The Title VI coordinator works with students and faculty to combat discrimination and promote a safe and inclusive learning environment. Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination based on skin color, race, national origin and shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics. The University designated Ada Robinson-Perez, Ph.D. ‘19, the executive director of the Office of Equity and Access and coordinator for accommodations and accessibility services, as its Title VI coordinator.

As Title VI coordinator, Robinson-Perez will act as the primary point of contact for discrimination protection efforts, lead investigations into suspected bias and ensure any investigation complies with federal and state law. She will also be responsible for notifying individuals who submit a Title VI complaint of the University’s procedures and telling all BU students and faculty about the policies in place for reporting discrimination and harassment reports every academic year.

The University is currently searching for a Title VI specialist to support Robinson-Perez in her duties.

“As a person who honors our humanity, I believe we all share a social responsibility that supports and protects equity and equality,” Robinson-Perez wrote.

Robinson-Perez completed her Ph.D. in community research and action from the College of Community and Public Affairs. She spent five years as associate director of the University’s Employee Assistance Program and has been the student affairs divisional diversity officer since February 2020.

“This new law is about making sure there are clear, accountable systems in place to protect students and uphold their civil rights,” State Sen. Lea Webb ‘04 wrote in a statement to Pipe Dream. “Every student, no matter their background, should feel safe, supported, and heard on campus, and this law brings us one step closer to that goal.”

In February, the U.S. Department of Justice announced the creation of a multi-agency task force to combat antisemitism on college campuses. It was formed days after President Donald Trump signed a directive ordering the head of each executive department and agency to create a report detailing all administrative complaints submitted against institutions of higher education “alleging civil-rights violations related to or arising from post-October 7, 2023, campus anti-Semitism.”

The Department of Education then opened Title VI investigations into five universities, including Columbia University and Northwestern University, “where widespread antisemitic harassment has been reported.”

In March, the University and 59 other higher education institutions received letters [HYPERLINK: https://www.bupipedream.com/news/university-one-of-60-colleges-warned-by-education-department/163686/] from the Education Department that warned of “potential enforcement actions” if they did not adequately fulfill their obligations to protect Jewish students under Title VI. All 60 universities were under investigation for alleged antisemitic discrimination and harassment on their campuses.

The investigation at BU began in [HYPERLINK: https://www.bupipedream.com/news/u-s-education-department-opens-investigation-into-university-following-complaint-of-failing-to-respond-to-antisemitism/146557/] January 2024 after the University allegedly failed to respond to an incident of antisemitism on campus.

The University’s Title VI committee, which is mandated by SUNY, reviews discrimination cases and has procedures for complex and high-profile complaints.

Title VI does not protect students from discrimination that is solely based on religion. However, students part of a religious group that experiences discrimination based on national origin are protected by Title VI, meaning the University is responsible for addressing conduct that “may create a hostile environment,” according to Robinson-Perez.

“As our country faces increased instances of hate, particularly antisemitism, our colleges must take proactive measures to ensure everyone feels safe and welcome on campuses,” State Sen. Shelley B. Mayer, who represents parts of Westchester, said in a press release.

The University has a Religious Accommodation and Expression policy affirming its commitment to “providing a welcoming environment for all, regardless of religious affiliation or belief.” The policy protects freedom of religious speech and expression and provides for reasonable religious accommodations for students and faculty.

Hochul has also taken other steps to root out discrimination on campuses. In 2023, she created the New York State Anti-Hate in Education Center to address and eradicate any form of campus discrimination. She also directed officials to improve the state’s reporting of hate crime incidents, established a domestic terror prevention unit and conducted a review of state universities’ policies on discrimination.

“No one should fear for their safety while trying to get an education,” Hochul said in a press release. “It’s my top priority to ensure every New York student feels safe at school, and I will continue to take action against campus discrimination and use every tool at my disposal to eliminate hate and bias from our school communities.”

The 2025 edition of the list places the University at No. 24. College rankings are based on a variety of metrics, including alumni salary and hiring after graduation, financial success, academic outcomes for students, retention rate and return on investment for students. The same criteria are used by Forbes to create its list of the top 500 colleges in the United States, where BU placed at No. 68 in its annual ranking.

“As the flagship public university in our region, we are proud of this acknowledgement to continue raising our standards, deepening our impact, and offering transformative experiences through education — resulting in alumni who go out into the world and create positive change,” said University Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Donald Hall in a statement.

The University was ranked No. 4 in the U.S. News and World Report’s 2025 list of best-value public universities, a rating determined by four indicators: academic quality, the number of full-time students that receive need-based aid, full-time students receiving aid without obligations to repay and the average discount from the school’s baseline price. Forbes also named BU a Top 10 “Public Ivy” in 2024 and was named an R1 “very high research” institution by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education in 2018, a title held by less than 200 schools nationwide.

The new ranking comes as the University reported receiving a record-breaking 74,725 applicants for the fall 2025 semester, a 15.5 percent increase from last year’s total admissions cycle. Out of 61,200 total first-year undergraduate applicants, over 3,160 freshmen enrolled in classes this semester. There were also 4,575 transfer applications, a 12.1 percent increase from last year, with about 14 percent of enrolled transfer students previously attending SUNY Broome Community College.

“As a transfer student, you hope you’re making the right decision and seeing Binghamton recognized as one of the top 25 schools really affirms that choice,” said Zunairah Masud, a sophomore majoring in integrative neuroscience. “It feels inspiring to be surrounded by students and faculty who are committed to high academic excellence, and it pushes me to hold myself to the same standard.”

Top state universities across the country have faced funding cuts and investigations by the Trump administration. James Ryan, former president of the University of Virginia, stepped down in June amid pressure from the federal government over UVA’s diversity, equity and inclusion policies. The Trump administration has also withheld $584 million in research grants from the University of California-Los Angeles over allegations of antisemitism and allowing transgender athletes to compete in sports.

Despite expected challenges, Forbes said students attend public universities for their Division I sports, large campuses, wide selection of programs and alumni connections. BU recently broke ground on a $5.6 million track and field complex and continues to host D1 programs that attract student athletes and sports fans. The University also has plans to expand on-campus housing by building a new 350-bed residence hall. Forbes’ Top 25 Public Colleges list recognized BU for its research, specifically in the fields of clean energy and battery technology.

“Being singled out in this elite group highlights the hard work of our faculty, the drive of our students and the support of all our alumni,” said University President Harvey Stenger in a statement to Pipe Dream. “Binghamton University has a truly unique role in advancing opportunity and education in New York state, and we’re proud to be on the forefront.”