The U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has announced a resolution agreement with Emory University in Georgia, addressing concerns of alleged harassment based on national origin, specifically shared Palestinian and/or Muslim ancestry. The agreement ensures compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
OCR's investigation highlighted concerns regarding Emory University's handling of campus protests and its response to discrimination against Palestinian, Arab, or Muslim students. These issues potentially contributed to a hostile environment on campus. OCR expressed concern about law enforcement actions during the April 2024 protests, which were widely publicized and may have exacerbated tensions for affected students.
Furthermore, OCR noted that Emory's policies and procedures lacked clarity in addressing reports of discrimination based on national origin and race. To resolve these issues without determining Title VI compliance concerns, OCR agreed to address allegations of different treatment given the scope of remedies already confirmed.
Emory University acknowledged the distress caused by law enforcement responses during the protests and committed to reviewing its engagement with external law enforcement. The university aims to create a safe educational environment for all students.
To ensure compliance with Title VI, Emory will revise its nondiscrimination policies to include harassment definitions based on shared ancestry. The university will also update its procedures for campus protests to prevent discriminatory application and enforcement. Additionally, it will assess past responses to protests and student requests from the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 academic years.
Emory is required to provide OCR with reports concerning alleged discrimination based on national origin or race during recent academic years and take remedial actions if necessary. Annual training on nondiscrimination and harassment will be conducted for all students, employees, Title VI investigators, and law enforcement at the university. A climate survey will also be developed to identify instances or perceptions of discrimination among students and staff.
Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Catherine E. Lhamon stated, "Emory University’s commitments today promise to bring it into compliance with federal civil rights law, as its full school community deserves."
The resolution letter and agreement are available on the Office for Civil Rights' website.
