The University of Virginia (UVA) has reached an agreement with the U.S. Justice Department to comply with federal guidance prohibiting discrimination in admissions and hiring. The decision comes after months of federal scrutiny over the university’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices, which the Trump administration has labeled as potentially unlawful. Unlike other institutions that faced federal probes, UVA’s settlement does not include fines or monetary payments.

The Justice Department initiated its investigation in April, scrutinizing UVA’s admissions and financial aid procedures. Federal officials argued that the university’s then-president, James Ryan, had failed to dismantle DEI initiatives despite directives from the administration. Under mounting pressure, Ryan resigned in June, stating that continuing to challenge the federal government could jeopardize others on campus.

Paul Mahoney, UVA’s interim president, announced the agreement in a campus email, emphasizing that the deal preserves academic freedom and does not threaten the university’s ability to receive federal research funding. The settlement requires UVA to adhere to anti-discrimination standards and submit quarterly compliance data personally certified by the university president. The agreement explicitly avoids external federal monitoring beyond these quarterly reports.

If UVA fulfills the terms, the Justice Department will close its investigation. Non-compliance could lead to financial penalties or even the loss of federal funding. Compared to settlements with other universities, such as Columbia and Brown, UVA’s agreement is relatively streamlined. Columbia paid $200 million, and Brown paid $50 million, with each institution agreeing to extensive terms to resolve federal scrutiny. UVA’s settlement spans four pages, versus nine for Brown and 22 for Columbia, and includes an explicit statement affirming academic freedom, ensuring that the federal government will not dictate curricula or academic speech.

Mahoney stressed that, while UVA will adopt federal definitions of discrimination for hiring practices, the university remains committed to academic freedom, ideological diversity, free expression, and the pursuit of truth, quoting Thomas Jefferson, UVA’s founder.

UVA’s case is notable because it is a public university, whereas the Trump administration primarily focused on elite private institutions during its campaign to reform higher education. While Ivy League universities such as Harvard faced scrutiny over DEI and alleged antisemitism, UVA represents one of the first public campuses targeted for federal oversight of diversity programs. Other public universities, including UCLA and George Mason University, have since faced similar reviews.

The Charlottesville campus drew conservative criticism for allegedly renaming rather than eliminating DEI initiatives. Much of the federal scrutiny focused on the pace at which Ryan implemented a March 7 resolution by UVA’s governing board calling for the removal of DEI practices. In May, the Justice Department expanded the investigation and also looked into allegations of antisemitism. Conservative group America First Legal, founded by former Trump aide Stephen Miller, accused the university of merely repackaging DEI initiatives under euphemistic labels.

George Mason University experienced similar pressure, though its governing board supported President Gregory Washington, even approving a pay increase alongside a resolution prohibiting DEI initiatives in favor of merit-based hiring policies.

It is important to note that UVA’s agreement with the Justice Department does not resolve all federal investigations into the university. In March, the Department of Education listed UVA among 60 universities under review for alleged antisemitism. A department spokesperson noted that it could not confirm whether the investigation remains active due to the ongoing government shutdown, and clarified that the agreement does not address department investigations.

Nevertheless, the settlement reflects the administration’s ongoing focus on “merit-based” approaches in higher education. Education Secretary Linda McMahon commended the Justice Department for pursuing a renewed commitment to merit at universities. McMahon reiterated that the Trump administration remains determined to eliminate DEI practices and illegal race-based preferences on campuses nationwide.

In summary, UVA’s agreement with the Justice Department represents a significant, albeit less financially burdensome, settlement in the broader federal effort to regulate higher education DEI practices. The agreement allows UVA to continue upholding academic freedom while ensuring adherence to federal anti-discrimination standards, providing a potential blueprint for other public universities facing similar scrutiny.