Overview

• Barnard College professors received unsolicited text messages from the EEOC requesting participation in a survey about Jewish or Israeli identity and experiences of antisemitism.
• The college confirmed it was not notified in advance but stated the EEOC had legal authority to access employee contact information for its investigation.
• The survey, accessible via an open Microsoft Form link, asked for personal and professional details, including department and superior names, raising data security concerns.
• Faculty members expressed unease, viewing the investigation as part of a broader Trump administration effort to influence campus governance and politics.
• This action follows a March initiative by the Department of Education, which investigated 60 universities over antisemitism, signaling increased federal scrutiny of higher education institutions.