DOE Investigates Florida State Over 32 Scholarships for Race, Sex Bias
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Aug 13
DOE Investigates Florida State Over 32 Scholarships for Race, Sex Bias
1 articles · Updated · Fox News · Aug 13
Summary
A federal civil rights probe is examining whether Florida State University’s 32 scholarship programs violate Title VI and Title IX by discriminating on race, color, national origin or sex.
The case stems from a July 2025 Equal Protection Project complaint that grouped the programs into 14 race-based, 13 sex-based and five overlapping categories.
FSU, which enrolls more than 46,000 students, said every student can apply and that donor preferences are not eligibility rules; it added the scholarships are privately funded and awarded on merit.
That donor-preference distinction is central to the dispute, with complainants arguing FSU remains legally responsible because the scholarships are promoted and awarded through the university.
The Education Department said opening the investigation does not imply a finding of wrongdoing and that it will gather evidence as a neutral factfinder.
Will the ongoing investigation into FSU's demographic-based scholarships force public universities to choose between federal funding and lucrative donor contributions?
If donor preferences aren't strict rules, as FSU claims, how are these 32 controversial scholarships actually being awarded behind closed doors?