Trump Administration Settles Investigations with UNC

The Trump administration has come to an agreement with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, which effectively ends 18 federal investigations along with a separate Justice Department compliance review linked to alleged antisemitism and race discrimination at the university.

This voluntary settlement doesn’t involve any financial compensation, and notably, UNC does not admit to any wrongdoing. The agreement is set to last until the end of 2028, ensuring that the university can still receive federal funding.

As part of the settlement, UNC will appoint a “Merit & Civil Rights Administrator” and create a new “Title VI Coordinator” position within its compliance office. These roles will focus on handling complaints relating to antisemitism and racial discrimination.

Elizabeth Hall, who is already the associate vice chancellor for university compliance, has been designated to take on both responsibilities. She will act as the liaison for the Justice Department and manage UNC’s reporting obligations.

Training and Protocol Changes

As part of this agreement, UNC will also be required to implement mandatory antisemitism training for students, faculty, and staff. Furthermore, the university will ban face masks that are used to hide an individual’s identity, with certain exceptions, and there will be disciplinary actions for student groups found to engage in antisemitic behavior.

This situation ties into larger debates. While pro-Palestinian protests have been labeled antisemitic by some in the Trump administration, others—including various Jewish groups—argue that opposing Israel’s actions in Gaza isn’t inherently antisemitic and that advocating for Palestinian rights doesn’t equate to extremism.

Additionally, the settlement stipulates that UNC must adopt a “color-blind admissions system” that prohibits using race in its admissions processes. However, it can still take into account how applicants have faced personal challenges, such as poverty, as long as these considerations are consistently applied.

UNC is also mandated to uphold race-neutral practices regarding student benefits, scholarships, and financial aid.

Ongoing Investigations and Policy Revisions

The administrative stance has been that policies favoring specific racial groups contravene federal anti-discrimination laws. Under the agreement, UNC is obliged to report any complaints related to antisemitism or racial discrimination to the Justice Department and the Department of Education quarterly.

The settlement results in the closure of 18 active investigations by the Education Department and also ends a separate review by the Justice Department that had started in April 2025.

“Title VI mandates equal treatment for all students, regardless of their ancestry or race, in federally funded colleges and universities,” stated Harmeet Dhillon, Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights.

In 2023, the Supreme Court’s ruling against affirmative action created a significant shift by dismantling race-based admissions at institutions like UNC and Harvard.

The Trump administration has launched investigations into various universities nationally, reacting to campus issues such as pro-Palestinian demonstrations, diversity initiatives, and transgender policies.

Other colleges have also reached settlements, including Columbia University, which agreed to a payment exceeding $200 million to settle federal inquiries, and Brown University, which committed $50 million to workforce development over a decade as part of its agreement.

Notably, Harvard remains a focal point of the administration’s scrutiny but has not yet reached a settlement.