 "A New York City police officer looks over the centre of Columbia University in New York. File image/AP")
The Trump administration on Wednesday said it has alerted Columbia University’s accrediting body that the school may have violated federal anti-discrimination laws, putting its accreditation at risk. Officials said the university “no longer appears to meet the Commission’s accreditation standards.”
According to the Education Department, Columbia failed to protect Jewish students from harassment, violating Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The finding came after a joint investigation by the Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights and the Department of Health and Human Services.
The investigation, which began in February, concluded that Columbia did not take meaningful steps to protect Jewish students from severe and ongoing harassment, denying them equal access to education.
The administration said Columbia has been in violation since the start of the Israel-Hamas war on October 7, 2023, when Hamas attacked Israel, killing over 1,200 people. In response, Israel launched strikes on Gaza, resulting in more than 54,000 deaths.
In response, Columbia said it is aware of the concerns raised and has addressed them directly with its accreditor. “Columbia is deeply committed to combating antisemitism on our campus,” the university said, adding that it continues to work with the federal government to resolve the issue.