Education Department says Columbia fails to meet accreditation standard

The Education Department announced on Wednesday that Columbia University was in violation of federal antidiscrimination law, which puts it at risk of losing federal student loans and Pell Grants. 

The federal agency said it was notifying the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, a college accreditation group that determines which schools can receive student loans, of the Title VI violation, arguing the failure means the organization should strip Columbia of its accreditation status.