Overview

• On June 4, the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights informed the Middle States Commission that Columbia violated Title VI by failing to protect Jewish students since October 7, 2023.
• The notification triggers a review process that could place Columbia on probation or strip its accreditation, cutting off access to federal student loans and Pell Grants.
• Columbia has already lost $400 million in federal grants and contracts and made administrative and policy changes on protests, discipline and Middle East studies.
• The accreditation threat stems from President Trump’s April executive order directing the DOE to enforce civil rights compliance through accreditors.
• University officials say they are working with federal agencies to address antisemitism concerns and restore compliance with accreditation standards.