The University of Virginia’s president, James E. Ryan, has told the board overseeing the school that he will resign in the face of demands by the Trump administration that he step aside in order to help resolve a Justice Department inquiry into the school’s diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, according to three people briefed on the matter.

The New York Times reported Thursday that the Justice Department had demanded Ryan’s resignation as a condition to settle a civil rights investigation into the school’s diversity practices.

In a letter to the head of the board overseeing the university sent Thursday, Ryan said that he had planned to step down at the end of the next academic year but “given the circumstances and today’s conversations” he had decided “with deep sadness” to tender his resignation, according to one of the people familiar with the matter.

The school’s board has accepted Ryan’s resignation, according to two of the people briefed on the matter.

Ryan Will Exit No Later Than Aug. 15

It was unclear when Ryan will leave his post. He said in his letter to the head of the board that his resignation could be effective immediately but no later than Aug. 15, according to the person briefed on the letter.

A spokesperson for the university did not respond to a message seeking comment.

Ten days ago, the Justice Department issued a stern warning to the board overseeing the University of Virginia that the school needed to act quickly. The department informed the college of multiple complaints of race-based treatment on campus and that the government had concluded that the use of race in admissions and other student benefits were “widespread practices throughout every component and facet of the institution.”

“Time is running short, and the department’s patience is wearing thin,” the letter, dated June 17, said.

Some members of the school’s board had pushed for Ryan’s ouster in recent days, fearing that if the university failed to comply with the Justice Department’s demands, the Trump administration would follow through on its threat to strip the school of hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding.

In recent days, members of the board appointed by Gov. Glenn Youngkin, a Republican, had talked to senior Justice Department officials to learn what could be done to resolve the situation, and were told Ryan had to go.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.

Michael S. Schmidt and Michael C. Bender/Kristen Luce

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