The University of Virginia has reached an agreement with the US Justice Department, agreeing to adhere to the Trump administration's guidelines on anti-discrimination in admissions and hiring.

This move comes after months of investigations into the university's diversity, equity, and inclusion practices, which were deemed by President Donald Trump as unlawful forms of discrimination.

The agreement, announced by the Justice Department, began investigating the university's admissions and financial aid processes in April.

Federal officials accused Virginia's president, James Ryan, of failing to eliminate such practices.

This mounting pressure led Ryan to announce his resignation in June, citing the high stakes involved if he chose to 'fight the federal government' to save his job.

Unlike deals made by other universities with the Trump administration, which often included fines or monetary payments, Virginia's agreement does not include any financial penalties.

Instead, the university has committed to following the government's anti-discrimination criteria and providing quarterly data demonstrating compliance, certified by its president.

The deal preserves the university's academic freedom and does not affect its attempts to secure federal research funding.

Moreover, external monitoring by the US government is limited to regular communications with the Department of Justice.

If Virginia complies with the terms of this agreement, the Justice Department has stated that it will officially end its investigations into the university.

This settlement follows similar agreements made by Columbia and Brown universities to resolve federal inquiries and restore access to federal funding.

The University of Virginia's case stands out as a public institution within the Trump administration's broader effort to reform higher education according to the president's vision.

Previous scrutiny had primarily targeted elite private colleges such as Harvard, accused of tolerating antisemitism.

Since then, the campaign has expanded to include public campuses like UCLA and George Mason University.

The agreement marks another development in a contentious debate surrounding diversity initiatives on campus.

Critics have accused universities of merely rebranding their DEI efforts rather than fully eliminating them.

The Justice Department launched multiple investigations into alleged antisemitism at the University of Virginia and expanded its scope several times, including an investigation initiated in May.

The deal does not resolve all inquiries into the university; the Education Department's Office for Civil Rights is currently furloughed during the government shutdown, preventing confirmation on whether the investigation into Virginia remains open.

Regardless, the agreement signifies a significant step toward resolving tensions between the University of Virginia and the federal government.