The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) of the U.S. Department of Education has announced a resolution agreement with the University of California. This agreement aims to ensure compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, particularly concerning allegations of harassment or discrimination based on national origin, including shared Jewish, Israeli, Muslim, Palestinian, and Arab ancestry.
The resolution addresses nine complaints filed against five campuses within the University of California system: Los Angeles (UCLA), Santa Barbara (UCSB), San Diego (UCSD), Davis (UCD), and Santa Cruz (UCSC). The complaints alleged that these institutions did not respond effectively to harassment incidents related to students' actual or perceived national origins. It was also claimed that some universities subjected these students to different treatment regarding access to campus programs.
Investigations by OCR involved interviews with students and staff, reviewing university policies and procedures, analyzing reports and complaints made to campuses, and examining publicly available information such as videos from alleged events in 2023 and 2024. The University of California expressed interest in resolving these issues through an agreement before OCR completed its investigations.
Concerns were raised about universities failing to address potential hostile environments created by First Amendment-protected speech or ineffective responses to harassment claims. Specific issues at UCLA included over 150 reports related to protests in late 2023 and an encampment in spring 2024. These reports detailed chants at rallies deemed offensive towards Israel and Jewish people, unwanted surveillance of Muslim and pro-Palestinian students, checkpoints denying entry based on political views, and inadequate protection for student protestors during violent incidents.
Similar concerns were identified across other UC campuses where evidence suggested a hostile environment for students of various ancestries due to reported incidents like antisemitic vandalism at UCSB or discriminatory remarks witnessed at UCSD and UCD.
To address these concerns under Title VI compliance requirements identified by OCR, the University of California agreed on several actions:
- Reviewing past complaints from academic years 2023-2025.
- Reporting their responses to OCR.
- Revising policies subject to OCR approval.
- Training employees on handling discrimination cases.
- Conducting climate assessments among students and staff.
The resolution letter is accessible on the Office for Civil Rights website.
