Northwestern University Settles with Feds for $75 Million

Northwestern University has settled a dispute with the federal government. They will pay $75 million. This deal ends a long investigation. The government had accused the university of unfair treatment. They also froze the school's federal funds. The settlement requires Northwestern to change some policies. They must follow anti-discrimination laws. The university will also update rules on campus protests. Additionally, they will provide training on antisemitism. This training is for students, faculty, and staff. Federal funding for Northwestern was put on hold earlier this year. This freeze was part of a broader government review. It targeted university policies and campus speech. The freeze was one of the largest ever imposed. Under the settlement, the government will restore Northwestern's funding. The university expects payments to resume soon. Full funding should be back within 30 days. This includes overdue payments on grants and contracts. Northwestern is one of a few universities making direct payments. Other schools, like Brown, used their payments for local programs. Unlike Columbia, Northwestern will monitor its own compliance. This settlement comes after a tough time for Northwestern. The funding freeze caused significant disruption. It even led to the resignation of the university's president. He cited serious challenges and ongoing issues. Several other universities face federal scrutiny. Schools like Columbia, Brown, and Cornell have also made large payments. The University of Virginia accepted strict reporting requirements. These requirements last until 2028. The settlement highlights ongoing tensions between universities and the federal government. It shows the impact of government investigations on higher education. It also shows how universities must adapt to new regulations.