UNC settles Trump admin probes into alleged campus antisemitism, race-based admissions

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) reached a settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) that will close 18 federal investigations and a separate compliance review concerning allegations of antisemitism and race‑based discrimination on campus. The agreement, which carries no financial penalty, lets UNC keep its eligibility for federal funding through the end of 2028.

The deal, which was announced in early 2025, does not require the university to admit any wrongdoing. In exchange, UNC has agreed to implement a series of reforms designed to address the DOJ’s concerns about Title VI compliance, the federal civil‑rights statute that prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin in federally funded programs.

Under the terms of the settlement, UNC will create two new positions in its compliance office: a “Merit & Civil Rights Administrator” and a Title VI Coordinator. Both roles will be filled by Elizabeth Hall, the university’s associate vice chancellor for compliance, who will also continue her existing duties. Hall will be the primary point of contact for the DOJ and will oversee UNC’s reporting obligations.

The agreement also requires the university to provide mandatory antisemitism training to students, faculty and staff, and to prohibit the use of face‑masks that conceal an individual’s identity, with certain exceptions. Student groups will be subject to disciplinary action for antisemitic or discriminatory conduct, and the university will adopt a “color‑blind” admissions system that bars the use of race or other factors to influence the racial composition of the student body. The policy will still allow the school to consider an applicant’s personal adversity or family poverty if those factors are applied consistently.

In addition, UNC must maintain race‑blind policies for student benefits, scholarships, financial aid and other programs, and it will send any antisemitism or race‑discrimination complaints it receives to the DOJ and the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights on a quarterly basis.

“The announcement reinforces our commitment to the fair and equal treatment of everyone at Carolina,” UNC Chancellor Lee H. Roberts said. “For at least a decade, through different presidential administrations, U.S. universities have faced heightened public scrutiny across a range of issues. We’re proud to resolve those issues at Carolina in a way that protects our mission and affirms the civil rights of everyone in our community.”

Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon also praised the university’s cooperation. “Title VI requires that all students—regardless of their ancestry or race—receive equal treatment under the law at federally funded colleges and universities,” Dhillon said. “Higher‑ed policies and practices that tolerate antisemitism or favor certain racial groups over others frustrate our color‑blind 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 will take note and do the same.”

The settlement will close the DOJ’s 18‑month compliance review that was opened in April 2025, as well as the 18 active investigations that the Office for Civil Rights had been pursuing. By doing so, the government will remove the threat of losing federal funds or facing further legal action.

The move comes amid a broader federal crackdown on universities that have hosted pro‑Palestinian protests, diversity initiatives or transgender policies. The Trump administration has targeted institutions nationwide, threatening to withhold federal aid in response to campus activism. Other universities have also settled with federal agencies. Columbia University agreed last year to pay more than $200 million to resolve a similar probe, while Brown University committed $50 million over ten years to workforce‑development organizations in Rhode Island. Harvard, which has been a primary target of the administration’s scrutiny, has not yet reached a deal.

In 2023, the Supreme Court struck down race‑based admissions programs at UNC and Harvard, a decision that has amplified the DOJ’s focus on ensuring that universities comply with Title VI and that race does not factor into admissions or benefits.

UNC’s settlement with the DOJ does not require the school to admit liability or pay money, but it does obligate the university to enact a comprehensive set of reforms aimed at eliminating antisemitic and race‑based discrimination on campus. The agreement will be in force until 2028, giving UNC a window to demonstrate its compliance and to preserve its eligibility for federal funding.