WASHINGTON, D.C. – America First Legal has launched an investigation into Michigan State University’s (MSU) illegal use of race in admissions to the College of Human Medicine and the College of Osteopathic Medicine from 2016 through 2025.
Despite clear legal prohibitions against race-based admissions, MSU’s medical schools have openly embraced an unlawful diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) framework that prioritizes applicants based on race and related classifications. Available information suggests MSU is using these practices to meet racial benchmarks or quotas, rather than evaluating applicants based solely on merit, in violation of state and federal civil rights laws, including Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, and Article I, Section 26 of the Michigan Constitution.
While publicly available admissions data is inconsistent or incomplete, MSU’s official statements confirm that unlawful DEI considerations are embedded in its admissions practices:
- The College of Human Medicine’s “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Policy” includes an admission strategy that uses a “holistic review process in its efforts to identify applicants from a broad range of diverse backgrounds who demonstrate alignment with the mission of the college.”
- The College of Human Medicine’s DEI policy explicitly states that its holistic review “allows for consideration of disadvantaged status” and “personal characteristics” in the decision‑making process.”
- The College of Human Medicine’s Office of Admissions directs the Committee on Admissions to follow its official “Statement on Diversity,” which considers “individual differences, (e.g., personality, prior knowledge, and life experiences), group and social differences (e.g., race/ethnicity, indigeneity, class, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, country of origin, and (dis)ability), historically underrepresented populations, and cultural, political, religious, or other affiliations.”
- The Office of Admissions for the College of Osteopathic Medicine uses a “holistic admission process that ensures development of a diverse and dynamic cadre of osteopathic physicians” and “sponsors outreach and recruitment programs supportive of college and university goals.”
Publicly available class profile data from MSU’s medical schools suggest the university employs DEI-driven admissions preferences. For example, the 2023 entering class profile includes a detailed racial breakdown of admitted students:
In contrast, the 2024 class profile replaces racial disclosures with race-neutral labels, such as “Underrepresented in Medicine,” “Disadvantaged,” “Low Income,” or “First Generation College.” These inconsistencies hinder public oversight and obscure patterns of race-based decision-making.
“Our investigation is about transparency,” said Megan Redshaw, an attorney for America First Legal. “Public medical schools should not be operating under a veil of secrecy, especially when they receive taxpayer dollars and train the next generation of physicians. We have reason to believe that MSU is using an unlawful DEI framework to implement racial benchmarks or quotas in its admissions process. The public has a right to know whether these schools are complying with federal law.”
Read the FOIA request here.
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Photo Credit / Adobe Stock: aicandy
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