Columbia University ended a months-long battle with a 22-page document and a $221 million fine, including alleged civil rights violations, certification reviews and freezes of funds, undermining research and forced layoffs.
The settlement announced Wednesday night that it would force changes to enrollment, disciplinary procedures and academic programs. In exchange, Colombia should receive about $400 million in federal research funding. The seemingly unprecedented agreement will also see federal investigations into alleged anti-Semitism violations by police officers on campus. (Although there is a solution, Colombia has not yet admitted any allegations of wrongdoing, but rather acknowledged the need for reform.)
Critics denounced the deal as a concession to a dictatorial demand for political control, while supporters argued that reforms in Colombia must be carried out after the pro-Palestinian camps in spring 2024, followed by protests that disrupted campus life.
Although Trump officials allegedly began crusades against Colombia to address anti-Semitism on campus, official comments suggest that conservative politics has also been incorporated into settlements.
“This is a huge win for conservatives who want to do things on these elite campuses because we have such left-leaning professors,” Education Secretary Linda McMahon said at an education minister. Fox Business Interview after the settlement announcement.
The Trump administration has made it clear that the deal will serve as a roadmap for dealing with other universities such as Harvard. Much of the deal reflects the government’s requirements for Colombia in March, but other provisions, such as handing over admissions data and reviewing international student enrollment rates, are new and reflect the requirements sent to other universities.
This is what the agreement is and what it means to Colombia.
Recovery of capital flow
Colombia will at least partially restore federal research funding.
The federal government will resume grants terminated by the Department of Health and Human Services and the National Institutes of Health. However, under the agreement, grants terminated by the Ministry of Education are “excluding this provision”.
Colombia will be eligible for future grants, contracts and awards, “no adverse treatments.”
Columbia Acting President Claire Shipman stressed that the deal is about $400 million, telling CNN on Thursday that federal censorship damages $1.3 billion a year.
“It’s really a lot of headlines. It’s really getting billions of dollars in future funding. It’s not just Colombia’s money. I mean, it’s about science. It’s about science. It’s about curing cancer. The sharp edge, which actually helps the borders of the country and humanity destroy science.”
Close the investigation
The agreement will end pending investigations or compliance reviews related to potential violations of Chapter VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination based on race or nationality. These include an investigation into the treatment of Jewish employees in Colombia by the U.S. Commission on Equal Employment Opportunity. In the $221 million settlement, $21 million will be used for EEOC complaints.
However, the Trump administration notes in the agreement that the deal will not “in any way, process, investigate, litigate or otherwise seek relief in any way to seek any charges filed by individual charge parties or third parties that may later be filed against Colombia.”
Protest restrictions
Colombia will view protests within academic buildings as “direct obstacles” to university academic missions in the policy announced in March.
“In the rules of university conduct, protests in academic buildings and university activities are unacceptable, because of the possibility of undermining academic activities, all protests will be subject to university anti-discrimination and anti-harassment policies. All protests will be subject to university anti-discrimination and anti-harassment policies.
The ban on masks announced in March will also be retained.
Education Minister Linda McMahon said Colombia’s “illegal camps and demonstrations” deprive Jewish students of learning.
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Student life changes
The agreement codes changes to the disciplinary process announced in March to place the University Judiciary Committee in the office of the Provost who reported to the president. Students have previously served on the board, but will now be limited to faculty and staff.
The university president will make a final decision on the appeal case.
Colombia will also add a student liaison to “to further support Jewish lives and the well-being of Jewish students on campus”, and he will advise on issues such as anti-Semitism.
Dei ban order
The deal also includes diversity, equity and inclusion programs, which are common goals of the Trump administration. The deal bars Colombia from upholding “a program that promotes illegal efforts to achieve race-based outcomes, quotas, diversity goals or similar efforts.”
Under the agreement, Colombia will be asked to provide a report “summarize its compliance with this obligation” and ensure that the university program does not “promote illegal DEI goals.”
Changes in admissions
The agreement emphasizes performance-based admissions and favors applicants due to “race, color, or nationality.” It also prevents Colombia from using personal statements, diversity narratives or references to race to “introduce or demonstrate discrimination.”
Colombia will also be required to submit enrollment data to the federal government on denied and admitted students, including demographic details and standardized test scores.
International applicants in Colombia will also be subject to additional scrutiny of the agreement, stating that the university “conducts a comprehensive review of its international admission process and policies.” The review is designed to ensure that these applicants are “asked questions that aim to cause the reasons they want to study in the United States.”
Colombia is also required to provide “all disciplinary actions involving student visa holders, resulting in deportation or suspension, and arrest of Colombia’s awareness” to the extent permitted under the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act.
Colombia also agreed to examine its business practices and reduce its financial dependence on international students.
chuyn/istock not released/Getty
Plan Comments
Maintaining the Senior Vice Provost to provide more administrative oversight of Middle East research (and other regional programs), which is also part of the agreement.
The official will review programs such as the Institute of Israel and Jewish Studies; Middle East, South Asian and African Studies; Middle East Institute; and various other plans under the agreement. These comments are intended to ensure that the program is “complete and balanced” and include “all aspects of leadership and curriculum.”
But some faculty members expressed doubts about the additional administrative review.
Michael Thaddeus, president of the Columbia chapter of the American Association of Professors, wrote in an emailed statement that the agreement poses a threat to the academic freedom of American universities.
“Colombia’s insistence that the government does not allow government intervention in appointments, admissions or courses. However, creating a monitor, accused of reviewing our admission data and the Middle East Research Department, opened the door to such disruption,” Tharddeus said.
Resolution monitor
As part of the transaction, third-party resolution monitors will regulate the agreement.
Bart Schwartz, co-founder of GuidePost Solutions and co-founder of the criminal division of the Southern District Attorney’s Office of New York, will hold the role.
The protocol will allow solution monitors to access campuses for evaluation.
Asked if Colombia believes if the Trump administration will live up to the side of the deal and whether it has received any assurances, the university spokesperson did not provide a statement, but pointed out Internal heightUse language in dispute resolution agreements.
The section points to the opportunity for arbitration: “If either party reasonably believes that the other party violates the terms of this agreement,” including the reporting obligations outlined in the transaction.
Recruitment Requirements
The deal also imposes restrictions on the university recruitment process.
Colombia’s agreement will prohibit the use of “personal statements, diversity narratives or any applicant’s reference to racial identity as a means of introducing or demonstrating discriminatory practices of hiring or promotion.” According to the deal, other unspecified “indirect methods or standards in place of racial awareness hiring or promotion practices” are also prohibited.
Colombia must submit data on recruitment and promotion practices to resolution monitors.
Edit and introduce changes
Although some elements of the agreement are new, others simply codify previous changes. For example, changes in the discipline process and greater administrative oversight of the Middle East research (and other regional plans) that had been announced in March have now been sorted out in the deal.
David Pozen, a Columbia law professor, argued that “the agreement provides a legal form for ransomware programs.” Others go beyond what was previously announced when foreshadowed some deals.
Some regulations are “new and do not track what has been said in March,” Pozen said. “For example, there is language about the all-female locker room and sports teams in paragraph 20. I don’t think there is any prerequisite for this, and it seems like a new anti-cross currency.
Jessica Blake contributed to the report.
