University of Kentucky President Eli Capilouto said the university is under review for using “racial preferences and stereotypes in education programs and activities” in a university-wide email.

The email, sent on Friday, March 14, came as a response to a newsletter published by the U.S. Department of Education.

According to the newsletter, the Department of Education has opened an investigation into 45 universities for “allegedly engaging in race-exclusionary practices in their graduate programs.”

“The Department is working to reorient civil rights enforcement to ensure all students are protected from illegal discrimination,” U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said in the newsletter. “Students must be assessed according to merit and accomplishment, not prejudged by the color of their skin. We will not yield on this commitment.”

In response to the newsletter, Capilouto said the university believes the review is a response to its collaboration with the PhD Project, a networking organization that provides networking opportunities for UK doctoral students.

Currently, the university has no doctoral students in the program and plans to “review this issue, cooperate with any official inquiries and as always, comply with the law.”

According to the email, although UK has not yet received official notification from the Department of Education regarding the investigation, they are “aware of the news release and are responding to media inquiries.”

“To be clear: The University of Kentucky complies with both the Constitution and Title VI,” Capilouto said in the email. “Our graduate programs are open to all qualified applicants.”