AACE Files Civil Rights Complaint against Yale University for Illicit Use of Race Proxies to Discriminate against Asian American Applicants

LIVINGSTON, N.J., April 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- On April 22, 2025, the Asian American Coalition for Education (AACE) filed a civil rights complaint against Yale University with the Office for Civil Rights, the U.S. Department of Education (OCR), alleging that Yale University illegally uses race proxies to discriminate against Asian American applicants during the 2023-2024 admission cycle.

Following the U.S. Supreme Court's 2023 rulings in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard/UNC (SFFA Rulings), many selective colleges have significantly increased Asian enrollment. At MIT, Asian enrollment rose from 41% in the class of 2027 to 47% in the class of 2028—an increase of nearly 15%. Johns Hopkins University saw a similar trend, with Asian enrollment rising from 32% in 2023 to 46% in 2024, marking a 43% increase.

In contrast, Asian enrollment at Yale University declined, dropping from 30% in the previous year to just 24%—a decrease of approximately 20%. In response, AACE conducted a review of Yale's admission policy changes in 2023, specifically analyzing the university's statement "An Update on Yale College's Response to the Supreme Court Ruling on Race in Admissions" (September 7, 2023). Through this review, AACE identified concerns that Yale University may have unlawfully used race proxies to discriminate against Asian American applicants during the 2023–2024 admissions cycle. If confirmed, such actions would represent a direct violation of the Supreme Court's SFFA rulings.

AACE filed the civil rights complaint against Yale University, requesting the OCR to investigate Yale's admission practices. We demand Yale University to conscientiously implement the U.S. Supreme Court SFFA rulings of 2023, stop all racial discrimination against Asian and all other Americans.

If Yale University refuses to conscientiously implement the U.S. Supreme Court SFFA rulings of 2023, AACE requests the Federal Government suspend the federal fundings to Yale until it fully complies with the law! 

AACE President Yukong Zhao stated, "Compelling evidence indicates that Yale University may have unlawfully employed race proxies to circumvent the Supreme Court's SFFA rulings. Such discriminatory admission practices must be investigated and halted. AACE remains committed to monitoring compliance and ensuring that all applicable colleges adhere to the Supreme Court's SFFA rulings with integrity."

Link to the complaint: https://asianamericanforeducation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/AACE_Complaint_against_Yale_2025.pdf

SOURCE Asian American Coalition for Education