People walk on the campus of Cornell University on November 3, 2023 in Ithaca, New York.
Matt Burkhardt | Getty Images
Cornell University has agreed to pay $60 million and accept the Trump administration’s interpretation of civil rights law to restore federal funding and end an investigation into the Ivy League school.
Cornell University President Michael Kotlikoff announced the agreement Friday, saying it protects the university’s academic freedom while restoring more than $250 million in research funding that was withheld by the government pending an investigation into alleged civil rights violations.
The university agreed to pay $30 million directly to the U.S. government and an additional $30 million for research that will support U.S. farmers.
Kotlikoff said the agreement restores the campus’ partnership with the federal government “while affirming the university’s commitment to the principles of academic freedom, independence, and institutional autonomy that have been essential to our school’s excellence since its founding.”
The six-page agreement is similar to one signed by the University of Virginia last month. It is shorter and less prescriptive than other documents signed by Columbia University and Brown University.
The bill would require Cornell University to comply with the government’s interpretation of civil rights laws regarding anti-Semitism, racism, and transgender issues. A Department of Justice memo ordering universities to waive diversity, equity and inclusion programs and transgender-friendly policies will be used as a training resource for Cornell faculty.
Campuses will also need to provide rich admissions data, which the government has required separately from campuses, to ensure race is not factored into admissions decisions. President Donald Trump has suggested that some campuses are ignoring a 2023 Supreme Court ruling ending affirmative action in admissions.
Education Secretary Linda McMahon called it a “transformative initiative” focused on “merit, rigor and the search for truth.”
“These reforms are a major victory in the fight to restore excellence to American higher education and make our schools the greatest in the world,” McMahon said on X.
Cornell University’s president must personally certify compliance with the agreement on a quarterly basis. The agreement is valid until the end of 2028.
Opinions appear to be divided over a contentious issue universities are grappling with as they negotiate a break from federal oversight: payments made directly to the government. Columbia University agreed to pay $200 million directly to the government, while Brown University agreed to pay $50 million to state workforce organizations. Virginia’s contract did not include any payments.
