Latest news with #MichaelKotlikoff
Fox News
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Cornell University hit with federal civil rights complaint over alleged discriminatory DEI practices
A conservative think tank filed a federal civil rights complaint against Cornell University, accusing the Ivy League institution of using diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in its hiring practices and scholarships. The America First Policy Institute (AFPI) filed the complaint in late June with the U.S. Departments of Justice, Education, Health and Human Services and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. (FOX Business host Larry Kudlow currently serves as the vice chair of the board for AFPI.) The complaint alleges that internal documents, public policies and archived webpages show a "university-wide culture that places an illegal identity-based ideology above equal opportunity and merit, leading to a coercive and hostile environment." Among the allegations in the 10-page complaint is that Cornell President Michael Kotlikoff, who served as provost during the time the alleged practices were implemented, oversaw a "hiring scheme" that "excluded the vast majority of qualified candidates based solely on race and sex." The AFPI document highlights a December 2020 email from a department chair to faculty members and administrators about a plan to make "our hoped-for diversity hire." Kotlikoff did not directly respond to Fox News Digital's requests for comment. Lindsey Knewstub, Cornell's deputy director for media relations, referred Fox News Digital to a statement posted on the university's website. "The university strongly disputes the allegations in the America First Policy Institute complaint that references a number of outdated websites or programs that have not been in use for many years," the statement read in part. "Over the past year, the university has further enhanced its compliance with civil rights laws by engaging outside law firms to audit policy and practices to reflect changes in law or regulations, taking swift corrective action where necessary." It noted that "misunderstandings of policies" can occur as Cornell makes thousands of hiring decisions across hundreds of departments each year. "If discrimination or bias is observed at any stage in any hiring process, it should be reported and will be corrected," the statement continued. "The university does not tolerate unlawful discrimination in hiring or any other aspect of any university program or practice, and the university has taken and will continue to take prompt, effective, and appropriate action to respond to any and all allegations of any violation of law or the university's equal opportunity and antidiscrimination policy." AFPI also alleged in its complaint that the Ithaca-based college restricted scholarships based on race or ethnicity. It highlighted several identity-based scholarships that specifically referenced Latinos, underrepresented minorities, Native Americans and African Americans. Cornell said it administers its financial aid and scholarship programs in compliance with applicable laws. "This is about civil rights," said Jessica Hart Steinmann, AFPI's executive general counsel. "Cornell's practices violate federal law and fundamental principles of equality. It's time for the government to act." President Donald Trump has targeted DEI practices since taking office in January. He signed an executive order directing the termination of DEI mandates, policies, programs and activities in the federal government. The Education Department, led by Secretary Linda McMahon, also issued a memo in April directing state education officials to eliminate DEI programs and practices or risk losing federal funding. Harmeet Dhillon, the assistant attorney general for the DOJ's civil rights division, told The Wall Street Journal that her office "will investigate all serious allegations of identity-based admissions, hiring, and student benefits." "Discrimination by American colleges and universities must come to an end," she said. "Cornell is no exception to this rule."
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Week in review: Major universities take steps to rein in budgets
This story was originally published on Higher Ed Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Higher Ed Dive newsletter. The Senate's education committee released its own higher education proposals earlier this month for the sweeping reconciliation bill. While like the House-passed version it seeks to end Grad PLUS loans and add accountability for student outcomes, it also differs from the House bill in key ways. Number of the week 8% The largest excise tax wealthy private colleges could pay on their endowments under a proposal put forward by the Senate Finance Committee — well short of the 21% top rate approved by House Republicans. In the Senate version, the tax would start at the current rate of 1.4% and rise to 4% and 8% depending on a college's endowment assets per student. Florida's Board of Governors cleared a plan to allow the state's universities to hike out-of-state tuition by 10% this fall and 15% the next, Spectrum Local News reported. Individual university boards will ultimately decide on how much to raise tuition. Temple University is projecting a $60 million structural deficit for fiscal year 2026. The university's deans and vice presidents were asked to develop plans to shrink how much they spend on employee compensation by 5% — a move that will require cutting positions, President John Fry said in a community message. Cornell University President Michael Kotlikoff and other top officials said the institution must adopt 'financial austerity' in the face of federal research cuts, potential endowment tax increases, escalating legal expenses, inflation and other cost pressures. The Ivy League institution plans to review programs and positions, restrict hiring and travel expenses, and find ways to streamline operations. A federal judge vacated the National Institute of Health's directives to terminate research grants for projects related to diversity, equity and inclusion. U.S. District Judge William Young also ordered the agency to reinstate the plaintiffs' canceled research funding, which amounts to roughly 800 grants. U.S. District Judge Brian Murphy granted a temporary restraining order blocking the U.S. Department of Defense from implementing a 15% cap on reimbursement for colleges' indirect research costs. Murphy's ruling marks the third agency that has been blocked by a court from carrying out the cuts to federal funding for research overhead. However, another federal judge recently declined to block the U.S. Department of Education's cuts to the Institute of Educational Sciences, which gathers and analyzes higher education data. In rejecting the motion for a preliminary injunction, U.S. District Judge Stephanie Gallagher ruled that while the Education Department 'has likely gone too far in downsizing IES,' the associations that sued have not shown that IES is required to operate as it did before the agency's mass layoffs. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Straits Times
19-06-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Cornell University warns of job losses, austerity after Trump funding cuts
Cornell University warned of job cuts and 'financial austerity in all areas' as it steps up efforts to address budget shortfalls stemming from US funding cuts under President Donald Trump. Short-term measures are no longer enough to plug the gaps left by the loss of hundreds of millions of dollars in federal research contracts, Cornell President Michael Kotlikoff and other school leaders wrote in a message on June 18. The Ivy League university now needs to shrink its workforce and cut other costs to bring about 'permanent change to our operational model,' they said. 'It is important that every member of this community understands both the scale of the challenges our university faces, and the seriousness of the risks,' they said. 'Cornell's funding model, developed over 160 years, is strong and diversified, and has carried us successfully through many past crises. We are now experiencing simultaneous attacks or threats on every element of that model.' Mr Trump has ramped up financial pressure on universities, pushing to raise a tax on endowments and cancelling research deals while hammering schools for their handling of anti-semitism on campus following the Oct 7, 2023, attack by Hamas on Israel and the Jewish state's retaliatory response in Gaza. Other schools including Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have also cut costs in response to the pressure. Cornell, which had some federal grants frozen earlier this year, said it was contending with 'rapidly escalating' legal costs and increased personnel expenses. Headcount has increased by more than 15 per cent in the past four years, significantly outpacing the university's revenue growth, it said. The need for personnel will be reviewed across every part of the Ithaca, New York-based school, they said. The university expects to make involuntary staff cuts, not just control costs through attrition. Cornell will also keep in place hiring restrictions and limits on travel and other discretionary expenses. Looking ahead, the school leaders cited the threats posed by the loss of future federal funding and financial aid and the proposed endowment-tax hike in the budget 'One Big, Beautiful Bill' now pending in the US Senate. BLOOMBERG Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Bloomberg
18-06-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
Cornell Warns of Job Losses, Austerity After Trump Funding Cuts
Cornell University warned of job cuts and 'financial austerity in all areas' as it steps up efforts to address budget shortfalls stemming from US funding cuts under President Donald Trump. Short-term measures are no longer enough to plug the gaps left by the loss of hundreds of millions of dollars in federal research contracts, Cornell President Michael Kotlikoff and other school leaders wrote in a message Wednesday. The Ivy League university now needs to shrink its workforce and cut other costs to bring about 'permanent change to our operational model,' they said.
Arab News
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Arab News
Kehlani responds to concert cancellation over ‘anti-Israel sentiments'
DUBAI: US singer Kehlani has taken to social media after her appearance at Cornell University's annual campus concert was cancelled due to her pro-Palestine stance. For the latest updates, follow us on Instagram @ Last week, Cornell President Michael Kotlikoff announced he was withdrawing the R&B singer's invitation to perform at the event due to what he called 'antisemitic, anti-Israel sentiments.' A post shared by Kehlani (@kehlani) 'Unfortunately, although it was not the intention, the selection of Kehlani as this year's headliner has injected division and discord into Slope Day,' Kotlikoff wrote last week, referring to the concert. 'For that reason, I am rescinding Kehlani's invitation and expect a new lineup for a great 2025 Slope Day to be announced shortly.' He continued: 'In the days since Kehlani was announced, I have heard grave concerns from our community that many are angry, hurt, and confused that Slope Day would feature a performer who has espoused antisemitic, anti-Israel sentiments in performances, videos, and on social media. While any artist has the right in our country to express hateful views, Slope Day is about uniting our community, not dividing it.' In a new Instagram video responding to the cancellation, Kehlani said: 'I am being asked and called to clarify and make a statement yet again for the millionth time, that I am not antisemitic nor anti-Jew. I am anti-genocide, I am anti the actions of the Israeli government, I am anti an extermination of an entire people, I'm anti the bombing of innocent children, men women… that's what I'm anti.' The 30-year-old, a frequent collaborator with the Jewish Voice for Peace group, added a caption, stating: 'I know you've seen Cornell University cancelled my show, and now there are attempts at other cancellations on top of the cancellations I've already experienced over the past year. If you want to cancel me from opportunity, stand on it being because of your Zionism. don't make it anti-jew. this a played out game. all this because we want people to stop dying. I hope this helps.'
