The United States Department of Justice is investigating whether the College of William & Mary racially discriminated against students, the department announced Monday.

A handful of scholarships and programs include racial criteria that may violate Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the department said.

'Awarding scholarships or offering coveted opportunities to students based on the color of their skin is illegal and offends the guarantees of our color-blind Constitution,' said Harmeet K. Dhillon, an assistant attorney general in the Justice Department's civil rights division.

William & Mary responded that it is committed to 'nondiscriminatory learning environments' and is reviewing the information it received Monday. The university is committed to complying with all state and federal laws, it said," reports the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

Photo: The Wren Building, which opened in 1700, is the signature building at William & Mary. DANIEL SANGJIB MIN/TIMES-DISPATCH.