Probe launched into an alleged limit on Asian-American students

BOSTON — The US Justice Department is investigating complaints that Harvard University intentionally limits the number of Asian-American students it admits, according to a report on Tuesday.

The department has also accused the university of failing to cooperate with the probe into the relevance of race in its admission practices, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing documents it reviewed.

A Nov 17 letter from the department gives Harvard until Dec 1 to turn over a variety of records that Justice officials requested in September, including applications for admission and evaluations of students.

The department said Harvard has pursued a “strategy of delay” and threatened to sue if it doesn’t meet department’s deadline.

The inquiry is related to a federal lawsuit filed by a group of students in 2014 alleging Harvard limits the number of AsianAmericans it admits each year. A similar complaint was made to the Justice Department.

Diversity push

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Harvard has previously said its admissions process is consistent with the legal precedents set over the past 40 years by the Supreme Court, which have allowed universities to consider race as a factor in admissions to obtain the benefits of a diverse student body.

A statement from Harvard on Tuesday said it will “certainly comply with its obligations” but also needs to protect confidential records related to students and applicants.