The U.S. Department of Education has stopped awarding grants to colleges based on the share of minority students they enroll, saying it is unconstitutional to use taxpayer dollars to promote “racial or ethnic quotas” at those schools.
The decision, announced on Sept. 10, affects hundreds of schools nationwide classified as Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs). Department officials said these programs amount to discrimination, as they require colleges to maintain a minimum percentage of students from certain racial or ethnic backgrounds in order to qualify for grants.
For instance, a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) must enroll at least 25 percent Hispanic students, among other criteria, to earn the designation. A Predominantly Black Institution (PBI) must enroll at least 1,000 undergraduates and make sure that at least 40 percent of them are black to unlock the corresponding grant….