I can easily see several variants happening, and they’re kind of different stories:
a1) French school sends off press kit to the US before opening a branch there. Someone at the school thinks “oh, we look too white, let’s just Photoshop a few people darker so it’ll go over better with the Americans” and “fixes” the photo before sending.
a2) Like a, but under orders from someone now denying it.
b1) French school sends out press kit. US PR agency staffed by overpaid white guys think “oh yeah diversity is in with the students now, I’ll just fix it for them”.
b2) The Americans did it, but were instructed by the French.
The press release hints at b1, but all four still seem plausible.
