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Cornell University has announced a $60 million settlement with the Trump administration, securing the restoration of its federal research funding. This resolution ends ongoing investigations and aligns Cornell’s practices with federal civil rights laws as interpreted by the administration. President Michael I. Kotlikoff emphasized the importance of the decades-long research collaboration with the government, noting its contribution to advancements in health, welfare, and economic and military strength.
The agreement, according to JURIST, obliges Cornell to pay $30 million to the federal government over three years while investing another $30 million in agricultural research over the same period. This follows accusations by the Department of Education and the Department of Justice that the university violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act by allegedly discriminating against students based on race. As a result, over $1 billion in federal funding had been suspended.
Cornell’s commitment to these terms, including the alignment of its policies with the administration’s stance on race considerations, was made without admitting any wrongdoing. The settlement positions Cornell as the fourth Ivy League institution to reach such an agreement with the current administration, following the University of Pennsylvania, Brown University, and Columbia University.
With this resolution, President Kotlikoff expressed optimism about resuming a fruitful partnership with the federal government, highlighting the progress and well-being that such a relationship has historically fostered for the nation and globally. The agreement underscores a broader trend of educational institutions reconciling with changing federal regulatory interpretations amidst scrutiny over compliance with civil rights laws.
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