Department of Education Warns Pomona College of Title VI Noncompliance Penalties

Image via Flickr. Copyright Dave and Margie Hill.

On March 10, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) sent letters to 60 universities, including Pomona College, warning them of potential penalties from pending investigations into alleged antisemitic discrimination and harassment. 

The letters warn of possible enforcement actions if institutions fail to comply with their obligations under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, or national origin, including antisemitic harassment and discrimination against Jewish students.

OCR stressed the importance of ensuring Jewish students have uninterrupted access to campus facilities and educational opportunities. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon stated, “The Department is deeply disappointed that Jewish students studying on elite U.S. campuses continue to fear for their safety amid the relentless antisemitic eruptions that have severely disrupted campus life for more than a year.” 

Pomona College is among 60 institutions currently being investigated by OCR. The investigation stemmed from multiple Title VI complaints alleging antisemitic harassment and institutional inaction in addressing discrimination against Jewish students. Other schools under investigation include Harvard University, Yale University, Columbia University, and the University of California, Berkeley. 

In April 2024, the Brandeis Center and the Anti-Defamation League filed complaints against Pomona with the OCR, citing a “hostile environment on campus” that “forces Jewish and Israeli students to conceal their identities and precludes them from participating in Pomona’s social, educational, and extracurricular activities unless they disavow their Jewish ancestral and ethnic heritage connected to Israel.”

If a university is found in violation of Title VI, it may face federal enforcement actions, which could include mandated policy changes or financial penalties. “U.S. colleges and universities benefit from enormous public investments funded by U.S. taxpayers,” said McMahon. “That support is a privilege and it is contingent on scrupulous adherence to federal antidiscrimination laws.”

Pomona College could not be immediately reached for comment. This story will be updated as new information emerges.