Universities Face Consequences For Failing To Address Claims

On March 10, 2025, it was announced that letters had been sent to 60 universities and colleges with a warning of potential enforcement actions if they do not fulfill their obligations under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act.

The letters originated from the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, stating the 60 institutions under investigation for Title VI violations relating to antisemitic harassment and discrimination are required to protect Jewish students on campus and allow uninterrupted access to campus facilities and educational opportunities.

The Department is deeply disappointed that Jewish students studying on elite U.S. campuses continue to fear for their safety amid the relentless antisemitic eruptions that have severely disrupted campus life for more than a year. University leaders must do better. U.S. colleges and universities benefit from enormous public investments funded by U.S. taxpayers. That support is a privilege and it is contingent on scrupulous adherence to federal antidiscrimination laws. - Secretary of Education Linda McMahon

Of the 60 institutions that received letters from the Office for Civil Rights, two are located in the Southern Tier/Central New York area: Binghamton University and Cornell University. Two other SUNY system institutions also received a letter: the State University of New York Rockland and the State University of New York, Purchase.

According to the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, the department sent letters to the 60 institutions under its authority to enforce Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits any institution that receives federal funds from discriminating based on race, color, and national origin. National origin includes shared (Jewish) ancestry.

For more information, visit the U.S. Department of Education website.