University of Virginia president resigns over Justice Department pressure, amid DEI probe: report

University of Virginia President Jim Ryan has  resigned over pressure from the Justice Department, amid its probe into the institution's diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, according to a news report Friday.

The department on Thursday demanded Ryan's resignation as a settlement condition for the department's civil rights investigation into the university's diversity practices, and he did so later that day, according to The New York Times.

Ryan wrote in a letter to the university's board that he had planned to leave his post at the end of the next academic year, but “given the circumstances and today’s conversations,” he had decided “with deep sadness” to tender his resignation, a source told The Times.

The university's board accepted Ryan's resignation, according to two sources. However, it is unclear when he will step down. While his letter said that his resignation could take immediate effect, he said he would leave “no later than August 15, 2025,” a source said.

The DOJ wrote in a letter to the university board on June 17, saying that it needed to act quickly amid multiple complaints of race-based treatment on campus. The department found that focusing on race in admissions and other student benefits were “widespread practices throughout every component and facet of the institution.” 

DOJ Civil Rights Division head Harmeet Dhillon and Deputy Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Gregory Brown, both graduates of the university, signed the letter.

The university released a statement on Friday, according to CBS19 News, saying, "UVA is committed to complying with all federal laws and has been cooperating with the Department of Justice in the ongoing inquiries. The federal government's support of the University is essential to continue the core mission of research, education, and clinical care."