Overview

• The DOJ’s Civil Rights Division said Thursday it is investigating GMU for potential Title VII violations involving race- and sex-based employment decisions
• Officials traced the probe to statements by President Gregory Washington about using race and sex to meet diversity goals and to internal materials on preferential hiring
• A 2020 email from Washington proposed revising promotion and tenure processes to support women and faculty of color by recognizing their additional institutional contributions
• On July 10 the Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights opened a separate Title VI inquiry into GMU’s diversity, equity and inclusion hiring policies
• A university spokesperson pledged full cooperation and said GMU continually reviews its policies to ensure adherence to federal and state mandates