Leyland Lucas, a dean and former Ph.D. student, credits the Ph.D. Project for helping him overcome challenges related to race during his doctoral studies. The organization has provided crucial assistance for underrepresented groups pursuing business degrees for nearly 30 years. However, the Trump administration's Education Department is investigating partner universities for alleged violations of the Civil Rights Act due to race-based eligibility requirements for the Project, prompting many institutions to reassess their diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.
"I am incredibly grateful to the program, which was fulfilling a very critical role," says Lucas, who is now a dean at the University of Guyana.
"If you see people like you who understand some of the challenges you are facing, and you can see them and see how they have overcome those challenges, that serves as an incentive for you," Lucas says.
"The department alleges these schools are violating the 1964 Civil Rights Act because the Ph.D. Project limits eligibility based on race, and therefore engages in 'race-exclusionary practices.'"
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