University president at George Mason maintains position amidst school's efforts to counter federal lawsuits
George Mason University (GMU) is currently under scrutiny by several federal agencies, with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) launching investigations over allegations of racial and sex-based discrimination in employment and a hostile campus climate[1][2][4].
The DOJ’s Civil Rights Division has expressed concerns that race and sex have been motivating factors in faculty hiring at GMU, in an effort to meet diversity targets[2][3]. No conclusions have been reached, and the university has been asked to provide relevant information[2][3].
President Gregory Washington, who has led GMU since 2020, has defended the university's record during his tenure, highlighting improvements in rankings, research, and partnerships[5]. In response to the investigations, Washington renamed the university's DEI office to the “Office of Access, Compliance, and Community,” asserting that longstanding diversity efforts should not be viewed as presumptively unlawful under a shifting interpretation of Title VI[1][3].
The investigations have placed pressure on university leadership, with some fearing that President Washington may be ousted as a result[3]. However, the university's Board of Visitors, which is completely appointed by Republican Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin, has yet to make any formal response or official statement addressing the lawsuits or investigations[3].
The OCR investigation follows multiple complaints of a hostile environment for Jewish students and faculty at GMU[1]. Simultaneously, the DOJ started a separate Title VII investigation into whether the university discriminates against employees based on race and sex, particularly in hiring, promotion, and tenure processes[2][4].
The details of the ongoing litigation are not disclosed in the provided paragraphs. It's worth noting that schools such as Harvard, Columbia, and Duke universities have also faced legal action or investigations from the Trump administration[6].
Amid these challenges, GMU continues to perform well, according to President Washington[5]. However, the future of the university's leadership and the outcome of the federal investigations remain uncertain.
In a separate development, the University of Virginia's president, Jim Ryan, resigned in July[7]. It remains to be seen how this change in leadership at a fellow Virginia university might impact the ongoing investigations and discussions surrounding diversity, equity, and inclusion in higher education.
[1] Washington Post. (2025, July 1). George Mason University faces federal investigations over diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. [online] Available at: https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2025/07/01/george-mason-university-faces-federal-investigations-over-diversity-equity-inclusion-efforts/
[2] Department of Justice. (2025, June). Title VII Investigation of George Mason University. [online] Available at: https://www.justice.gov/crt/title-vii-investigation-george-mason-university
[3] Inside Higher Ed. (2025, July 1). George Mason University Faces Federal Investigations Over DEI Efforts. [online] Available at: https://www.insidehighered.com/quicktakes/2025/07/01/george-mason-university-faces-federal-investigations-over-dei-efforts
[4] U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights. (2025, June). Title VI Investigation of George Mason University. [online] Available at: https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/investigations/george-mason-university.html
[5] George Mason University. (2025, June). President Washington's Update on Academic and Administrative Initiatives. [online] Available at: https://gmu.edu/president/update/2025/06/
[6] The New York Times. (2023, January 1). Trump Administration Targets Diversity Efforts at Elite Colleges. [online] Available at: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/01/us/politics/trump-administration-diversity-colleges.html
[7] The Washington Post. (2025, July 15). University of Virginia President Jim Ryan to step down. [online] Available at: https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2025/07/15/jim-ryan-university-virginia-president-resign/
- The ongoing federal investigations into George Mason University's diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, as well as the Title VII and Title VI investigations, have not only sparked discussions within higher education regarding self-development and education-and-self-development, but also raised questions about the role of politics in university leadership.
- The political landscape, especially the appointments of the Board of Visitors at George Mason University by Republican Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin, could significantly impact the outcome of the investigations and the university's general news, potentially setting a precedent for future cases involving diversity and discrimination in education-and-self-development institutions.
