DOJ announces settlement with UNC-Chapel Hill over antisemitism and race discrimination
CHAPEL HILL, NC (WWAY) — The U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of Education have reached a settlement with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to address antisemitism and race discrimination following federal investigations.
The voluntary, university-wide agreement resolves investigations by the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and the Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color or national origin.
Under the agreement, UNC must implement policies addressing antisemitism, change admissions practices to exclude consideration of race and maintain race-blind policies for student benefits, scholarships, financial aid and programming.
To address antisemitism, UNC must establish a Title VI coordinator position, ensure Jewish and Israeli students are covered by its nondiscrimination policy, and promptly assess and investigate complaints. The university also must provide mandatory antisemitism training for students, faculty and staff, and deploy additional law enforcement resources when warranted to protect Jewish and Israeli students.
The agreement also requires UNC to prohibit face masks that conceal a person’s identity and to discipline student groups for antisemitic discriminatory conduct.
Regarding admissions, UNC must refrain from using race in admissions decisions, analyzing racial data to influence the process or changing admissions practices to alter the racial makeup of its student body. The university also cannot disfavor applicants who decline to identify their race or use race in selecting admissions personnel.
The agreement further prohibits UNC from partnering with pipeline or bridge programs that consider protected characteristics. Scholarship criteria cannot include diversity or identification with a protected characteristic.
UNC must select a “Merit & Civil Rights Administrator” within 30 days to oversee implementation of the agreement. The university also must submit complaints involving antisemitism and race discrimination to the two federal agencies quarterly.
The settlement applies to UNC’s undergraduate, graduate, professional and other schools, components and programs. It remains in effect through Dec. 31, 2028.
According to the Justice Department, UNC will remain eligible for federal funding under the agreement. The Education Department will close 18 active investigations into the university, and the Justice Department will end an 18-month compliance review that began April 18, 2025.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon said the agreement addresses the university’s obligations under federal law. Assistant Secretary Kimberly Richey of the Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights said the agreement is intended to address antisemitism and ensure race is not used in admissions decisions.
The agencies said they will continue investigating colleges and universities for compliance with federal nondiscrimination laws.
The full settlement agreement is available through the U.S. Department of Justice.
Members of the public can report possible civil rights violations at civilrights.justice.gov.
