As Trump Threatens Columbia’s Accreditation, the School Should Stop Trying To Placate Him
On Wednesday, the Education Department notified Columbia University’s accrediting organization that the school violated civil rights law and, therefore, no longer meets the standards for accreditation. While Columbia’s accreditation has not been revoked, the move is a significant escalation of President Donald Trump’s ongoing feud with the university.Â
“After Hamas’ October 7, 2023, terror attack on Israel, Columbia University’s leadership acted with deliberate indifference towards the harassment of Jewish students on its campus,” said Education Secretary Linda McMahon. “This is not only immoral, but also unlawful.”Â
Throughout the 2024–25 academic year, Columbia has been working toward renewed accreditation after being last accredited in the 2015–16 academic year. Losing accreditation would be a significant blow to the university’s ability to operate. Consequences include students’ academic credits becoming ineligible for transfer, disqualifying a Columbia degree from meeting many graduate schools’ admission criteria, and losing eligibility for federal student loans and Pell Grants.Â
The move comes amidst tense negotiations between Trump and the university to reinstate federal funding. In March, Trump canceled $400 million in federal funding to Columbia and demanded changes to the school’s protest policies, security practices, and Middle East studies department to address antisemitism concerns before restoring the grants. Columbia agreed to the initial requirements, but Trump took it a step further by pressuring the university to accept a consent decree and appoint a federal judge to oversee the changes—relinquishing autonomy in the process. As negotiations surroundi
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