The University of Wisconsin-Madison is among 60 colleges and universities nationwide under federal investigation by the U.S. Department of Educations’ Office for Civil Rights (OCR) over complaints of antisemitic discrimination and harassment.
The DOE announced Monday it launched the investigations in response to a wave of complaints filed since Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. The complaints allege schools, including UW-Madison, failed to adequately address incidents of harassment based on shared ancestry.
“The Department is deeply disappointed that Jewish students studying on elite U.S. campuses continue to fear for their safety amid the relentless antisemitic eruptions that have severely disrupted campus life for more than a year. University leaders must do better,” Education Secretary Linda McMahon said in a statement Monday.
Federal officials did not publicly confirm the full list of schools under review, but UW-Madison confirmed that it had received a letter from the OCR regarding an active investigation.
If the OCR finds that UW-Madison has failed to meet its legal obligations, the consequences could be significant. In extreme cases, the federal government has the authority to withhold funding from institutions found to be in violation – a move recently seen at Columbia University.
While no such action has been taken against UW–Madison, the possibility shows the stakes involved in the ongoing federal review.
“UW–Madison condemns all forms of discrimination and harassment, including antisemitism and Islamophobia, and works actively to prevent and respond to such incidents,” university officials wrote in an update statement on Tuesday, . “We take seriously our responsibility to ensure that students, employees, and others feel safe, welcomed, and supported.”
UW-Madison said it is cooperating fully with the OCR and believes its practices are consistent with federal anti-discrimination laws. UW-Madison added that the investigation “does not reflect a determination,” but rather that a complaint was filed and warranted review.
This article was updated at 3:12 p.m., March 11, 2025 to include that UW-Madison may have federal funding withheld.
