Columbia University has received a “non-compliance warning” from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) and is at risk of losing its accreditation.
According to a report from the Daily Caller, the commission issued a letter to Columbia on June 30 raising serious concerns about the university’s adherence to certain standards. The letter questioned whether Columbia has ensured “a climate that fosters respect among students, faculty, staff, and administration and institutional policies and procedures, including any campus safety plan and evidence of implementation.”
The warning follows a June request from the Department of Education for MSCHE to review Columbia’s accreditation. That request came after a report from the Department of Health and Human Services found that the university had “failed” to enforce its own policies in handling complaints from Jewish students and in punishing students involved in illegal or disruptive behavior on campus.
MSCHE has instructed Columbia to demonstrate “compliance with all applicable government laws and regulations.” The university must submit a monitoring report by November 3.
In a public statement, Columbia said, “We are confident in our ability to work with the Middle States Commission on Higher Education to substantively and thoughtfully address the issues cited in the MSCHE notice posted on June 30, including the concerns on campus climate, our campus safety policies and procedures, and our compliance with all applicable laws and regulations.”
“To be clear, Columbia University remains accredited. Columbia is deeply committed to combating antisemitism on our campus and we will continue the important work of ensuring that Columbia is an open and inclusive place where students, faculty, and staff from all backgrounds feel safe, supported, and welcome. This is a priority for the University,” the Ivy League college added.
