UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS

400 MARYLAND AVENUE, SW

WASHINGTON, DC 20202-1475

REGION XI

NORTH CAROLINA

SOUTH CAROLINA

VIRGINIA

WASHINGTON, DC

The Department of Education’s mission is to promote student achievement and preparation for global 

competitiveness by fostering educational excellence and ensuring equal access.

www.ed.gov

December 29, 2023

By email only to president@virginia.edu

James E. Ryan

President

University of Virginia

P.O. Box 400224

Charlottesville, VA 22904

Re: Case No. 11-24-2096

University of Virginia

Dear President Ryan:

The U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights (OCR) received a complaint on 

November 20, 2023, against the University of Virginia. The Complainant alleged that the 

University discriminated against students on the basis of national origin (shared Jewish ancestry) 

by failing to respond appropriately to incidents of harassment in October and November 2023.

OCR enforces Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI), 42 U.S.C. Section 2000d et 

seq., and its implementing regulation, at 34 C.F.R. Part 100, which prohibit discrimination on the 

basis of race, color, or national origin, including shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics, in any 

program or activity receiving federal financial assistance from the Department of Education.

Because the University receives federal financial assistance from the Department of Education, 

OCR has jurisdiction over it pursuant to Title VI.

Because OCR determined that it has jurisdiction and that the complaint was timely filed, OCR is 

opening the complaint for investigation. OCR will investigate the following issue:

Whether the University responded to alleged harassment of students based on 

national origin (shared Jewish ancestry) in a manner consistent with the 

requirements of Title VI. 

Please note that opening the complaint for investigation in no way implies that OCR has made a 

determination on the merits of the complaint. During the investigation, OCR is a neutral factfinder, collecting and analyzing relevant evidence from the Complainant, the University, and 

other sources, as appropriate. OCR will ensure that its investigation is legally sufficient and 

fully responds to the allegation in accordance with the provisions of the Case Processing 

Manual. Please open this link for additional information about OCR’s Complaint Processing 

Procedures.
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When appropriate, a complaint may be resolved before the conclusion of an investigation if the 

university expresses an interest to OCR in resolving the allegation(s) and OCR determines that it 

is appropriate to resolve them because OCR’s investigation has identified concerns that can be 

addressed through a resolution agreement. In such cases, OCR obtains a resolution agreement 

signed by the university. This agreement must be supported by the evidence obtained during the 

investigation, and it must be consistent with the applicable statute(s) and 

regulation(s). Additional information about this voluntary resolution process may be found in 

OCR’s Case Processing Manual.

Attached is a request for data necessary to investigate this complaint. OCR requests that the 

University submit this information within 25 calendar days of the date of this letter (i.e., by 

January 23, 2024). We prefer that you submit information electronically, if feasible.1 If any 

item in our request is unclear, or if you experience any difficulty complying with this request, 

please contact us as provided below prior to the expiration of the 15-day period. Please be aware 

that OCR may need to make additional requests for information in the future. If OCR needs to 

conduct an on-site investigation, we will notify you in advance.

Please be advised that the University must not harass, coerce, intimidate, discriminate, or 

otherwise retaliate against an individual because that individual asserts a right or privilege under 

a law enforced by OCR or files a complaint, testifies, assists, or participates in a proceeding

under a law enforced by OCR. If this happens, the individual may file a retaliation complaint

against the University with OCR.

Under the Freedom of Information Act, it may be necessary to release this document and related 

correspondence and records upon request. If OCR receives such a request, OCR will seek to 

protect, to the extent provided by law, personally identifiable information that, if released, could 

reasonably be expected to constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy.

We look forward to your cooperation during the resolution of this complaint. If you have any 

questions, please contact one of the OCR attorneys assigned to this complaint: Sharon Goott 

Nissim at 202-245-7261 or sharon.nissim@ed.gov; or Bruce Easop at 202-987-1200 or 

bruce.easop@ed.gov.

 Sincerely,

D. Frank Vinik

Team Leader, Team IV

District of Columbia Office

Office for Civil Rights

1

If your submission cannot be sent via email, OCR can set up a secure site for you to upload your submission. You 

may contact us for more information about this option. 
Page 3 of 4 – Case No. 11-24-2096

The University of Virginia

OCR Case No. 11-24-2096

Data Request

Please provide the following data by January 23, 2024. The Department of Education’s 

regulation implementing Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, at 34 C.F.R. § 100.6(c), gives 

OCR the authority to request this information. Please note that OCR has the right of access to 

records that are necessary for OCR’s investigation, even if those records contain names or other 

personally identifiable information. See 20 U.S.C. §§ 1232g(b)(1) and 1232g(b)(3) regarding the 

applicable provisions of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act; see also 34 C.F.R. § 

100.6(c) and 34 C.F.R. § 99.31(a)(3)(iii). However, please remove any social security numbers 

from responsive records due to the sensitive nature of this information. 

OCR may request supplemental data and documents that are relevant to the issue under 

investigation. If the University obtains any additional information or documents responsive to 

this data request or otherwise relevant to the allegation in this case, the University must promptly 

inform OCR of its existence and supplement the data response within 15 days of its discovery. 

OCR reminds the University that a failure to provide requested information may be considered a 

denial of access in violation of the regulation cited above. Please ensure that University

employees preserve all data and documents that are relevant to the allegation under investigation 

until OCR closes this case.

1. The name and contact information of the individual who will serve as OCR’s contact 

person during the investigation of this complaint.

2. The University’s narrative response to the issue under investigation and all documents or 

records referenced in the narrative response.

3. A copy of the University’s policies and procedures, and/or a description of the 

University’s practices, governing the investigation of complaints of harassment and/or 

discrimination on the basis of national origin, including shared ancestry or ethnic 

characteristics. Include a detailed description of the complaint process, including each 

level of the process, articulated timeframes for resolution, and the types of records 

maintained. Also identify the names and titles of University staff responsible for handling 

complaints of harassment and/or discrimination on the basis of national origin, at each 

level of the process.

4. Copies of all formal and informal reports/complaints, including records of oral 

reports/complaints, concerning alleged shared ancestry discrimination, including 

harassment, in response to Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) statements made in 

October 2023, a demonstration sponsored by SJP in November 2023, and any such 

reports/complaints made during the 2022-23 and 2023-24 academic years. For each

complaint/report, provide:
Page 4 of 4 – Case No. 11-24-2096

a. the name or unique identifier of the reporting individual, and that individual’s 

relation to the University (e.g., current student, faculty member, alumnus, member 

of the public);

b. the name(s) and title(s) of the person(s) to whom the report/complaint was made, 

and the date the report/complaint was made;

c. a detailed description of the procedures employed to resolve the report/complaint;

d. the length of the process to resolve the report/complaint;

e. the name(s) and title(s) of the individual(s) responsible for investigating or 

otherwise resolving the report/complaint;

f. a description of any interim measures put in place during any investigation;

g. the name(s) and relation(s) to the University of any witnesses interviewed by the 

University;

h. all actions taken by the University in response to the allegations raised in the 

report/complaint, including any individual or University-wide corrective actions, 

and the date(s) of such action(s); 

i. the University’s final determination, if any, regarding the report/complaint, and 

the date of the determination;

j. any notice of the final outcome of the investigation or resolution provided to the 

reporting party or others with regard to the report/complaint;

k. if the University did not investigate any report/complaint, the reason(s) why and 

the name(s) and title(s) of the individual(s) who made the decision; and

l. copies of all records pertaining to each report/complaint and the University’s 

response to the report/complaint, including but not limited to correspondence with 

the reporting individual, correspondence among University staff members,

internal and external memoranda, investigative reports, witness statements,

interview notes, logs, forms, meeting minutes, records of supportive measures 

and/or remedies offered and provided, hearing transcripts and notes generated for 

each report/complaint.

5. State whether the University conducts focus groups, other meetings, or trainings and/or 

holds informational sessions with students and/or staff regarding students’ rights under 

Title VI, how to report possible violations of Title VI, and/or the University’s obligation 

to respond to Title VI complaints. If so, provide the dates of such events, a description of 

the attendees, and any materials presented and/or distributed.

6. A detailed description of any training regarding discrimination, including harassment, 

based on national origin, including shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics, that the 

University provided to University staff responsible for responding to such complaints. 

For each such training provide the dates of such training, a description of the training, a 

list of the names and job titles of the individuals who attended the training, and copies of 

any materials distributed during the training.

7. Any additional information that the University believes may be helpful in resolving this 

complaint.