagreement, then the United States may terminate the agreement, resume the investigations that had been in abeyance, and pursue the remedies available to it.

So basically, the trump administration can still come back at any time and claim they aren't complying. Which they will do if UVA admits too many non-white people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:UVA made FAQs. I'm chuckling reading them. https://federalinfo.virginia.edu/

Did UVA break the law? No.
Will UVA lose research grants? No.
Will there be an external monitor? No.
Does this impact free speech rights? No.
Does UVA have to pay money to the government? No.
Does this impact independence or academic freedom? No.

But also:

Can the government still bring an enforcement action against UVA alleging civil rights violations?
Updated: 10/22/2025 - 03:23 p.m.
Yes. If the United States determines that UVA is making insufficient progress toward compliance, UVA will have 15 days to address the issue. If the United States determines that UVA has not made adequate progress within that time, or if we disagree with DOJ about what the law requires and cannot resolve that disagreement, then the United States may terminate the agreement, resume the investigations that had been in abeyance, and pursue the remedies available to it.

So basically, the trump administration can still come back at any time and claim they aren't complying. Which they will do if UVA admits too many non-white people.

U.S. Department of Education website:
Title IX and Sex Discrimination

"Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 prohibits discrimination based on sex in education programs and activities that receive federal financial assistance. Title IX states 'No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance[.]' "

"Examples of the types of discrimination that are covered under Title IX include but are not limited to: sex-based harassment; sexual violence; pregnancy discrimination; the failure to provide equal athletic opportunity; sex-based discrimination in a school’s science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) courses and programs; discriminatory application of dress code policies and/or enforcement; and retaliation."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They have an interim President in charge who formed a “committee.”

So no one has to own the decision and the new permanent President can blame those before him/her.

You are wrong. The committee was appointed tby the interim head, Paul Mahoney, to review the proposed compact. The committee which recommended that UVA not sign the contract, which is what Mahoney decided to do. That is separate from the agreement with DOJ re DEI discrimination.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:UVA made FAQs. I'm chuckling reading them. https://federalinfo.virginia.edu/

Did UVA break the law? No.
Will UVA lose research grants? No.
Will there be an external monitor? No.
Does this impact free speech rights? No.
Does UVA have to pay money to the government? No.
Does this impact independence or academic freedom? No.

per the Full Agreement

II. (1) This Agreement represents the entire agreement between the United States and UVA with respect to the subject matter hereof.

II. (7) UVA affirms its commitment to complying with federal civil rights law and agrees to apply Civil Rights Law internally according to the Department of Justice's "Guidance for Recipients of Federal Funding Regarding Unlawful Discrimination"* of July 29, 2025

II. (10) UVA's president shall certify under penalty of perjury each quarterly report as to the report's accuracy and UVA's full compliance with all the provisions in this Agreement.

II. (11) If the United States determines in its sole discretion after that time that UVA has not made adequate progress, the United States may terminate this Agreement and may pursue enforcement actions, monetary fines, or grant or funding terminations as appropriate, and may resume all Investigations held in abeyance during the pendency of this Agreement.




*Guidance for Recipients of Federal Funding Regarding Unlawful Discrimination

III. Key Federal Antidiscrimination Provisions and Law
Entities receiving federal funds must comply with applicable civil rights laws, including:
∙ Title Vi (prohibits discrimination based on race, color, or national origin any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance);
∙ Title VII (prohibits employment discrimination based on, or motivated by, race, color, religion, sex, or national origin); and
∙ Title IX (prohibits discrimination based on sex in education programs or activities receiving federal financial assistance)
∙ Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment