UK reviewing relationship with 1,200 organizations after federal investigation
The University of Kentucky is reviewing about 1,200 memberships and partnerships with outside organizations for potential removal, as part of a federal investigation from the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights.
Earlier this year, UK was investigated by the Office for Civil Rights, and found to have violated the federal Civil Rights Act, for participating in The PhD Project’s annual conference, designed for students of color completing their doctoral degrees. UK was one of more than 50 universities being investigated.
UK severed its relationship with The PhD Project after the investigation was announced. As part of a resolution with the Department of Education, UK had to identify any organization the university had a partnership with or affiliation with that “may restrict participation based on race.”
As a result, more than 60,000 transactions were reviewed across the university and UK HealthCare in the last 60 days, the university said Tuesday. From those, more than 1,800 organizations were evaluated, and 1,200 organization marked for removal or additional review.
“Our priority is to comply with federal law while protecting our mission and people — to advance this state in all that we do,” UK President Eli Capilouto said in an email to students Tuesday. “That means we must be there for each other and remain focused, as much as possible, on our mission of how we advance Kentucky in all that we do.”
Included in the partnerships under review are Black Soil Kentucky, the Black Law Student Association, Kentucky Refugee Ministry and several professional fraternity organizations. It also includes groups like the Kentucky Historical Society, Kentucky Christmas Tree Association and the College Media Association.
About 400 organizations were deemed essential, because they are required for accreditation, certification, licensure or other purposes, and remain in place. Because the university was on a tight timeframe, if it was unclear if an organization was essential, it was flagged as needing additional information, said UK spokesperson Jay Blanton.
That further review will be ongoing, Blanton said.
“We have been broad in our review of how institutional funds have been used in the past and defining limits on their usage now and in the future. We have also been clear that none of these policies — at either federal or state levels — limit academic freedom or scholarly work. Still, we know this process can create uncertainty. We will work with colleges and units to ensure essential memberships or partnerships will remain.”
Dozens of staff members were involved in the review, Blanton said, including staff from the general counsel’s office, the offices for Student Success and Finance and Administration.
Partnerships have not been officially terminated, and those listed as flagged for further review are not final decisions, according to a Q&A page on the university’s website.
“Final determinations will be made after a more detailed review with colleges and units,” the website said.
Additionally, there is a pause on new memberships and partnerships that would be paid for with institutional funding, except for those required for accreditation, licensure or certification. That pause will remain in place until the Office for Civil Rights completes its review of UK’s submission.
UK is waiting for a response from the Office for Civil Rights, after which UK will have “finalized its review with colleges and units and issue updated guidance.” Included in that review is working with colleges and units to review the memberships that were flagged, determine which are required for the university, and determine which memberships are not in line with federal and state requirements.
This comes as diversity, equity and inclusion — DEI — has been under scrutiny federally and in Kentucky.
House Bill 4, which outlawed DEI programs, offices and initiatives, was passed by the Kentucky legislature earlier this year. Public universities and the Kentucky Community and Technical College System were required to dismantle such programs and adopt a statement of neutrality, saying they would be impartial and facilitate broad perspectives.
This story was originally published December 10, 2025 at 5:30 AM.