NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! The Trump administration has reached an agreement with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill that will close 18 active federal investigations and a separate Justice Department compliance review involving alleged anti-Semitism and racial discrimination at the university. The voluntary settlement agreement does not require a monetary payment, and the university does not admit any wrongdoing or liability. The agreement, which will remain in effect until the end of 2028, allows UNC to maintain its eligibility to receive federal funds. Under the agreement, UNC will name an internal “Merits and Civil Rights Administrator” and establish a “Title VI Coordinator” position in its compliance office to address complaints about anti-Semitism and racial discrimination. The university said Elizabeth Hall, associate vice chancellor for university compliance, was appointed to serve in both roles in addition to her current duties. She will be the point of contact for the Department of Justice and will oversee UNC’s reporting obligations. DOJ SUES UCLA OVER ALLEGED ‘JUDENREIN’ CONDITIONS DURING ANTI-ISRAEL CAMPING The Trump administration reached a deal with UNC that will close 18 active Department of Education investigations and a separate Department of Justice compliance review. (Eros Hoagland/Getty Images) “This announcement reinforces our commitment to the fair and equal treatment of everyone in Carolina,” UNC Chancellor Lee H. Roberts said in a statement. “For at least a decade, across different presidential administrations, American universities have faced increased public scrutiny on a variety of issues. We are proud to resolve those issues at Carolina in a way that protects our mission and affirms the civil rights of everyone in our community.” The agreement also requires UNC to provide mandatory anti-Semitism training to students, faculty and staff. be subject to disciplinary action for discriminatory anti-Semitic conduct.” President Donald Trump and administration officials have accused pro-Palestinian protesters of anti-Semitism. But protesters, including some Jewish groups, maintain that opposing Israel’s military offensive in Gaza is not anti-Semitic and that support for Palestinian rights does not indicate support for extremism. The agreement also said UNC will adopt what the Justice Department called a “colorblind admissions system,” banning The university may use race or alter its admissions process to change the racial makeup of its student body. However, it does not prevent UNC from considering how applicants overcame adversity on a personal level, and the university may consider aspects of family background, such as poverty, if those considerations are applied consistently. The agreement requires UNC to provide mandatory anti-Semitism training to students, faculty and staff. (Jonathan Drake/Reuters) UNC must also maintain race-blind policies governing student benefits, scholarships, financial aid and programming, according to the agreement. The administration has argued that policies that favor certain racial groups over others violate federal anti-discrimination law. to the Department of Education. As part of the agreement, the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights will close 18 active investigations into UNC, while the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division will close a separate 18-month compliance review open in April 2025. “Title VI requires that all students, regardless of ancestry or race, receive equal treatment under the law at federally funded colleges and universities,” said Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights, Harmeet Dhillon, in a statement UNC will ban the use of face masks to conceal an individual’s identity as part of the agreement. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images) “Higher education policies and practices that condone anti-Semitism or favor certain racial groups over others frustrate our colorblind justice system. The Civil Rights Division commends UNC for its cooperation in meeting its obligations under federal law without the need for litigation; We hope other institutions take note and do the same,” he added. CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP In 2023, the Supreme Court rejected affirmative action in colleges while striking down race-based admissions programs at UNC and Harvard. The administration has targeted colleges across the country with investigations and threats to withdraw federal funding in response to pro-Palestinian campus protests, diversity initiatives and transgender policies. The federal government has also reached an agreement with Some other schools, including Columbia University, which last year agreed to pay more than $200 million to resolve federal investigations, and Brown University, which agreed to provide $50 million over 10 years to Rhode Island workforce development organizations as part of its settlement. Harvard, which has been the main target of the administration’s threats, has not yet reached a settlement. Reuters contributed to this report.
