Tulane Med School's diversity program challenged by Equal Protection Project

The Equal Protection Project has filed a civil rights complaint against Tulane University School of Medicine's IMPRESS program, alleging it discriminates based on race, color, or national origin, according to legalinsurrection.com.

The complaint argues that Tulane uses the term 'underrepresented' as a proxy for race and ethnicity in the program, which may violate Title VI and Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act.

IMPRESS is a multi-week summer program operated by Tulane's Department of Surgery for first- and second-year college students interested in medical careers, running from early June to mid-July.

Since February 2023, the Equal Protection Project has challenged nearly 900 programs at over 300 colleges, resulting in more than 50 federal investigations, focusing increasingly on medical schools and their diversity initiatives.

The 2027 IMPRESS program is scheduled for June 7 through July 16, continuing its professional development and mentorship offerings for participants.