HHS’ Civil Rights Office Investigates Alleged Civil Rights Violations at a Prestigious Midwest University

Office for Civil Rights Acts Swiftly to Investigate Serious and Systemic Allegations of Discrimination Against Jewish Students

Today, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) is announcing an investigation of a prestigious university (University) in the midwestern United States under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI), following a complaint from a multi-stakeholder advocacy organization. The complainant organization alleges systemic concerns regarding the University’s actions to maintain a campus climate, academic direction, and institutional policy that ensures nondiscrimination on the basis of race, color, and national origin.

OCR enforces Title VI, which prohibits a recipient of Federal financial assistance from discriminating in its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, or national origin, which includes discrimination against individuals that is based on their actual or perceived Israeli or Jewish identity or ancestry. The investigation will examine whether the University complied with its obligations under Title VI not to discriminate against Jewish students, such that it denied them an educational opportunity or benefit.

“Institutions of higher education receiving HHS Federal financial assistance are responsible for complying with Title VI’s nondiscrimination mandates,” said Anthony Archeval, Acting Director of the Office for Civil Rights at HHS. “OCR is committed to ensuring students’ education, safety, and well-being are not disrupted due to discrimination at institutions funded by taxpayer dollars.”

This action demonstrates the Administration’s commitment to address “anti-Semitism vigorously, using all available and appropriate legal tools[] . . . [to address] unlawful anti-Semitic harassment and violence,” as expressed in President Trump’s Executive Orders, Combatting Anti-Semitism (Dec. 11, 2019) and Additional Measures to Combat Anti-Semitism (Jan. 29, 2025). The Office for Civil Rights remains committed to vigorous enforcement of civil rights laws and to ensuring that all recipients of Federal financial assistance maintain environments free from discrimination and harassment.

This announcement is part of a broader effort by the Administration’s multi-agency Joint Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism. 

If you believe that your or another person’s conscience, civil rights, or health information privacy rights have been violated, you can file a complaint with OCR at https://www.hhs.gov/ocr/complaints/index.html.

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