Latest news with #UVA
Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
University of Virginia president resigns under pressure from Trump on DEI policies
Mr James Ryan concluded that resisting Trump officials' demands would put the school's students and faculty at risk. PHOTO: KIRSTEN LUCE/NYTIMES University of Virginia president resigns under pressure from Trump on DEI policies The president of the University of Virginia, Mr James Ryan, resigned on June 27 under pressure from President Donald Trump's administration over the school's diversity, equity and inclusion policies. In a letter to the UVA community, Mr Ryan said he had made the 'excruciating decision' to step down after concluding that resisting Trump officials' demands would put the school's students and faculty at risk. 'I cannot make a unilateral decision to fight the federal government in order to save my own job,' he wrote. 'To do so would not only be quixotic but appear selfish and self-centered to the hundreds of employees who would lose their jobs, the researchers who would lose their funding, and the hundreds of students who could lose financial aid or have their visas withheld.' Virginia's Democratic US senators, Tim Kaine and Mark Warner, called the Trump administration's demand 'outrageous' in a joint statement and said Mr Ryan's departure would hurt the university and the state. It was not clear whether Mr Ryan's resignation would take effect immediately. Earlier, the New York Times had reported that the Justice Department had demanded his resignation, and he decided to capitulate. The administration has launched a campaign against diversity, equity and inclusion and targeted colleges and universities that it has claimed are pushing antisemitic, anti-American, Marxist and 'radical left' ideologies. Universities that have been investigated or have had funds frozen have said that Mr Trump's attacks are threats to freedom of speech, freedom of academics and the schools' very existence. In a warning issued to UVA last week, the Justice Department said the government had concluded that the use of race in admissions and other student benefits were 'widespread practices throughout every component and facet of the institution,' according to the Times. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Justice department investigation in DEI: Virginia university chief quits; critics fear academic overreach
James E Ryan, UAV (AP) The president of the University of Virginia, James Ryan, is stepping down following pressure from the justice department, which had urged his resignation during an investigation into the university's diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) practices, according to a source familiar with the matter, reported news agency AP. Ryan's exit marks a major shift in the Trump administration's campaign to reshape higher education, extending federal scrutiny beyond Ivy League schools to include public universities. It also signals a pivot in focus, from antisemitism to DEI policies, which the administration argues discriminate against white and asian american students. Trump has pushed a hardline stance against what he calls 'woke indoctrination,' signing a January executive order to dismantle DEI initiatives nationwide. The education department has since launched investigations into numerous colleges. At UVA, conservative critics, including Trump-aligned group America First Legal, accused the university of renaming and repackaging DEI under new labels instead of eliminating it. In response, the university's board voted in March to shut down its DEI office and end diversity policies in admissions, hiring, and financial aid, an action praised by Republican Gov. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Cardiologists: 1 Teaspoon of This Before Bed Melts Belly Fat Like Crazy Hollywood News | USA Click Here Undo Glenn Youngkin, who declared 'DEI is done at the University of Virginia. ' Ryan, who had previously signed a letter opposing what he called 'political interference' in higher education, became a target for critics. America First Legal directly called for his removal, saying UVA's response defied federal directives. Ted Mitchell, head of the American council on education, condemned the move as federal overreach. 'This is a dark day for the University of Virginia, a dark day for higher education,' he said. Virginia's Democratic senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine also denounced the administration's pressure, calling it politically motivated and harmful to the state's future. Ryan, who led UVA since 2018 and previously served as a dean at Harvard, had been known for promoting faculty diversity. His resignation highlights growing tensions between universities and the federal government over the limits of political influence in public education.
CBS News
6 hours ago
- Politics
- CBS News
University of Virginia president resigns amid Trump administration investigation
The University of Virginia's president, James E. Ryan, has resigned amid the Trump administration's efforts to pressure several prestigious universities over claims they tolerated campus antisemitism and their efforts related to campus diversity, threatening their budgets, tax-exempt status and the enrollment of foreign students. Ryan announced his resignation in a letter to the UVA community Friday. "I am writing, with a very heavy heart, to let you know that I have submitted my resignation as President of the University of Virginia," he said. Ryan did not directly address the details of the government's investigation but took note of the potential impacts. File: University of Virginia President James Ryan attends press conference related to overnight shooting at university on Nov. 14, 2022, Charlottesville, Virginia. Win McNamee / Getty Images "I cannot make a unilateral decision to fight the federal government in order to save my own job," he wrote. "To do so would not only be quixotic but appear selfish and self-centered to the hundreds of employees who would lose their jobs, the researchers who would lose their funding, and the hundreds of students who could lose financial aid or have their visas withheld." "While there are very important principles at play here, I would at a very practical level be fighting to keep my job for one more year while knowingly and willingly sacrificing others in this community," he continued. "If this were not so distinctly tied to me personally, I may have pursued a different path." The move marks the latest university resignation tied to President Trump's monthslong intense national effort to scrutinize and scale back diversity efforts at universities. A spokesperson for the school said "UVA is committed to complying with all federal laws and has been cooperating with the Department of Justice in the ongoing inquiries." "The federal government's support of the University is essential to continue the core mission of research, education and, clinical care," said the spokesperson, Brian Coy. The New York Times first reported Ryan's intention to resign. Ryan is known for his efforts to advance diversity both at the University of Virginia and in his previous role as dean of the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Harvard has also been a focus of Trump administration scrutiny, recently suing the federal government over its effort to bar it from admitting international students. The Trump administration's efforts have resulted in colleges nationwide, including Columbia University and the University of Michigan dramatically scaling back their diversity, equity and inclusion messaging and programs.
USA Today
6 hours ago
- Politics
- USA Today
University of Virginia president to step down after pressure from Trump DOJ
Virginia's Democratic senators called the announcement "a mistake that hurts Virginia's future." WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump's efforts to assert more control over higher education hit new heights on Friday, after the president of the University of Virginia submitted his resignation amid a Justice Department probe of the school. James E. Ryan, who has led the prestigious flagship since 2018, had a contract extending through 2028. But in a message to the university community Friday afternoon, he acknowledged that intense pressure from the federal government, including the threat of major funding freezes, influenced his decision to step down. "I cannot make a unilateral decision to fight the federal government in order to save my own job," he wrote. "To do so would not only be quixotic but appear selfish and self-centered to the hundreds of employees who would lose their jobs, the researchers who would lose their funding, and the hundreds of students who could lose financial aid or have their visas withheld." The Department of Justice had been investigating the university, which is located in Charlottesville, Virginia, over its diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI, programs. In March, the university disbanded its DEI office. Glenn Youngkin, the commonwealth's Republican governor, proclaimed at the time: "DEI is done at the University of Virginia." That move wasn't enough to satisfy the Trump administration, however. The New York Times, which first broke the news of Ryan's resignation, reported on Thursday that the Justice Department was pressuring Ryan to step down in order to resolve a civil rights inquiry into the university. At risk were millions in federal funding dollars. Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon, a UVA graduate, would not confirm whether the Justice Department had pushed for Ryan's ouster. In a statement to USA TODAY, she said the agency made its demands clear to the school. "When university leaders lack commitment to ending illegal discrimination in hiring, admissions, and student benefits – they expose the institutions they lead to legal and financial peril," she said. "We welcome leadership changes in higher education that signal institutional commitment to our nation's venerable federal civil rights laws.' Ryan's resignation pleased conservatives and alarmed academic freedom advocates and Democrats. In a joint statement, Sens. Tim Kaine and Mark Warner, both Virginia Democrats, said decisions about UVA's leadership should only belong to the university's board. They called Ryan's departure a "mistake that hurts Virginia's future." "Virginia's economy and prosperity depend on the strength and integrity of our higher education system," they wrote. "It is outrageous that officials in the Trump Department of Justice demanded the Commonwealth's globally recognized university remove President Ryan – a strong leader who has served UVA honorably and moved the university forward – over ridiculous 'culture war' traps." Zachary Schermele is an education reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach him by email at zschermele@ Follow him on X at @ZachSchermele and Bluesky at @
Politico
7 hours ago
- Politics
- Politico
UVA president resigns amid pressure from Trump administration
University of Virginia President James E. Ryan announced his resignation Friday, a swift response to calls from the Trump administration to step down amid the Justice Department's probe into the school's diversity, equity and inclusion practices. 'To make a long story short, I am inclined to fight for what I believe in, and I believe deeply in this University. But I cannot make a unilateral decision to fight the federal government in order to save my own job,' Ryan said in an email sent to UVA community members, which was shared with POLITICO. The New York Times reported Thursday night that the Trump administration had been communicating privately with university officials to encourage Ryan's departure, threatening the loss of millions of dollars of federal funding allocated to the university. Ryan is the latest university leader to come under pressure from the Trump administration, as dozens of other elite universities face scrutiny and pressure from the president to claw back DEI policies. The Education Department launched investigations into dozens of universities in March arguing their practices violate civil rights laws by offering DEI programs. The administration has remained in a heated battle with Harvard University, which has attempted to sidestep demands to revise policies on student and faculty conduct and admissions. In response, the administration blocked $2.2 billion in federal grants allocated to the university and barred international students from enrolling, although Trump has signaled a detente could be in the works. The president's pressure campaign has seen success across academia, leading to policy changes or resignations of presidents from elite institutions including Columbia. The New York Times first reported on Ryan's resignation Friday. Sens. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, both Virginia Democrats, released a statement condemning the Trump administration's actions and praised Ryan for his leadership. 'It is outrageous that officials in the Trump Department of Justice demanded the Commonwealth's globally recognized university remove President Ryan — a strong leader who has served UVA honorably and moved the university forward — over ridiculous 'culture war' traps,' the statement said. 'Decisions about UVA's leadership belong solely to its Board of Visitors, in keeping with Virginia's well-established and respected system of higher education governance. This is a mistake that hurts Virginia's future.' It is unclear when Ryan, who has served as the university's president since 2018, will officially step down. 'This was an excruciatingly difficult decision, and I am heartbroken to be leaving this way,' Ryan said.
