The California State University system is facing a systemwide antisemitism investigation regarding a complaint from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and allegations of racial discrimination from the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights.
According to CSU Chancellor Mildred García in an email sent to CSU employees Friday, the EEOC will be contacting faculty and staff throughout the state for their investigation into antisemitism allegations.
The OCR has alleged discrimination in the hiring processes of the CSU system and hundreds of universities nationwide due to their involvement in The PhD Project, a nonprofit organization focused on diversifying business education. The CSU posted job offerings through The PhD Project until 2024, García said in the statement. García’s email clarified that the CSU will cooperate with both federal agencies and emphasized the CSU’s commitment to nondiscriminatory hiring practices.
“The CSU is firmly committed to hiring the most qualified individuals based on experience and expertise alone, ensuring that no one is included, excluded, advantaged or disadvantaged because of a protected characteristic,” García said.
In a statement regarding the EEOC’s investigation, Director of Media Relations and Public Affairs Amy Bentley-Smith confirmed the filing of a complaint against CSU.
“The California State University confirms that a systemwide antisemitism complaint has been filed against the CSU by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC),” Bentley-Smith said in the statement.
The statement said the CSU will fully cooperate with the EEOC during its investigative review and that the CSU condemns any antisemitism and continues to comply with longstanding federal and state anti-discrimination laws as well as CSU policies.
In a statement regarding the OCR’s investigation, Bentley-Smith also confirmed the Department of Education’s complaint and investigation into the CSU system. The OCR alleges that the CSU and other American universities are in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act.
The statement stated that until 2024, the CSU participated in The PhD project, sharing faculty job postings on their job board to increase awareness of career opportunities for CSU campuses.
The violation of Title VI stems from The PhD Project’s alleged use of “race-based preferences” when considering applicants and scholarships.
Bentley-Smith said in a statement that, in all cases, no student or applicant selected for CSU employment was given any preferential treatment based on race, national origin or any other protected characteristic.
These investigations come after President Donald Trump signed a presidential memorandum in August, directing the Secretary of Education to require transparency in the admissions processes of universities receiving federal funding. The memorandum required that universities end race-based admissions and highlighted the Trump administration’s efforts to prevent diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. This memorandum was in line with Executive Orders 14151 and 14173, which Trump signed in January to remove DEI initiatives in federal agencies and their hiring processes.
The White House also released a statement in January, which highlighted the Trump administration’s efforts to revoke the visas of students who participate in pro-Palestine protests. These efforts were outlined in Executive Order 14188: Additional Measures to Combat Anti-Semitism.
In spring 2024, Sac State students joined a nationwide protest encampment in the Library Quad to call for CSU’s divestment from companies involved in the Israel-Palestine conflict.
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The protest was organized by Students for Justice in Palestine and was supported by Students for Quality Education.
University officials initially granted the encampment permission so long as the protest abided by the Time, Place & Manner Restrictions on Speech and Speech-Related Activities policy. That same day, President Luke Wood issued a statement addressing the situation.
Wood announced in May 2024 that the campus and its five auxiliaries revised their policies and would refrain from investments in “corporations that profit from genocide, ethnic cleansing and activities that violate fundamental human rights.”
Wood authorized revisions to the Presidential Memoranda, Auxiliary Organizations at Sacramento State and Conditions of Maintenance of Good Standing and Policy on Policies.
Sac State students, faculty and staff created the Antiracism and Inclusion Campus Plan in spring 2021 to create recommendations for cultivating an antiracist and inclusive learning environment. The Division of Inclusive Excellence’s last formal review of Sac State’s AICP progress was emailed to the Sac State community in May 2023.
Sac State declined to comment on the statement sent out by the Chancellor’s Office.
