Harmeet K. Dhillon, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division, U.S. Department of Justice | Official Website
The U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division has opened an investigation into the University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV) to assess whether the university has violated federal civil rights laws by denying equal treatment based on race or national origin.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon stated, “Publicly-funded universities are barred from discriminating based on race, national origin, or religion. This Department of Justice is fiercely committed to holding institutions of higher learning accountable and ensuring that every student receives equal access to the opportunity and education to which they are legally entitled.”
The review will examine if UNLV, as a recipient of federal financial aid, engaged in discriminatory practices against students because of their race, color, or national origin. The investigation is being conducted under Title IV and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Title IV allows the department to address equal protection violations in public colleges, while Title VI prohibits recipients of federal funds from discrimination based on protected characteristics.
According to the Justice Department’s announcement, this inquiry will focus specifically on how UNLV has responded to antisemitism on campus. Institutions subject to these laws must ensure that all students have unrestricted access to educational opportunities without facing discrimination.
