Yale Faces Civil Rights Complaint Over Racially-Selective Scholarship Program
A civil rights group, the Equal Protection Project, has filed a complaint against Yale University and the American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry (AAAP) over their REACH program, which is accused of discriminating based on race. The REACH program, which provides training for future addiction specialists, has sparked controversy over its eligibility criteria that are explicitly limited to non-white applicants, which the complainants allege violates anti-discrimination laws in the United States, including sections of the Civil Rights Act and the Affordable Care Act.
The REACH program aims to address disparities in addiction care by fostering more professionals of color in the field. The civil rights complaint argues that the program’s race-based restrictions are inherently discriminatory unless there is a compelling justification.
Yale University, which has received substantial federal funding for research and financial aid, including grants from the National Institutes of Health, is now facing a significant legal challenge over its partnership with AAAP on this health-focused initiative. Both AAAP and Yale have not yet responded to the allegations.
This case comes in the wake of increased scrutiny over affirmative action and diversity initiatives at top universities, including the Trump administration’s investigations into Harvard’s admissions policies. The Equal Protection Project’s complaint highlights the broader implications of such race-based selection criteria in publicly funded programs.