Education departments find University of Michigan and CUNY failed to assess impact of Israel-Hamas war protests on campus

The University of Michigan and the City University of New York failed to adequately investigate whether campus incidents in response to the Israel-Hamas war created a hostile environment for students, faculty, and staff. The Office of Civil Rights investigated 75 cases of alleged discrimination and harassment, finding that the universities did not comply with Title VI requirements. The University of Michigan agreed to conduct a climate assessment, provide additional training, update policies, and undergo monitoring until 2026. The OCR also resolved complaints against CUNY for inadequate investigations into harassment and differential treatment. The Education Department has launched dozens of investigations since Hamas' attack on Israel, with more expected to be resolved soon. The protests over the Israel-Hamas war disrupted the end of the school year at many campuses, leading to cancellations of events and online classes. Complaints of antisemitism and Islamophobia have been reported at over 100 universities and school districts, prompting inquiries and potential penalties for violations of Title VI. The influx of cases has strained the OCR's resources, with the agency struggling to keep up without additional funding.