The Education Department announced on Wednesday that Columbia University is in violation of federal anti-discrimination laws.
The federal agency has informed the Board of Higher Education, the organization responsible for accrediting universities and determining their eligibility for federal student loans, about this issue.
“On October 7, 2023, following the terrorist attacks in Israel, the leadership of Columbia University showed a deliberate indifference to the harassment faced by Jewish students on campus. This behavior is not only immoral; it’s also illegal. Members with certification hold significant responsibility as gatekeepers for federal student aid,” McMahon stated.
“While the Department of Education must uphold federal anti-discrimination laws, university accreditors must also ensure their member institutions adhere to these standards,” McMahon added. “We look forward to being fully informed about the actions taken to comply with these accreditation standards and federal civil rights laws.”
The Hill reached out to Columbia for a response.
Loss of certification is a major blow, particularly under the Trump administration. Without it, schools would be ineligible for federal student loans and Pell grants, significantly limiting access to education.
The committee mentioned that it received a correspondence from the Department regarding this issue but has not commented further.
This finding of Columbia’s violation of Title VI comes after the university complied with numerous demands from the Trump administration, which included taking disciplinary actions and altering its protest policies.
Columbia also faced the loss of hundreds of millions in federal funding, as President Trump has characterized the university as one of the worst offenders for not adequately addressing anti-Semitism.
Notifying Columbia’s accreditors reflects the heightened concerns within higher education about such issues.
