The Justice Department suspended the remaining five investigations into the University in exchange for an acknowledgment to follow all civil rights laws, Interim University President Paul Mahoney announced Wednesday in an email to the community. Mahoney said that the investigations were suspended as a result of an agreement with the Justice Department.
The four-page agreement states that both parties agree to protecting academic freedom, upholding federal Civil Rights law as well as an agreement for the University to be considered “no less favorable” for federal funding than any other university. The agreement does not require the University to make any monetary payments.
According to the agreement, Mahoney and the University’s next president will be required to make quarterly reports, under penalty of perjury, to the assistant attorney general on the University’s compliance with civil rights law. The agreement also provides the United States “in its sole discretion” to determine whether the University’s progress towards compliance is sufficient — if it is not found sufficient, the federal government may pursue enforcement actions and resume its investigations.
“If the United States determines in its sole discretion after that time that U.Va. has not made adequate progress, the United States may terminate this Agreement and maynpursue enforcement actions, monetary fines or grant or funding terminations as appropriate,” the agreement reads.
In his email to the community, Mahoney said that he believes this agreement is the University’s best option in moving forward from the Justice Department’s investigations.
“I believe strongly that this agreement represents the best available path forward,” Mahoney wrote.
The agreement will last until Dec. 31, 2028, though it says that nothing in the agreement prevents the United States from opening new investigations or conducting compliance reviews. In his letter, Mahoney said that the University would continue to thoroughly review the University’s compliance with federal law.
“We will also redouble our commitment to the principles of academic freedom, ideological diversity, free expression, and the unyielding pursuit of “truth, wherever it may lead,” as Thomas Jefferson put it,” Mahoney wrote.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
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