Public land-grant research university in La Jolla, 1960–present
The Department of Justice has charged UC San Diego School of Medicine with using a shadow application process to favor Black and Hispanic applicants, violating the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The probe found admissions officers used hardship disclosures to reward race, yielding admissions breaks for some students while denying higher-qualified peers.
The Justice Department is conducting a compliance review of Harvard University’s foreign funding disclosures to ensure it does not discriminate against American students in financial aid. Harvard says it does not unlawfully discriminate and is reviewing the DOJ notice as part of ongoing scrutiny of foreign money in U.S. higher education.
Universities and officials are reviewing admissions practices as faculty flag concerns about math readiness and the role of standardized testing. Reports quote Berkeley professors and UC colleagues on AI’s involvement in editing op-eds and the push to restoring SAT/ACT requirements. California Governor Newsom is demanding data as the policy review continues.
Federal investigators have found that several U.S. medical schools discriminate in admissions by race, with Black and Hispanic applicants having higher acceptance odds than white and Asian applicants despite similar credentials. The findings cover UCLA, UC San Diego, and UCSF for classes from 2023–2025, and flag allegedly two-tier admissions that shift based on race. The case could lead to voluntary resolutions or legal action.
The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation unveiled its 2026 class of fellows Tuesday. It's an interdisciplinary list of 20 individuals ranging from artists to scientists.