WASHINGTON (AP) – The White House is pursuing heavy fines from Harvard Other universities as part of this Potential settlements To end the anti-Semitism investigation on campus, What happens when you get hit Columbia University as a template, according to an administrative official who is well versed in the issue.
The fine spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations.
The new strategy was first reported by the Wall Street Journal.
Federal civil rights investigations into schools and universities have almost always been resolved through voluntary settlements, but financial penalties are rare. The Biden administration reached many such deals with universities, none of which included fines.
Columbia’s settlement with the Trump administration $200 million fine In exchange for regaining access to federal funds and closing an investigation accusing Colombia of tolerating harassment of Jewish students and employees.
The agreement, released Wednesday, also ordered Colombia to ensure that admission and employment decisions are “met-based” without considering race, hire more Jewish studies faculty and reduce their reliance on international students at the university. Colombia will be under the supervision of an independent monitor and requires regular disclosure to the government.
The contract agreement contains provisions that prohibit the government from directly determining decisions regarding employment, admissions and academics. Colombian leaders said they would maintain university autonomy while restoring federal money flows.
The Trump administration has investigated dozens of universities for claims that it failed to address campus anti-Semitism amid the Israeli-Hamas war, with several institutions facing a freeze in federal funding, like Columbia and Harvard University.
The federal government has frozen over $1 billion at Cornell University and won $790 million at Northwestern University.
When announcing the Colombian settlement, the administrative authorities described it as a template for other universities. Education Secretary Linda McMahon called it a “roadmap” for universities that are trying to regain public trust by saying it would “spread across the higher education sector and change courses in campus culture for years to come.”
When Trump left the White House on Friday, he told reporters: “Harvard wanted to “settle down,” but Columbia “delivered that better.” The president said he was optimistic that his administration would win Harvard’s legal challenges — at least on appeal — he suggested that Harvard might never regain the level of federal funds it had received in the past.
“The bottom line means we won’t give Harvard any more money,” he said. “We want to spread wealth.”
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