CUNY, University of Michigan mishandled discrimination reports: Education Department
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The University of Michigan in 2015. Photo: Robert Nickelsberg/Getty Images
The Department of Education announced Monday that the City University of New York (CUNY) and the University of Michigan fell short in addressing campus reports of discrimination.
The big picture: The two universities are the first to reach resolutions among a growing list of colleges and K-12 school districts investigated by the Department of Education over alleged incidents of antisemitism and Islamophobia.
- Amid an uptick in such threats on college campuses since the Israel-Hamas war began, the department has reiterated schools' responsibility to comply with a federal civil rights law that addresses discrimination.
- The Education Department has opened more than 100 investigations into institutions for alleged discrimination involving shared ancestry since the war began.
State of play: The investigations are related to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which holds that institutions have a legal obligation to provide all students a school environment free from discrimination based on race, color, or national origin.
Zoom in: CUNY's resolution agreement addresses nine separate cases that alleged the university "failed to respond promptly or effectively to alleged discrimination and antisemitic harassment by employees and students … creating a hostile environment" since 2019.
- The University of Michigan had 75 reports alleging "shared ancestry harassment and/or discrimination" from the 2022-23 school year through February 2024, and a review found that the university did not comply with Title VI rules in these instances.
Where it stands: In voluntary resolution agreements announced Monday, the schools agreed to address the complaints.
- They'll be required to administer "climate assessment" surveys, review employee and security trainings and review or alter discrimination policies as needed.
What they're saying: "Colleges serve as beacons of free speech and expression, but the safety of our students, staff and faculty is paramount," CUNY Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez said in a statement.
- "CUNY is committed to providing an environment that is free from discrimination and hate and these new steps will ensure that there is consistency and transparency in how complaints are investigated and resolved," he added.
- University of Michigan President Santa J. Ono said in a statement that the university condemns "all forms of discrimination, racism and bias in the strongest possible terms."
- He added that the agreement with the department "reflects the university's commitment to ensuring it has the tools needed to determine whether an individual's acts or speech creates a hostile environment, and taking the affirmative measures necessary to provide a safe and supportive educational environment for all."
Zoom out: U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona said in a statement Monday that the commitments by the two universities mark a "positive step forward."
- "Sadly, we have witnessed a series of deeply concerning incidents in recent months," he said. "There's no question that this is a challenging moment for school communities across the country."
- Cardona added that the department's Office for Civil Rights will continue to hold schools accountable for compliance with civil rights standards, "including by investigating allegations of discrimination or harassment based on shared Jewish ancestry and shared Palestinian or Muslim ancestry."
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