The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced Thursday that its six-month investigation concluded the University of California, Davis School of Medicine unlawfully discriminated against white and Asian applicants in its admissions process. The DOJ's Civil Rights Division found that the medical school's practices from 2023 through 2025 violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, a federal law prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin in programs and activities receiving federal financial assistance.
"Based on our review, the Department has found that Davis Med is violating Title VI by discriminating on the basis of race in its admissions process." — Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon
The investigation was initiated amidst concerns that some universities might be attempting to preserve racial diversity in their admissions following a landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision. In 2023, the Supreme Court ruled in *Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard* that race-conscious admissions policies in higher education were unconstitutional, effectively prohibiting the explicit consideration of race in college admissions. This ruling prompted many institutions to re-evaluate their admissions criteria and strategies.
According to the Justice Department, the UC Davis School of Medicine subsequently developed and implemented methods specifically designed to maintain racial diversity within its student body while ostensibly avoiding direct consideration of race. Federal investigators conducted a comprehensive review, examining internal communications, admissions records, and applicant data spanning several years. The department stated that the evidence gathered showed school officials discussing various strategies aimed at continuing to achieve racially diverse classes through alternative means.
A central element of the investigation focused on a system known as the "Davis Scale," which was developed by Dr. Mark Henderson, the Associate Dean of Admissions. This scale was designed as a measure of socioeconomic disadvantage and incorporated a range of factors. These factors included parental income levels, parental education attainment, participation in government assistance programs, an applicant's upbringing in medically underserved communities, and any financial contributions made by applicants to support their families. Admissions officials reportedly utilized this scale during the evaluation of applicants, adjusting the weight assigned to traditional academic metrics such as grade point averages (GPAs) and Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) scores.
The Justice Department alleged that the "Davis Scale" system functioned as an indirect proxy for race. Investigators contended that the system was intentionally designed to preserve racial outcomes in admissions that were similar to those achieved before the Supreme Court's 2023 ruling. To support this allegation, the department cited internal communications and public statements attributed to Dr. Henderson, in which he described the approach as a form of class-based affirmative action.
The department's report further detailed significant disparities observed among different applicant groups within the admissions data. The findings indicated that Black and Hispanic applicants were admitted at substantially higher rates than white and Asian applicants during certain admissions cycles, even when possessing lower average academic credentials. Conversely, the report stated that white and Asian students who were admitted during the period generally exhibited higher average GPAs and MCAT scores compared to many applicants from other demographic groups who received admission offers.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon affirmed that the collected evidence supported a finding that the university had indeed violated federal law. In a letter outlining the agency's conclusions, Dhillon stated, "Based on our review, the Department has found that Davis Med is violating Title VI by discriminating on the basis of race in its admissions process."
The Justice Department has indicated its intention to engage in discussions with the University of California, Davis, aimed at bringing the medical school into full compliance with federal law. Potential remedies under consideration could include comprehensive changes to the medical school's admissions policies, the complete elimination of the "Davis Scale" or any similar evaluative methods, and the implementation of additional oversight measures to ensure future compliance. As of Thursday, university officials had not publicly announced whether they would contest the DOJ's findings or enter into a settlement agreement.
This case represents one of the most significant federal investigations into university admissions practices since the Supreme Court's landmark ruling on affirmative action. The Justice Department emphasized its commitment to continue monitoring compliance efforts at all institutions receiving federal funding, ensuring that admissions decisions are made without unlawful consideration of race, in adherence to federal civil rights laws.
