#WorkforceWednesday: The Ripple Effect of the Supreme Court’s SFFA Ruling for Diversity in the Workplace - Employment Law This Week®
Business Better Podcast Episode: Is DEI at Risk? Considerations on the US Supreme Court Ruling Against Affirmative Action Programs
On July 29, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) issued a sweeping memorandum warning recipients of federal funds — including K-12 schools and higher education institutions — that many diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI)...more
Your college has a strong commitment to DEI work, but you’re concerned about the Trump Administration’s Executive Order banning DEI. You’re not sure how seriously to take it, or what the early court rulings against the order...more
As the legal and regulatory landscape evolves, Title IX, Title VI, and DEI practitioners are increasingly expected to understand how their work intersects with broader federal compliance frameworks. One such framework that...more
On May 19, 2025, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche issued a memorandum announcing the creation of the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Civil Rights Fraud Initiative (the Initiative), which directs DOJ attorneys to utilize the...more
On May 19, 2025, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) unveiled the Civil Rights Fraud Initiative, a new enforcement strategy aimed at leveraging the False Claims Act to hold colleges, universities, government contractors, and...more
According to a memorandum issued on May 19, 2025, the Department of Justice (“DOJ”) will use the False Claims Act as a tool to enforce federal civil rights laws. The new policy memo has serious potential implications for...more
Federal officials on Monday launched a new Civil Rights Fraud Initiative aimed at schools receiving federal funding, the next step in the Trump administration’s aggressive enforcement posture against transgender rights, DEI,...more
On May 19, 2025, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche issued a memorandum (the “Memorandum”) establishing the Department of Justice’s “Civil Rights Fraud Initiative” (the “Initiative”). The program “will utilize the False...more
Another school year is winding down, and educational leaders perhaps have never been more ready for summer break. From the Trump administration’s significant policy shifts to deeply consequential litigation playing out to...more
In this alert, we discuss key provisions of the orders and actions implicating the higher education sector and the lawsuits challenging them (building on our previous analysi...). We have grouped these actions based on their...more
I had the incredible opportunity to attend the first-ever ATIXA and NABITA joint Winter Symposium in Henderson, NV. It was an inspiring gathering where Title IX, behavioral intervention, and threat assessment professionals...more
An ATIXA Testimonial by Alexis Piñero-Benson, University of New Hampshire Following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack in Israel and the ongoing geopolitical conflict, many colleges and universities witnessed a surge of...more
Many K-12 and institutes of higher education are concerned about the potential threat to their federal funding given recent changes to the way the government is interpreting existing federal law to achieve certain policy...more
ATIXA created the One Policy, Two Procedures (1P2P) Model Policy and Procedures to innovate a more comprehensive approach for Title IX and civil rights compliance for schools and colleges. ATIXA regularly updates its models...more
On Monday, March 3, Linda McMahon was confirmed by the Senate to serve as President Trump’s Secretary of the Department of Education by a vote of 51 to 45. Since President Trump’s inauguration, even without a confirmed...more
On January 14, 2025, the Department of Education Office for Civil Rights (OCR) announced a resolution agreement with the University of Washington following a Title VI complaint of alleged discrimination and harassment based...more
The Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity Executive Order (EO) issued on Jan. 22, 2025, takes aim at diversity, equity and inclusion programs at institutions of higher education. (McGuireWoods’...more
Consequent to increasing sectarian tensions on campus, ATIXA members tell us they are seeing a rise in anonymous racist, homophobic, transphobic, Islamophobic, pro/anti-Israel messages, and other discriminatory comments...more
In this three-part series, we’ll review the latest federal civil rights guidance, including Title VI, ADA and Section 504, and Title IX. PART 2: HOW TO MEET THE TRANSPORTATION NEEDS OF STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES (ADA,...more
In this three-part series, we’ll review the latest federal civil rights guidance, including Title VI, ADA and Section 504, and Title IX. Part 1: Take a Close Look at Your Discrimination and Harassment Policies and...more
Supreme Court Blocks Use of Race in Harvard, UNC Admissions in Blow to Diversity Efforts - "In one of its most closely watched cases this year, the court ruled along ideological lines that the way the schools approached race...more
At the outset of a discrimination or harassment investigation, institutions of higher education send a notice of the investigation to the parties. What must be in the notice? What should be in the notice? Higher Ed team...more
Higher education institutions devote significant resources on compliance infrastructure to hold people accountable for harassment and discrimination, but what if they instead invested in more programs to prevent harassment...more
Many independent and private schools are contemplating applying for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and/or Economic Injury Disaster (EIDL) loans under the CARES Act. The PPP loan offers an attractive incentive in...more