Federal funding still available to Carolina in Trump administration settlement
Federal funding remains available to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, says a settlement for litigation between the nation’s oldest public university and the U.S. Department of Justice and U.S. Department of Education.
That funding could be in the form of grants, contracts or research awards.
The Office of Civil Rights Division within the Education Department is closing 18 active investigations, and a compliance review originating April 18, 2025. Monitoring and reporting provisions are part of the agreement, including an immediate 30-day window for the university to choose a merit and civil rights administrator for implementing terms of the settlement.
The Carolina probe involved antisemitism, admissions practices and educational operations.
Terms include the university not using race, race data or programs that consider protected characteristics; mandatory antisemitism training for students and staff; and quarterly reports through Dec. 31, 2028.
In its public acknowledgement, Chancellor Lee Roberts said, “This announcement reinforces our commitment to the fair and equal treatment of everyone at Carolina. 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.”
The agreement is not an admission of violating civil rights law, the university said. “The agreement recognizes Carolina expressly denies liability with respect to the subject matter of the investigations covered by the agreement,” its statement said in part.
The university said implementation costs “are expected to be consistent with ordinary operating expenses.”
In announcing the settlement, the Justice Department gave praise for Carolina’s leadership in resolution.
“Title VI requires that all students – regardless of their ancestry or race – receive equal treatment under the law at federally funded colleges and universities,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “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.”
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