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2w ago

Education Department Finds Columbia University Violated Civil Rights, Fails Accreditation Criteria

The notification to the Middle States Commission triggers a review that could end Columbia’s access to federal student aid

Students are seen on the campus of Columbia University on April 14, 2025, in New York City.
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The Trump administration has pulled some $400 million in funding from Columbia University since March. Photo by Lokman Vural Elibol/Anadolu via Getty Images

Overview

  • On June 4, the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights informed MSCHE that Columbia University is in violation of federal antidiscrimination laws and does not meet accreditation standards
  • The OCR found the university acted with deliberate indifference to antisemitic harassment of Jewish students during Gaza-related demonstrations
  • The accreditation review could strip Columbia of Title IV eligibility and cut off federal student loans and Pell Grants for its students
  • Earlier this year, the Trump administration canceled about $400 million in federal research grants, prompting Columbia to lay off roughly 180 staff members funded by those grants
  • Columbia has overhauled its protest and safety policies and adopted a new campus-wide definition of antisemitism but remains under federal scrutiny until it satisfies civil rights requirements