- The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) found that GMU violated Title VI by using race and other immutable characteristics in hiring and promotion.
- OCR proposed a Resolution Agreement; GMU has 10 days to voluntarily resolve the violations.
- Required steps include a presidential statement and apology, policy revisions, annual training, prominent web posting, records retention, and appointing a coordinator.
The Big Picture
On Friday, Aug. 22, 2025, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights announced a noncompliance finding that George Mason University violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, citing unlawful use of race in certain university practices. The announcement and proposed Resolution Agreement were detailed in an official press release. Subsequent references to the Department’s statement in this article are unlinked.
What’s New
What’s New OCR sent GMU a proposed Resolution Agreement that would require the university’s president to personally promise that hiring, promotion, and tenure decisions will follow Title VI and to apologize to the university community for encouraging illegal behavior. The statement needs to be easy to find on GMU’s website, and any statements that are not true need to be taken down.
GMU needs to look over and change any policies and documents that have rules that favor or hurt candidates based on their race, color, or national origin. This includes hiring panel instructions and scoring rubrics. The university must also provide annual training for all staff members who are involved in hiring, promoting, and deciding on tenure, keep records that show compliance, and name an official to work with OCR to make sure the rules are followed.
What They’re Saying
Context
In their report, investigators cited policy language indicating that GMU could employ individuals who promote diversity and inclusion without conducting competitive searches. In addition, they stated that in March 2025, the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion would become the Office of Access, Compliance, and Community. A school that receives federal funding cannot discriminate against anyone on the basis of race, color, or place of origin.
GMU can forgo competitive searches in order to hire individuals who are committed to diversity and inclusion, according to researchers. As well as that, in March 2025, the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion was renamed the Office of Access, Compliance, and Com.
What’s Next
GMU has ten days to sign the Resolution Agreement by itself. If the university doesn’t follow through or refuses to, OCR can do something to make sure the rules are followed. This could include actions that could affect federal funding.
The Bottom Line
Federal civil rights officials say GMU crossed a clear legal line in how it approached hiring and promotion. The university now faces a short
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