The U.S. Department of Education has launched an investigation into New College of Florida’s trustees and administration following a civil rights complaint filed on Aug. 22. The DOE’s Office of Civil Rights said it plans to investigate New College based on disability discrimination to determine whether it excluded qualified persons with disabilities from participation in, denied them the benefits of, or otherwise subjected them to discrimination in its programs, activities, aids, benefits, or services. The federal agency also plans to investigate whether New College failed to ensure that its communications with individuals with disabilities were as effective as its communications with others. The civil rights complaint filed against New College's leadership also alleged an ongoing trend of discrimination against protected groups such as LGBTQ+ students, and the creation of a hostile environment toward those students. It requested that federal agencies launch a formal investigation into the college's leadership and compel action to remedy damages the complaint claims leaders have caused. New College has been undergoing a conservative transformation since January when Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed a new majority to its Board of Trustees tasked with shaping the small liberal arts school into the "Hillsdale College of the South." Hillsdale College is a private, conservative Christian liberal arts school in Michigan. #Queer Up Education