Key facts
- The US Department of Justice alleged UCSF's medical school discriminated against white and Asian applicants by favoring Black and Hispanic applicants.
- The DOJ claimed UCSF relied on "vague diversity goals with no meaningful endpoint."
- The DOJ sent a letter to UCSF on Tuesday, seeking a voluntary compliance agreement and setting an October 2 deadline.
- UCSF stated it disagrees with the DOJ's findings and evaluates applicants through an individualized review process prioritizing academic excellence.
- The US Supreme Court rejected race-conscious admissions programs in 2023.
The University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) has stated its disagreement with the US Department of Justice's (DOJ) findings from a federal probe that alleged the institution's medical school discriminated against white and Asian applicants by favoring Black and Hispanic applicants. The DOJ's findings, which cover the period from 2023 to 2025, alleged that the UCSF School of Medicine admitted Black and Hispanic applicants who academically underperformed the average rejected white and Asian student. The department further alleged the school relied on "vague diversity goals with no meaningful endpoint." This action is part of the Trump administration's broader targeting of diversity initiatives in universities. The DOJ sent a letter to UCSF on Tuesday, proposing a voluntary compliance agreement and urging the school to respond by October 2, indicating that legal action would follow if efforts fail. UCSF responded late Tuesday, stating it disagrees with the DOJ's finding and that every applicant is evaluated through a rigorous, individualized review process that prioritizes academic excellence. The university added it would continue to engage "constructively" with the DOJ to resolve the matter. President Trump has previously characterized diversity goals as anti-merit and discriminatory against white people and men, and has signed orders aimed at dismantling such initiatives. Civil rights advocates, however, argue that diversity practices are necessary to address historical inequities for marginalized groups. The US Supreme Court's 2023 decision rejecting race-conscious admissions programs at Harvard University and the University of North Carolina is also relevant to the ongoing debate.