Posted on Monday, July 14, 2025
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by Alan Jamison
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0 Comments
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The Trump administration notified Harvard University’s accreditor last week that the school is in violation of federal antidiscrimination laws for allowing “anti-Semitic harassment” against students without consequences. Harvard may fail to meet the requirements to maintain accreditation as a result.
The Department of Education (DOE) and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) notified the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) of the violation on Wednesday. President Donald Trump signed an executive order in April mandating that DOE and HHS notify accreditors when schools are in violation of federal antidiscrimination policies. The NECHE is a regional accreditor that provides accreditation for colleges in northeastern states.
“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 by federal laws that guarantee educational opportunities to all students.”
The loss of accreditation is financially dangerous for a university and discourages students from attending. Without accreditation, academic credits cannot be transferred to other schools. A university can also lose access to federal loans and Pell Grants for students.
On March 10, DOE sent letters to 60 universities informing them that the administration could take action if they “do not fulfill their obligations under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act to protect Jewish students on campus.” Harvard University was among the universities that DOE notified.
HHS then told Harvard that it was in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin in any program or activity that receives federal financial assistance. The administration informed the school that failure to enact changes immediately “will result in the loss of all federal financial resources and continue to affect Harvard’s relationship with the federal government.”
HHS Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. explained that the administration will hold the school accountable.
“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,” Kennedy said. “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.”
As bad as things look for Harvard now, there may be some signs that the school is looking to reform itself. The Wall Street Journal reported Friday that Harvard has considered creating a “conservative center” for several years, but the idea gained momentum after recent anti-Israel protests.
The center could cost Harvard between $500 million and $1 billion. A spokesman told the newspaper that the center would “ensure exposure to the broadest ranges of perspectives on issues, and will not be partisan, but rather will model the use of evidence-based, rigorous logic and a willingness to engage with opposing views.” The goal is to “promote and support viewpoint diversity.”
Alan Jamison is the pen name of a political writer with extensive experience writing for several notable politicians and news outlets.
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