U.S. Education Department launches investigation into New College of Florida board, admin

The U.S. Department of Education has launched an investigation into New College of Florida’s trustees and administration following a civil rights complaint filed on Aug. 22, according to a letter sent Friday from the agency to college Interim President Richard Corcoran.

The DOE’s Office of Civil Rights said it plans to investigate the college on the basis of disability discrimination and determine whether it "excluded qualified persons with disabilities from participation in, denied them the benefits of, or otherwise subjected them to discrimination in its programs, activities, aids, benefits, or services.."

It also plans to investigate whether New College failed to ensure that its communications with individuals with disabilities were as effective as its communications with others.

The government said it may request documents and interviews with individuals at New College with knowledge of the facts of the case and may also visit New College itself if necessary, the letter said.

The civil rights complaint outlined an ongoing trend of discrimination against "protected groups" such as LGBTQ+ students, and the creation of a hostile environment toward those students. It requested that the federal departments launch a formal investigation into the college's leadership and compel action to remedy damages the complaint claims leaders have caused.

https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/education/2023/09/08/new-college-of-florida-subject-of-u-s-doe-discrimination-investigation/70801941007/