April 15, 2010

Stepping Up the Pace at the Office for Civil Rights

Leader of Office for Civil Rights Plans to Step Up the Pace 1

U.S. Department of Education

Russlynn Ali, the Education Department's assistant secretary for civil rights, expects her office to handle a higher volume of complaints and offer more advice to educational institutions.

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close Leader of Office for Civil Rights Plans to Step Up the Pace 1

U.S. Department of Education

Russlynn Ali, the Education Department's assistant secretary for civil rights, expects her office to handle a higher volume of complaints and offer more advice to educational institutions.

By Libby Sander and Peter Schmidt

Washington

The Education Department's Office for Civil Rights has been revamping its operations to enforce laws against discrimination more consistently and is in the process of reviewing its approach to complaints of anti-Semitism and its guidance to colleges on race-conscious admission policies and gender equity in athletics, the office's chief, Russlynn H. Ali, told The Chronicle on Wednesday.

In a wide-ranging interview, Ms. Ali, who took office as assistant secretary for civil