Department of Education Alerts Harvard’s Accreditors Over Anti-Semitism Issues
On Wednesday, the Department of Education (ED) informed Harvard’s accredited officials about concerns regarding the university’s handling of anti-Semitism on its campus.
According to ED and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Harvard’s inability to reach a resolution agreement violates federal civil rights law. The agencies have urged the committee to consider notifying Harvard University about the potential loss of its accreditation status.
“Accreditation bodies are crucial for maintaining academic integrity and fostering a campus culture that supports truth-seeking and learning, partly to comply with federal laws safeguarding students and educational access for everyone,” an official stated. They argued that Harvard has not upheld its responsibilities towards students, educators, and taxpayers by allowing anti-Semitic harassment and discrimination to persist.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. from HHS added, “When an institution fails to fulfill its mission and protect students, it undermines the legitimacy that accreditation is meant to uphold. The HHS and ED are committed to ensuring that Harvard is held accountable until it rebuilds public trust and guarantees a discrimination-free campus.”
Harvard did not provide a response when contacted for comments.
Previously, Harvard had declared its intention not to comply with the Trump administration’s requests for reforming disciplinary procedures and foreign student policies aimed at combating anti-Semitism. Consequently, the federal government withdrew over $2 billion in federal funding from various educational institutions, leading Harvard to seek negotiations.
Anti-Israel protests at Harvard have included notable disruptions, and data from a recent Congressional survey revealed that Harvard struggled to discipline participants in those protests. A separate survey showed that more than a quarter of Jewish students did not feel “physically safe” on campus, with nearly 60% reporting experiences of “discrimination, stereotypes, or negative bias.”
“The Department of Education continues to expect that the New England Higher Education Board will keep us updated on its actions to implement policies that ensure Harvard complies with federal law and accreditation requirements,” McMahon mentioned.
