The U.S. Department of Justice has launched a civil-rights investigation into Lincoln Memorial University over allegations that Jewish medical students were prevented from completing exams. Federal officials confirmed the inquiry this week, signaling heightened scrutiny of religious discrimination claims in higher education. The investigation centers on whether the university violated federal nondiscrimination laws tied to institutions receiving taxpayer funds.
According to the department, the probe focuses on the DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine campuses in Harrogate and Knoxville, Tennessee, as well as Orange Park, Florida. Authorities are examining reports that Jewish students were blocked from finishing required examinations during the spring semester. The department has not publicly released specific details about how the alleged actions occurred.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon stated that universities receiving federal financial assistance must comply with federal civil-rights statutes that prohibit discrimination based on shared ancestry or ethnicity, including antisemitism. The investigation will determine whether LMU’s conduct violated those protections. Officials emphasized that the inquiry does not represent a final finding of wrongdoing.
The Office for Civil Rights at the Department of Health and Human Services is assisting in the review. Because LMU’s medical school participates in federal funding programs, compliance with nondiscrimination law is a condition of that support.
Lincoln Memorial University issued a statement affirming its commitment to equal treatment under the law and pledged cooperation with investigators. The university did not directly address the specific allegations involving exam access.
The case reflects ongoing federal attention to rising antisemitism on college campuses nationwide. The investigation will include document reviews and interviews, with no timetable yet announced for its completion.
