Education Department, HHS notify Harvard's accreditor of Title VI violation

The departments of Education and Health and Human Services notified Harvard University's accreditors Wednesday of the Ivy League school's Title VI violation.

Last week, HHS announced that an agency investigation found Harvard had violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 with its indifference over the harassment of Jewish and Israeli students since the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel.

On Wednesday, the agency's Office for Civil Rights notified the New England Commission of Higher Education that the university "is in violation of federal anti-discrimination laws and therefore may fail to meet the standards for accreditation set by the Commission."

HHS said that the commission's "Standards for Accreditation" state that its member institutions must follow "non-discriminatory policies and practices in recruitment, admissions, employment, evaluation, disciplinary action, and advancement." Due to HHS' findings, "there is strong evidence to suggest the school may no longer meet the Commission’s accreditation standards," the agency said.

"Accrediting bodies play a significant role in preserving academic integrity and a campus culture conducive to truth-seeking and learning," Education Secretary Linda McMahon said. "Part of that is ensuring students are safe on campus and abiding  federal laws that guarantee educational opportunities to all students.

"By allowing antisemitic harassment and discrimination to persist unchecked on its campus, Harvard University has failed in its obligation to students, educators, and American taxpayers. The Department of Education expects the New England Commission of Higher Education to enforce its policies and practices, and to keep the Department fully informed of its efforts to ensure that Harvard is in compliance with federal law and accreditor standards."

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., said in a statement: “When an institution – no matter how prestigious – abandons its mission and fails to protect its students, it forfeits the legitimacy that accreditation is designed to uphold.

"HHS and the Department of Education will actively hold Harvard accountable through sustained oversight until it restores public trust and ensures a campus free of discrimination.”

Citing Education Department regulations, HHS said that "accreditors are required to notify member institutions of failures to comply with accreditor standards and to establish a plan to return the institution to compliance. If a university fails to come into compliance within a specified period, accreditor are required to take appropriate action against its member institution."

Harvard responded to the Trump administration's notification of its accreditors:

"Antisemitism is a serious problem and no matter the context, it is unacceptable. Harvard has taken substantive, proactive steps to address the root causes of antisemitism in its community," a Harvard spokesperson said, The Hill news outlet reported.

"In responding to the government’s investigation, Harvard not only shared its comprehensive and retrospective Antisemitism and Anti-Israeli Bias Report but also outlined the ways that it has strengthened policies, disciplined those who violate them, encouraged civil discourse, and promoted open, respectful dialogue.

The commission released an FAQ page after the Trump administration last week found Harvard in violation of Title VI.

The commission said that the federal government cannot require it to revoke accreditation of a member institution and that it "determines when an institution is not in compliance with its Standards for Accreditation and takes appropriate action based on that determination.

"The Commission’s policies and procedures, in accord with federal regulation, give institutions up to four years to come into compliance when found by the Commission to be out of compliance, which can be extended for good cause. Institutions in a non-compliance status remain accredited during this period of time."