Trump admin settles with Tennessee university over alleged discrimination against Jewish students

The U.S. Departments of Justice and Health and Human Services announced a settlement with Lincoln Memorial University in Tennessee to resolve allegations of discrimination against Jewish students. A joint investigation, launched in February, found that the university's DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine denied Jewish students accommodations for religious holidays during the 2025-26 academic year, while granting similar requests to non-Jewish students. The medical school also implemented a policy prohibiting excused absences for religious observances while allowing them for non-religious reasons. Assistant U.S. Attorney General for Civil Rights, Harmeet Dhillon, stated, "Students of all ethnic and religious backgrounds—including Jewish students—should receive the same treatment at our nation’s universities."

• The settlement requires the medical school to revise its absence policy to allow religious absences on the same basis as non-religious absences.
• Students with approved religious absences cannot be penalized for missed academic requirements.
• The university must educate its community about the revised policy and reverse penalties imposed on Jewish students previously denied accommodations.