WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Justice announced today the launch of a civil rights investigation into the University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV) to determine whether the institution has violated federal laws by denying individuals equal treatment based on race or national origin.
According to the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, the investigation will review whether UNLV, a recipient of federal financial assistance, has engaged in discriminatory practices in violation of Title IV and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The focus of the investigation centers on the university’s handling of antisemitism on campus.
“Publicly-funded universities are barred from discriminating based on race, national origin, or religion,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon. “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.”
Title IV authorizes the Department to address equal protection violations in public colleges, while Title VI prohibits institutions that receive federal funding from discriminating based on race, color, or national origin. The compliance review will assess whether UNLV has upheld its obligations under these statutes, specifically regarding its response to antisemitic incidents.
