OCR Notification and Columbia University Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
On June 4, 2025, the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) received a letter from the United States Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (USDE OCR) to notify us that USDE’s OCR and the United States Department of Health and Human Services’ Office for Civil Rights (DHHS OCR) found Columbia University in violation of federal antidiscrimination laws. USDE also issued a press release regarding the matter.
The Commission has prepared Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) to answer questions relating to the OCR findings and Columbia University. The Commission is sharing this information because of the questions and inquiries received following USDE’s press release. However, much of the information applies more broadly.
Did the Commission expect to be notified of the outcome of the OCR investigations?
Yes, accreditors expected to be notified of OCR investigation findings.
In an April 23, 2025, Executive Order (EO), President Trump directed the Secretary of Education to “promptly provide to accreditors any noncompliance findings relating to member institutions issued after an investigation conducted by the Office of Civil Rights under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000d et seq.) or Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972 (20 U.S.C. 1681 et seq.).”
The Commission understands this letter to be part of that commitment outlined in the EO.
Will the Commission share the letter it received?
No. The media should request the letter to the Commission from OCR staff. As a reminder, the Commission has policies and procedures regarding Communications in the Accreditation Process.
Is the Commission aware of investigations being conducted by USDE OCR?
Yes, the Commission is aware of OCR investigations regarding our member institutions either through pending cases listed at OCR’s website or through institutional notifications to us. We have taken our role seriously with regard to any investigations faced by our institutions to ensure appropriate monitoring and Commission action in accordance with Commission policy and procedures as outlined below.
Does this mean that Columbia University lost its accreditation?
No.
Can the federal government direct the Commission to revoke accreditation of a member institution?
No, the Commission determines when an institution is not in compliance with its Standards for Accreditation and Requirements of Affiliation and takes appropriate action based on that determination under its policies and procedures. Under our Commission’s policies and procedures and federal regulation, institutions have three years to come into compliance when found by the Commission to be out of compliance, which can be extended for an additional two years through extensions for good cause. That means that even institutions in a non-compliance status have up to five years to demonstrate compliance. Institutions in a non-compliance status remain accredited during this period of time.
What steps does the Commission take in response to OCR investigation findings?
The Commission follows our monitoring processes outlined in the Accreditation Review Cycle and Monitoring Policy and Procedures.
The supplemental information report (SIR) process is outlined within those procedures. The Commission sends SIRs or makes information requests to institutions to verify information it receives from any number of sources and evaluates all information received through the lens of the Commission’s Standards for Accreditation and Requirements of Affiliation. Such requests may depend on where an institution sits within a current Commission review process or other scheduled accreditation activity. The Commission has previously issued SIRs to, and continues to monitor, many institutions that have been subjected to OCR investigations, including Columbia University. All of the Commission’s actions for our institutions can be found through our Institution Directory on our website.
Did USDE give the Commission a deadline to respond to the notification letter?
No. However, the Commission requested a meeting with OCR staff soon after receipt of the first letter we received with findings relating to another institution.
Where can I find more information about accreditation?
In addition to the information available about our Commission at our website, you can visit the United States Department of Education’s website for more information. For state-specific information, visit your state’s higher education authorizing agency.