By Jorge Casuso

March 12, 2025 -- Federal officials this week warned 60 institutions of higher education -- including Santa Monica College (SMC) -- that they face "potential enforcement actions" if they fail to protect Jewish students from discrimination.

The letter from the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) was sent to institutions "that are presently under investigation for Title VI violations relating to antisemitic harassment and discrimination."

"The Department is deeply disappointed that Jewish students studying on elite U.S. campuses continue to fear for their safety amid the relentless antisemitic eruptions that have severely disrupted campus life for more than a year," said Secretary of Education Linda McMahon.

"University leaders must do better. U.S. colleges and universities benefit from enormous public investments funded by U.S. taxpayers.

"That support is a privilege and it is contingent on scrupulous adherence to federal antidiscrimination laws,” McMahon said.

SMC has responded to the three cases filed between January 8 and November 18, 2024 and has "outlined in great detail the College’s full compliance with Title VI," school officials said.

"We have not as yet received any determination from the Office of Civil Rights on any of these investigations," officials said.

SMC is not among the five institutions under "directed investigations" -- including Columbia University and UC Berkeley -- where widespread antisemitic harassment has been reported.

The first investigations of SMC was launched in December 2023 after a complaint that the Inter-Club Council (ICC) had denied installation of the Students Supporting Israel club shortly after the Israel-Hamas war broke out in October, according to a report in the student media outlet The Corsair.

"SMC administration repealed this decision within less than 24 hours of the meeting, citing ICC bylaws that rendered the decision unconstitutional for club delegates to deny a club that met all of the basic requirements," the Corsair reported.

In May 2024, the SMC received notice it was under investigation for “alleged harassment of students by a Professor based on national origin (shared Jewish ancestry),” according to The Corsair. The investigation arose from concerns about an Ethnic Studies class.

On Wednesday, SMC issued the following statement:

"Santa Monica College remains committed to upholding a culture of inclusivity, where open dialog and respectful exchange of ideas can take place.

"Through professional development, mental and emotional health support for the college community, and other measures, the College has sought to build bridges and ensure students and colleagues are aware of their rights.

"SMC stands against anti-Semitism, just as the College stands against all forms of discrimination and hate," the statement read.

Other Los Angeles Area schools that received Monday's letter were the University of Southern California, Pomona College and Chapman University in Orange.