The Trump administration’s Department of Housing and Urban Development has opened civil-rights investigations into the University of Connecticut and the University of Minnesota following complaints about allegedly race-based dormitory programmes. The inquiries matter because they could test whether university housing initiatives designed around identity or cultural communities comply with federal fair-housing rules.

The article says the complaints concern programmes that may direct or limit housing based on race. HUD has not announced findings of wrongdoing, and the investigations are at an early stage; the universities will have an opportunity to respond to the allegations.