The Trump administration has initiated civil rights investigations into the University of Connecticut (UConn) and the University of Minnesota following complaints that the schools are operating housing programs that may steer students toward campus housing services based on race. The complaints, filed by the Equal Protection Project, allege that specific dorm programs at both universities, promoted towards Black, Hispanic, and Hmong American students, potentially violate the Fair Housing Act, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and constitutional equal-protection guarantees.
According to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), these programs could be discriminating by steering students toward or away from dormitory housing and associated support services based on race, color, or national origin, even if the universities claim the programs are open to all.
"Unlawful discrimination cannot be allowed to poison American communities or separate members of our next generation—especially in college and university housing," stated HUD Secretary Scott Turner. "Every student has the right to learn and live in an educational environment free from illegal and divisive DEI. Unlike the Biden Administration, the Trump Administration does not play favorites. Every American deserves the law’s protection, and any institution of higher education that engages in unlawful housing discrimination will be held accountable."
Both UConn and the University of Minnesota have denied engaging in discriminatory housing practices. A spokesperson for the University of Minnesota stated that the school's Living Learning Communities are open to all students and that the university is diligent in its compliance with federal regulations and anti-discrimination laws. However, the Equal Protection Project's complaint, which HUD cited, argues that a university's disclaimer of being "open to all" does not rectify the issue if the communities are still marketed and described with racial or ethnic specificity.
The complaint against the University of Minnesota specifically names Huntley House (for Black men), Charlotte’s Home (for Black women), CASA SOL (for Latinx students), and Tsev Hmoob (for Hmong American students), alleging that promotional materials describe these communities with racial or ethnic designations. The complaint further suggests that the university added "open to all" language to some program descriptions retroactively, indicating awareness of potential legal liability.
UConn also asserted that it does not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, or any other aspect of identity in its on-campus housing. A university spokesperson explained that its nearly 20 interdisciplinary living and learning communities are organized around shared student interests, backgrounds, or academic pursuits and are open to all students. Yet, the Equal Protection Project's complaint argues that UConn's promotional materials and social media posts for programs like ScHOLA²RS House, BSOUL House, and La Comunidad Intelectual may signal to non-Black or non-Hispanic students that these housing programs are not intended for them, potentially constituting unlawful racial steering.
Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity Craig Trainor commented, "Too often, however, these young Americans arrive on campus only to be steered toward racially segregated housing arrangements that divide students, create unequal experiences, and betray the core principles of a classical liberal education. We will fully investigate the allegations against the University of Connecticut and the University of Minnesota to determine if they are, in fact, violating the Fair Housing Act and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964."