(KAIR)--The Justice Department has reached a settlement agreement with Highland Community College following an investigation focused on racial injustice at the Doniphan County-based community college.

The department's investigation stemmed from allegations that Black students, primarily student-athletes, living on HCC's main campus, in Highland, experienced discriminatory treatment in many aspects of campus life, including discipline, housing and interactions with campus security officers. According to a release from the Justice Department, the complaints alleged that Black students were targeted for searches and surveillance and disciplined more severely than their white peers, resulting in their unfair removal from campus housing or even expulsion.

The release explains that under the settlement, the college will improve the fairness and transparency of disciplinary proceedings to prevent such discrimination. The agreement will also strengthen policies, procedures and training on campus security to promote consistent, non-discriminatory interactions between security personnel and students. In addition, the agreement requires HCC to strengthen policies, procedures and training to ensure an effective response to students’ complaints of racial discrimination.

The release notes that the college cooperated fully throughout the investigation and expressed a desire before the investigation was concluded to make positive changes for its students by revising its policies and practices, training employees and expanding student engagement to improve campus climate.

The department opened its investigation in January 2022 under Title IV of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.