Legislation requiring New York State college campuses to host Title VI civil rights coordinators was signed by New York Gov. Kathy Hochul on Tuesday.
The legislation, passed by the New York State Senate on June 5, would mandate academic institutions to introduce a Title VI coordinator within 90 days. According to the law’s text, coordinators would ensure students are protected from illegal discrimination based on their characteristics by acting as a central point of contact for compliance.
Coordinators would reportedly also require the development of civil rights training for students and staff, and notify them about the institution’s policies and procedures for reporting discrimination.
Hochul’s office saw the legislation as part of the governor’s efforts to combat racial bias and antisemitism on campuses, noting she had directed the state to improve hate crime data collection, increased investment in physical security, and conducted reviews of state-funded university policies on the matter.
“By placing Title VI coordinators on all college campuses, New York is combating antisemitism and all forms of discrimination head-on,” Hochul said in a statement.
“No one should fear for their safety while trying to get an education. It’s my top priority to ensure every New York student feels safe at school, and I will continue to take action against campus discrimination and use every tool at my disposal to eliminate hate and bias from our school communities.”
State Sen. Toby Ann Stavisky, who worked with Assembly member Nily Rozic to advance the legislation, said that she was delighted by the passage of legislation “to protect students from discrimination on our campuses.”
“At a time when we see a troubling rise in hate crimes, New York is taking a clear stand,” said Stavisky. “Too many students’ experiencing discrimination do not know where to go for help or what protections they are entitled to, and everyone has a right to feel safe when they step onto college campuses.”
Rozic said in a statement that the state was leading in protecting the rights of students in time for the new academic year.
“With incidents of discrimination and antisemitism on the rise, our students deserve campuses that are safe, inclusive, and accountable,” said Rozic.
Legislation ensures students' concerns will not be dismissed
American Jewish Committee New York Director Josh Kramer said in a statement that the legislation would ensure that students’ concerns couldn’t be brushed aside in the state with the largest Jewish community in the country.
UJA-Federation of New York CEO Eric Goldstein said that the new law came amid a surge in antisemitism, with Jewish New York students facing “unacceptable discrimination and hate on campuses.”
Since the October 7, 2023, massacre, American campuses have been rocked by anti-Israel protests, encampments, and building occupations. Critics have alleged that anti-Israel activists have harassed and discriminated against Jewish students. President Donald Trump’s administration has led a crackdown on the alleged perpetrators and the alleged failures of campus administrators in addressing campus antisemitism.
City University of New York Chancellor Félix Matos Rodríguez responded to the passage of the coordinator legislation by assuring that CUNY was committed to protecting students. He expressed gratitude to the state legislature and noted that CUNY had invested over $2 million into education against bigotry and antisemitism.
CUNY and State University of New York both began requiring staff to undergo Title VI training. SUNY Chancellor John King Jr. said that their training extended to student organization leaders, and the network had also taken action to require its campuses to designate Title VI coordinators.
The finalization of legislation requiring Title VI coordinators on campuses came a few days after leading American Jewish organizations proposed new safety recommendations for US campuses, including the adoption of civil rights coordinators.
The Jewish Federations of North America, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), Hillel International, and the umbrella group the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, last Tuesday, also called for universities to adopt enhanced policy enforcement, dedicated administrative oversight, new support systems, campus climate assessments, new harassment policies, and guidelines for faculty accountability.
Ahead of the school year, Senate Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Antisemitism co-chairs Sen. James Lankford and Sen. Jacky Rosen also urged American academic institutions to increase measures to curtail antisemitism.
“Universities must take responsibility by enforcing conduct codes, addressing harassment that increasingly occurs online, ensuring transparency and accountability in discrimination cases, and rejecting campaigns to boycott or exclude Jewish students,” Senators Lankford and Rosen said in a joint statement. “As this new school year begins, the United States Senate stands united across party lines in making clear that antisemitism has no place in higher education and every student deserves to learn in safety and without fear.”