Annual Reports From Offices of Institutional Equity and Rules Administration Show Overall Drop in Discrimination Allegations and Conduct Violations

Columbia University has released annual reports from the Office of Institutional Equity and the Office of Rules Administration, which together show a significant drop in discrimination and discriminatory harassment filings, as well as fewer misconduct violations as the University works to maintain campuses where everyone feels safe, welcome, and heard. 

The reports for the 2025-26 academic year contain extensive data on the operations of each office and provide important resources for the University community in understanding the processes, rigorous reviews, outcomes, and areas where additional education and focus are needed. 

The Office of Institutional Equity (OIE) was established in August 2024, as a centralized resource for reviewing, investigating, and resolving all reports of discrimination and discriminatory harassment. The University reorganized and restructured its existing divisions and established new divisions to better meet the needs of the University following intense campus tensions and protests related to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. During the 2025-26 academic year, the office documented 2,118 reports of potential violations of institutional equity policies and 1,328 cases. The overwhelming majority (95 percent) of matters were resolved administratively, with fewer than 2 percent resulting in a formal investigation. The number of incident reports decreased 32 percent and cases dropped 27 percent from a year earlier.

Consistent with OIE’s commitment to transparency and continuous assessment of campus climate, the report provides a more detailed analysis of allegations involving Antisemitism, Anti-Arab discrimination, Anti-Muslim discrimination, Anti-Palestinian discrimination, and Islamophobia. OIE identified 99 such cases over the year, a 67 percent decrease from the 2024-25 academic year and a 51 percent decrease from 2023-24. 

Though there was an overall decrease in the number of reports received, OIE noted that it continues to receive a broad range of reports of alleged conduct affecting students, faculty, staff, and others. Laura Kirschstein, vice provost for the Office of Institutional Equity, said that the office continues to transform OIE into a coordinated institutional equity office by strengthening collaboration across its specialized divisions, enhancing operational consistency, expanding prevention and educational initiatives, and improving its ability to respond to reports in a fair, timely, transparent, and trauma-informed manner. 

“Throughout this work, our focus has remained constant: fostering an environment in which all members of the Columbia community have equitable access to the University’s educational and employment opportunities, where reports of discrimination, discriminatory harassment, and Title IX and related misconduct are addressed with fairness, professionalism, and care, and where prevention, education, and continuous improvement remain central to our mission,” she said. 

A handful of areas showed some increase: Reports of sexual harassment rose compared to the previous year, while remaining below 2023-24 levels. Reports of dating violence and domestic violence also increased for the second consecutive year. Of the 106 combined dating and domestic violence allegations, 17 resulted in the filing of a formal complaint. OIE said it will monitor this trend and ensure support is offered, regardless of whether a formal filing is made.

Supportive measures can include no contact directives, referrals to University resources, and academic accommodations. 

Confidential resources, including University clergy, student health clinicians, University counselors, survivor advocates at Sexual Violence Response, and others are available to provide support to individuals, the report noted. 

Both the OIE and the Office of Rules Administration (ORA) stressed the importance of education and outreach. The Office of Rules, which is completely independent of OIE, is tasked with administering the Rules of University Conduct in a strictly content-neutral manner to maintain a balance between protection of demonstration activity and the integrity of the University’s academic mission. 

According to its report, there were tens of thousands of events held on Columbia’s campuses during 2025-26 where prior reservations had been made for the use of indoor or outdoor space. Of the 2,287 outdoor events, just 21 were demonstrations, and none led to charges of Rules violations. 

“Affording broad protections of the right to demonstrate while also protecting the wide array of functions that make up the University’s academic mission introduces a significant degree of complexity to the administration of the Rules,” the report said. “The ORA takes seriously the educational component of its charge and seeks to help the community better grasp the complexities in the Rules.”

Among its educational tools is a revamped website, which aims to improve transparency and efficiency while building trust in the rules process. 

ORA’s report also noted the importance of University Delegates in “sustaining Columbia’s tradition of vigorous debate, open inquiry, and freedom of expression.” Training for delegates increased from 2 hours to 12 hours in the last year. Delegates attend events, document their observations, and can provide guidance and warnings but do not have disciplinary authority. In the last year, delegates were deployed to 292 events; of those, they reported possible Rules violations for only eight (3 percent) of them.

“The ORA continually seeks to improve Rules administration at Columbia and is constantly considering areas for improvement and growth,” the report said.

The full OIE report can be found here, and the Rules report here. The Center for Student Success and Intervention also recently published its annual report, which can be found here.

Anyone, regardless of affiliation to the University, may report alleged discrimination or harassment violations via the online reporting form or by sending an email to [email protected]. Rules violations may be submitted via the website.