The Training Division mentioned Wednesday that Columbia College has violated federal antidiscrimination legal guidelines and has subsequently failed to satisfy accreditation requirements.
The division’s civil rights workplace notified the Center States Fee on Larger Training — which accredits U.S. schools and universities — that Columbia was out of compliance, in accordance with a information launch from the Training Division.
The division, citing President Trump’s govt order on accreditation requirements, accused the college’s leaders of failing to handle antisemitism on campus after the Oct. 7 assault in opposition to Israel by Hamas.
“After Hamas’ October 7, 2023, terror assault on Israel, Columbia College’s management acted with deliberate indifference in direction of the harassment of Jewish college students on its campus,” Training Secretary Linda McMahon mentioned within the launch.
She famous that the accreditation fee has “an unlimited public accountability as gatekeepers of federal pupil support,” and so they “decide which establishments are eligible for federal pupil loans and Pell Grants.” Shedding its accreditation would imply that Columbia could be ineligible to supply federal monetary support to college students attending the college.
“In mild of OCR’s dedication, Columbia College not seems to satisfy the Fee’s accreditation requirements,” the division launch mentioned.
A Columbia spokesperson advised CBS Information the college is conscious of the Division of Training’s issues and has “addressed these issues instantly with Center States,” referring to its accreditor. The spokesperson additionally mentioned the college is “deeply dedicated to combating antisemitism on our campus” and is “persevering with to work with the federal authorities to handle it.”
The accreditation group confirmed to CBS Information it acquired a letter Wednesday on the Division of Training’s points with Columbia, however didn’t remark additional.
Final month, the civil rights places of work of the Training Division and Division of Well being and Human Companies decided that Columbia had “did not meaningfully defend Jewish college students in opposition to extreme and pervasive harassment on Columbia’s campus and consequently denied these college students’ equal entry to instructional alternatives to which they’re entitled beneath the legislation.”
It is a growing story and can be up to date.
