The U.S. Department of Education has opened an investigation into Rice University, alleging it uses race-exclusionary practices in its graduate program, according to an announcement Friday. Rice is one of the 45 universities under investigation after the agency’s Office for Civil Rights sent schools a “Dear Colleague” letter on Feb.

The Department of Education said Friday it has opened investigations into more than 50 colleges and universities over what it describes as illegal, discriminatory diversity programs that generally benefit Black,