Accreditation politics hit elite US campuses: Harvard joins Columbia under federal scrutiny

The Trump administration has intensified its campaign against some of the most prestigious universities in the US by scrutinising their accreditation status, with Harvard University now joining Columbia University under federal investigation.

This move marks a significant escalation in the administration's efforts to reshape American higher education through the accreditation process, which is crucial for universities to maintain access to federal grants and student loans.Federal agencies, including the US Department of Education and the Department of Health and Human Services, have formally informed Harvard's regional accreditor that the university may be in violation of anti-discrimination laws and thus could fail to meet the standards required for accreditation.

This development follows a federal investigation which found that Harvard allowed a hostile environment for Jewish students, in breach of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, dating back to October 7, 2023.

As reported by the WBUR, US Education Secretary Linda McMahon stated that Harvard had permitted "anti-Semitic harassment and discrimination to persist unchecked on its campus."Federal pressure and accreditation stakesAccreditation is a vital status for US universities because it allows their students to access federal financial aid, including Pell Grants and student loans.

Losing accreditation would not only harm the institution's reputation but also severely restrict students' ability to finance their education. Jan Friis, senior vice president of government affairs at the Council for Higher Education Accreditation, emphasised to the WBUR that "losing accreditation matters for universities and their students," highlighting the significant impact on federal funding and institutional viability.The current federal action is part of a broader campaign led by President Trump, who has described the college accreditation system as his "secret weapon" for overhauling higher education. An executive order issued in April directed Education Secretary McMahon to reform the accreditation process and hold accrediting bodies accountable if they approve universities with "diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.

" However, as the WBUR reports, the federal government cannot directly strip a university of its accreditation but can investigate and notify accreditors, who must then ensure universities meet required standards.Harvard and Columbia: a new front in the education warsThis latest development sees Harvard, which has maintained continuous accreditation since 1929 by the New England Commission of Higher Education, under unprecedented pressure.

The university strongly rejected the allegations and defended its efforts to combat hate and bias, stating in a press release that it "continues to comply with the New England Commission of Higher Education's Standards for Accreditation.

"Meanwhile, Columbia University has also come under scrutiny, with the Middle States Commission on Higher Education warning the school of non-compliance and requiring a monitoring report by November.

The commission has indicated that Columbia's accreditation status will be reviewed in March 2026. This pattern of federal scrutiny reflects a politicised approach to accreditation that many in the higher education sector see as an overreach.Jon Fansmith, senior vice president for government relations at the American Council on Education, told the WBUR that the administration's actions represent "an inappropriate overreach" and an attempt to impose political goals on a process traditionally free from politics.

He noted that it would be "shocking" if Harvard were to lose its accreditation given its longstanding reputation and educational quality.As these investigations continue, the fate of Harvard and Columbia's accreditation will be closely watched as a bellwether for the future of federal oversight and political influence in US higher education.TOI Education is on WhatsApp now. Follow us here.