Justice Department reaches agreement with UVA

On Oct. 22, the U.S. Department of Justice announced an agreement with the University of Virginia aimed at strengthening protections against unlawful discrimination on campus—a development that could affect students from across Virginia, including many from Loudoun County who attend or apply to the university.

Under the agreement, UVA will follow the Department of Justice’s Guidance for Recipients of Federal Funding Regarding Unlawful Discrimination to ensure compliance with federal civil rights laws that prohibit discrimination based on race, sex, or national origin. The university will provide quarterly reports to the Department through 2028, with UVA President Jim Ryan personally certifying compliance each quarter.

The Department will pause its ongoing investigations into UVA’s admissions policies and other civil rights concerns while the agreement is in effect. UVA will remain eligible for future federal grants and awards.

“This notable agreement with the University of Virginia will protect students and faculty from unlawful discrimination, ensuring that equal opportunity and fairness are restored,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Civil Rights Division. “We appreciate the progress that the university has made in combatting antisemitism and racial bias, and other American universities should be on alert that the Justice Department will ensure that our federal civil rights laws are enforced for every American, without exception.”