The Department of Education announced that it is investigating Princeton University.

The move reportedly comes after the school's president presented his plan to take on "systemic racism" in an open letter earlier this month.

In it, he wrote that "racist assumptions from the past remain embedded in structures of the university."

The department is now investigating if the school may be violating the Civil Rights Act.

Princeton denies the allegations, saying in part in a written response,

"The University will respond to the Department of Education's letter in due course. It is unfortunate that the Department appears to believe that grappling honestly with the nation's history and the current effects of systemic racism runs afoul of existing law. The University disagrees and looks forward to furthering our educational mission by explaining why our statements and actions are consistent not only with the law, but also with the highest ideals and aspirations of this country."