(CNBC) Education Department says Columbia University fails to meet accreditation standards

[trixare4kids]

"On May 22, 2025, the Department of Education’s OCR and the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office for Civil Rights (HHS OCR) determined that Columbia University acted with deliberate indifference towards the harassment of Jewish students, thereby violating Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Specifically, OCR and HHS OCR found that Columbia failed to meaningfully protect Jewish students against severe and pervasive harassment on Columbia’s campus and consequently denied these students’ equal access to educational opportunities to which they are entitled under the law.

Under 34 C.F.R. § 602.20(a), accreditors are required to notify any member institution about a federal noncompliance finding and establish a plan to come into compliance. If a university fails to come into compliance within a specified period, an accreditor must take appropriate action against its member institution."

And there you have it. Columbia broke the law. This thread is full of dishonesty and IMO it is mostly based on extreme anti-Trumpism.

U.S. Department of Education Notifies Columbia University’s Accreditor of Columbia’s Title VI Violation

U.S. Department of Education Notifies Columbia University’s Accreditor of Columbia’s Title VI Violation

www.ed.gov

 

[RetiredAtLast]

As is typical for MAGA, there's a lot of higher-level generalized assertions devoid of specifics.

Besides asking vapid questions, have you made any effort to research specifics? You've already said that you're "100% anti-Trump," so I guess that describes your interest in any facts on the non-leftist side of the issue.

 

[Chomsky]

He wants to destroy their academic freedom and independence. That's pretty much it.

Look, there's a reason MAGA's attacking Ivy League schools. Nobody cares if this Montana State has an antisemitism problem because it's not an influential school. It doesn't turn lawyers, doctors, jurists, entrepreneurs, and civic/political years the way that Ivy League schools do. MAGA wants the most influential institutions in the US (the world, actually) to churn out graduates who are going to reinforce MAGA values (i.e., no values of their own) and propagate propaganda and lies that reinforce MAGA mythology...or at least don't stand in its way.

Absolutely.

Ditto for Trump's newly required Federal Workforce Hiring Essay (where applicants must write an essay on how they will act in concert with and promote "President Trump's America First Agenda", signing it and dating it and submitting it with their application for employment.

 

[Phys251]

Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

In what way? Be specific. Don't just quote someone in tRump's admin.

 

[Phys251]

I'm saying that the very people, the American left, who so loudly and so often refer to people on the right as being "Nazis" and "Hitlers" are supporting genocide against the Jews, on the same scale as the real Hitler's efforts, when they support the Hamas objective of wiping Israel from the face of the earth.

That is an enormously broad brush you just used. Care to name some people who "are supporting genocide against the Jews"?

 

[bythoughts]

deliberate indifference towards the harassment of Jewish students

As PC as Columbia is, do you really think that sounds believable?

 

[Chomsky]

What's the matter with you guys? Don't you read news? Even MSNBC and CNN have shown the "demonstrations."

The BBC article you referenced mentions program changes and the prohibition of masks during demonstrations, but it doesn't say anything about discipline or control of the demonstrations. (They may have done something that the article doesn't mention.)

We all saw the demonstrations. Just as we saw the campus demonstrations in the sixties. How can the university physically clear-out buildings with that level & quantity of misdeed? That's why they called NYCPD in, as is the case with other urban campus universities during similar events. Sometimes it even requires the national guard.

 

[Chomsky]

Well how. ? They state publically that they’ve investigated that they won’t tolerate it in classrooms etc.

In dorms is one thing. In classrooms okay but this is people out on a street not controlled by the college. It’s literally in New York City and anyone can walk on.

Basically it seems that the only issue is that Columbia is letting people protest in support of Palestine . Which frankly they should be allowed to do , just as people can protest in support of Israel.

Once the situation spiraled out-of-control to the point of requiring NYCPD to come-in and take-over, what was the university to do? How do you clear-out buildings the NYCPD couldn't?

 

[trixare4kids]

Joint Notice of Violation to Columbia University​

May 22, 2025

Felice B. Rosan
General Counsel
Columbia University
fbr@gc.columbia.edu, opens in a new window

Re: Joint Notice of Violation (DO-25-607300-RV-CRR-Rac (HHS), 02-25-6901 Directed Investigation (ED), Columbia University)

Dear Counsel:

Pursuant to the authority delegated by the Secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to the Office for Civil Rights (HHS OCR) and by the authority delegated to the Secretary of the United States Department of Education (ED) to the Office for Civil Rights (ED OCR), we write to inform you that we are jointly issuing a Notice of Violation under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI)1 against Columbia University based upon the events documented below in the Findings of Fact.

I. Legal Standard

Title VI provides that “[n]o person in the United States shall, on the ground of race, color, or national origin be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination under any program or activity that receives Federal financial assistance” (FFA).2 A recipient of FFA may not, based on race, color, or national origin, deny services or other benefits; provide a different service or other benefit, or provide services or benefits in a different manner from those provided to others under the program; or segregate or separately treat individuals in any matter related to the receipt of any service or other benefit under any covered program.3

1. Denial of “educational opportunity or benefit”

It is well established that “antisemitic harassment can amount to discrimination on the basis of race or national origin,” particularly when such harassment is based on actual or perceived Israeli identity or on actual or perceived ancestry. T.E. v. Pine Bush Cent. Sch. Dist., 58 F. Supp. 3d 332, 354 (S.D.N.Y. 2014). See Kestenbaum v. President & Fellows of Harvard Coll., No. CV 24- 10092-RGS, 2024 WL 3658793, at *5 (D. Mass. Aug. 6, 2024); Louis D. Brandeis Ctr. for Hum. Rts. Under L. v. President & Fellows of Harvard Coll., No. CV 24-11354-RGS, 2024 WL 4681802, at *4 (D. Mass. Nov. 5, 2024); StandWithUs Ctr. for Legal Just. v. Massachusetts Inst. of Tech., No. CV 24-10577-RGS, 2024 WL 3596916, at *4 (D. Mass. July 30, 2024).



2. Deliberate indifference

Record of notice snipped for character limits.
Columbia has already admitted fault to some of the notice above. The question now is if they have done enough to regain their accreditation. No matter how many want to deny that Columbia broke the law, pretending that this is ALL Trump's fault, blah, blah, blah, the university is in violation of Title VI.

No $$soup$$ for you, Columbia, until you clean up your act.

https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/compliance-enforcement/agreements/ocr-joint-notice-of-violation-to-columbia.html

 

[Chomsky]

The key point here is that this lady, whose sole qualification to weigh in on educational matters is that she is the wife of the founder of a pro wrestling enterprise that made a lot of money, does not actually have the say on accreditation. She can send a letter stating the obvious -- that Columbia has to avoid discrimination and intimidation against students based on race. But what happens is between Columbia and the NGO Middle States Commission on Higher Education. An organization which has very little to gain from the humiliation and abandonment of higher education, technology, research, and philosophical inquiry in the United States.

In terms of academic accreditation, perhaps you are right.

My concern is also with Federal Pell Grants & Federal Student Loans.

Here's excerpts from the OP Article, where it appears the Administration is leaning on the accreditor:

The department noted that by federal regulations, “accreditors are required to notify any member institution about a federal noncompliance finding and establish a plan to come into compliance.”

“If a university fails to come into compliance within a specified period, an accreditor must take appropriate action against its member institution,” the department said.

 

[dcsports]

I don't see any inconsistency.

My article stated the university agreed to Trump's demands, and he hasn't communicated anything else back to them.

So, what's the problem?

Here is your statement:

Yes, but what specific incident(s) is the Administration claiming? and what specific remedy would the Administration prescribe?

Columbia claims they've agree to acquiesce to Trump demands and informed him of such, but Trump hasn't communicated with them and they don't know what he's demanding.

The article then notes the memo, which gives specific requests.

 

[dcsports]

In what way? Be specific. Don't just quote someone in tRump's admin.

HHS gave specific items, and articles regarding this have been posted several times.

 

[trixare4kids]

As PC as Columbia is, do you really think that sounds believable?

Believe whatever you want. Their deliberate indifference is linked in the above Post 209.
The university failed to take adequate action to address ongoing harassment. It did not consistently enforce its policies on protests or investigate and punish acts of vandalism and harassment, such as the repeated drawing of swastikas. The focus was often on avoiding escalation rather than stopping rule violations, which allowed the hostile environment to persist.

 

[Phys251]

HHS gave specific items, and articles regarding this have been posted several times.

In what post? I am not searching through 200+ posts.

 

[CharisRose]

"On May 22, 2025, the Department of Education’s OCR and the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office for Civil Rights (HHS OCR) determined that Columbia University acted with deliberate indifference towards the harassment of Jewish students, thereby violating Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Specifically, OCR and HHS OCR found that Columbia failed to meaningfully protect Jewish students against severe and pervasive harassment on Columbia’s campus and consequently denied these students’ equal access to educational opportunities to which they are entitled under the law.

Under 34 C.F.R. § 602.20(a), accreditors are required to notify any member institution about a federal noncompliance finding and establish a plan to come into compliance. If a university fails to come into compliance within a specified period, an accreditor must take appropriate action against its member institution."

And there you have it. Columbia broke the law. This thread is full of dishonesty and IMO it is mostly based on extreme anti-Trumpism.

U.S. Department of Education Notifies Columbia University’s Accreditor of Columbia’s Title VI Violation

U.S. Department of Education Notifies Columbia University’s Accreditor of Columbia’s Title VI Violation

www.ed.gov

Yes ~ Columbia broke the law. Yes ~ This thread has multiple posts based on dishonesty. Yes ~ Mostly based on extreme anti-Trumpism.

However, this thread does have multiple posts based on realty which are being ignored based on extreme anti-Trumpism. imho big to all of those posts.

 

[dcsports]

In what post? I am not searching through 200+ posts.

lol. It's been posted several times, including in the last few pages that also include your posts. Google is a handy resource, but here's a link for you.

https://www.hhs.gov/press-room/ocr-columbia-violates-federal-civil-rights-law.html

 

[Chomsky]

"On May 22, 2025, the Department of Education’s OCR and the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office for Civil Rights (HHS OCR) determined that Columbia University acted with deliberate indifference towards the harassment of Jewish students, thereby violating Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Specifically, OCR and HHS OCR found that Columbia failed to meaningfully protect Jewish students against severe and pervasive harassment on Columbia’s campus and consequently denied these students’ equal access to educational opportunities to which they are entitled under the law.

Under 34 C.F.R. § 602.20(a), accreditors are required to notify any member institution about a federal noncompliance finding and establish a plan to come into compliance. If a university fails to come into compliance within a specified period, an accreditor must take appropriate action against its member institution."

And there you have it. Columbia broke the law. This thread is full of dishonesty and IMO it is mostly based on extreme anti-Trumpism.

U.S. Department of Education Notifies Columbia University’s Accreditor of Columbia’s Title VI Violation

U.S. Department of Education Notifies Columbia University’s Accreditor of Columbia’s Title VI Violation

www.ed.gov

The above is the very complaint I put in my OP and that many in this thread have.

There's high-level generalized assertion, but no specificity.

Who broke the law? When? Where? How?

There's nothing there, but McMahon's assertion.

 

[CharisRose]

Record of notice snipped for character limits.
Columbia has already admitted fault to some of the notice above. The question now is if they have done enough to regain their accreditation. No matter how many want to deny that Columbia broke the law, pretending that this is ALL Trump's fault, blah, blah, blah, the university is in violation of Title VI.

No $$soup$$ for you, Columbia, until you clean up your act.

https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/compliance-enforcement/agreements/ocr-joint-notice-of-violation-to-columbia.html

HEAR! HEAR! Post worth repeating.

 

[trixare4kids]

Yes ~ Columbia broke the law. Yes ~ This thread has multiple posts based on dishonesty. Yes ~ Mostly based on extreme anti-Trumpism.

However, this thread does have multiple posts based on realty which are being ignored based on extreme anti-Trumpism. imho big to all of those posts.

Kudos to the minority of posters who spoke up countering the nonsense. T/Y for speaking up too.

 

[coyote505]

(CNBC) Education Department says Columbia University fails to meet accreditation standards
--


--

I'm not eager to add a third thread in one day, into the busy Breaking News Forum. But, I felt this news item was too important to pass over.

It appears the Trump Administration has found Columbia University does not meet accreditation standards, and has informed the relevant accreditation agency (Middle States Commission on Higher Education) of the violation.

This is huge. Accreditation is required to receive Pell Grants & Student Loans, and even determines whether degrees and transfer credits will be accepted by other academic institutions, professional societies, and in Industry.

I'm blown-away that the future of an academic institution is at the hands a government administrative determination.

Hasn't this previously been the case with schools accused of discriminating against minorities? Shoe on the other foot is not too comfortable, is it?

 

[Chomsky]

Besides asking vapid questions, have you made any effort to research specifics? You've already said that you're "100% anti-Trump," so I guess that describes your interest in any facts on the non-leftist side of the issue.

I'm asking for the specifics in the assertions generated.

None of the asserters, such as yourself, provide any specifics.

Are you saying it's my job, as your debate opponent, to provide the specifics for your unsupported assertions?

 

[trixare4kids]

Hasn't this previously been the case with schools accused of discriminating against minorities? Shoe on the other foot is not too comfortable, is it?

Bravo.
Explains this thread in a nutshell.

 

[Ethel2]

"On May 22, 2025, the Department of Education’s OCR and the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office for Civil Rights (HHS OCR) determined that Columbia University acted with deliberate indifference towards the harassment of Jewish students, thereby violating Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Specifically, OCR and HHS OCR found that Columbia failed to meaningfully protect Jewish students against severe and pervasive harassment on Columbia’s campus and consequently denied these students’ equal access to educational opportunities to which they are entitled under the law.

Under 34 C.F.R. § 602.20(a), accreditors are required to notify any member institution about a federal noncompliance finding and establish a plan to come into compliance. If a university fails to come into compliance within a specified period, an accreditor must take appropriate action against its member institution."

And there you have it. Columbia broke the law. This thread is full of dishonesty and IMO it is mostly based on extreme anti-Trumpism.

U.S. Department of Education Notifies Columbia University’s Accreditor of Columbia’s Title VI Violation

U.S. Department of Education Notifies Columbia University’s Accreditor of Columbia’s Title VI Violation

www.ed.gov

So in your warped world simply accusing the University confirms guilt. Is that about right? Or does Columbia get to defend itself in court....yes or no.

 

[Ethel2]

Yes ~ Columbia broke the law. Yes ~ This thread has multiple posts based on dishonesty. Yes ~ Mostly based on extreme anti-Trumpism.

However, this thread does have multiple posts based on realty which are being ignored based on extreme anti-Trumpism. imho big to all of those posts.

No, Columbia is ACCUSED of breaking the law. The SEX OFFENDER and FELON BROKE the law. He was tried and convicted in court, unlike Columbia U.

 

[Chomsky]

Here is your statement:



The article then notes the memo, which gives specific requests.

I believe you may be misreading the sequencing of events.

The BBC article seems to be claiming the university addressed the memo issues, and is awaiting further communication.