UVA to comply with DOJ guidelines, pending investigations to be paused

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (WRIC) -- The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has announced an agreement with the University of Virginia (UVA) that would bring an end to its pending investigations into the university's admission policies and discrimination allegations.

The announcement follows the university's official rejection of a controversial proposal from the Trump administration -- which faculty claimed would threaten academic freedom and free speech -- that was sent to UVA and eight other major universities across the country.

The "Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education" called on the nine targeted universities to accept the government's definition of gender and apply it to campus bathrooms, locker rooms and women’s sports teams. It also asked colleges to no longer consider race, gender and other student demographics during the admission process.

In a release shared on Wednesday, the DOJ said that Wednesday's announced agreement would "protect UVA's students, faculty, and employees from violations of federal civil rights laws, including from discrimination based on race, sex, or national origin."

According to the DOJ, the agreement means the UVA must do the following:

• Adhere to the department's "Guidance for Recipients of Federal Funding Regarding Unlawful Discrimination"
• Provide relevant information and data to the DOJ on a quarterly basis through 2028
• The President of UVA will personally certify compliance with the agreement every quarter as well

Should UVA follow the agreement, the DOJ said it will do the following:

• Pause its pending investigations into the university's admissions policies and other civil rights concerns
• The US government will recognize UVA as eligible for future grants and awards

The DOJ also said it would close its investigations against UVA if the university "complies with its planned reforms prohibiting DEI at the university," according to the release.

“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.”

8News has reached out to UVA leadership for comment and will update the article when a response is received.