US Department of Education Alerts 60 Universities on the Need to Safeguard Jewish Students

On March 10, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) issued letters to 60 universities that are under investigation for potential violations of Title VI concerning antisemitic harassment and discrimination.

This action is part of a wider effort to combat antisemitism in higher education institutions, particularly after a rise in serious incidents across the nation following the attacks by Hamas on Israel on October 7, 2023.

As stated by the Department of Education, these 60 universities must ensure that all students, including Jewish students, have uninterrupted access to campus facilities and educational opportunities.

“The Department is profoundly disappointed that Jewish students at prestigious U.S. universities continue to feel unsafe due to the persistent antisemitic incidents that have greatly disrupted campus life for over a year. University leaders must take more effective action,” remarked Secretary of Education Linda McMahon in a news release on March 10.

The universities that received the letters include renowned institutions such as Harvard, Stanford, Princeton, Brown, Cornell, Columbia, and Yale, as well as state and local schools like the University of Michigan, Ohio State University, University of North Carolina, and Santa Monica College.

This latest action by the OCR comes in the wake of President Donald Trump’s Executive Order 14188, signed on January 29, aimed at safeguarding Jewish students from discrimination and harassment. The order also compels federal agencies to utilize all available legal methods to prosecute and hold accountable those accused of antisemitic harassment and violence.

Recently, the Department of Education has taken tangible steps toward addressing this critical issue.

It has initiated investigations into five universities—Columbia, Northwestern, Portland State, the University of California, Berkeley, and the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities—where “widespread antisemitic harassment has been reported,” according to the department.

The OCR has also indicated it will prioritize addressing a backlog of complaints concerning antisemitic violence and harassment that accumulated during the prior administration.

Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Craig Trainor noted that following the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel, U.S. institutions have witnessed a surge of harassment and violent incidents targeting Jewish students, severely obstructing their education.

“Numerous university presidents have taken minimal or no significant action, and the Biden Administration’s OCR leadership inexplicably allowed a backlog of complaints to pile up,” Trainor stated in a March 7 Department of Education news release.

Just last week, in conjunction with other federal agencies, the Department of Education revoked around $400 million in federal grants and contracts at Columbia University due to alleged failure to address ongoing harassment of Jewish students.

“Universities must comply with all federal anti-discrimination laws in order to qualify for federal funding. For far too long, Columbia University has neglected its obligation to protect Jewish students on its campus,” McMahon asserted.

Task Force

The grant cancellation forms part of efforts by the Joint Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism, which involves the Departments of Justice, Health and Human Services, Education, and the General Services Administration.

This task force has been assessing Columbia’s adherence to federal regulations, particularly Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, or national origin in programs or activities that receive federal financial assistance.

The U.S. government has reiterated its zero-tolerance policy toward supporters of foreign terrorist organizations, including international students. The State Department indicated on March 7 that it reserves the right to revoke or deny visas to such individuals due to national security concerns.

Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian graduate student and permanent resident who led pro-Palestinian encampment protests at Columbia University following the October 7 attack, was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials on March 8.

A federal judge in New York on March 10 temporarily blocked any actions by the Trump administration to deport Khalil. A hearing has been scheduled for March 12 to discuss the case.