Straws in the Wind - Part 56

From Stat: Long before she became president of the University of Minnesota, Rebecca Cunningham trained in emergency medicine. She draws on that experience often these days...

You proposed a $5.1 billion budget for the university, which the board approved. The budget allows for merit raises, but it also raises tuition and calls for a 7% cut to academic programs. How did you settle on that budget?

To move ahead strategically, you need to double down on your strengths and invest, but this is also a time of resource constraints with federal funding reductions. We [also] have a flat state budget this year, and a flat budget is a reduction of 3%, essentially, with inflation. We made the decision this year, like many universities did, to take a hard look at areas where we could indeed trim some, and we did that specifically with the focus of being able to then invest in our people, in our workforce, and invest in our operations and buildings moving forward, and our infrastructure.

The Trump administration has terminated grants for studying vaccine hesitancy, health disparities, and other topics. How are you supporting affected researchers?

We have about 100 grants that have been stopped, and about $40-plus million of funding. The difficulty with that really is the suddenness at which it happens and the inability to plan. We’re trying to address that issue specifically in using some university funds that are modest, with some donor support. Instead of having a [sudden] stoppage of their labs and firing of all their people, [we] try to give [faculty] some funds for a respectful ramp down over more months so that we can fully try to gain and utilize at least some portion of the data and not lose the workforce of postdocs, grad students, and junior faculty that are on those grants, so that we can help them transition to areas then that may have more funding.

Despite those efforts, have there been layoffs?

Absolutely. You can’t lose $40 million in grants without layoffs and terminations. And just this past week, we had SNAP-Ed [Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education] terminated across the country. University of Minnesota Extension administered that program in all 87 counties, helping to provide education around food assistance to predominantly rural Minnesotans. That program was ended, and we laid off 80 people. So that is not one that we are able to continue, and that will be felt in the communities directly...

Full story at https://www.statnews.com/2025/07/21/university-minnesota-president-rebecca-cunningham-q-and-a/.

From the NY Times: The Trump administration has frozen $108 million in federal funds for Duke University’s medical school and health care system, according to two administration officials, after the government accused the university of “systemic racial discrimination.” Duke University is the latest high-profile school, from Columbia University to Harvard, that the Trump administration has targeted and stripped of a large amount of federal funding, based on vague accusations that the university abets antisemitism or supports diversity, equity and inclusion programs. The move comes amid a wider pressure campaign from the Trump administration to shift the ideological tilt of American higher education.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the health secretary, and Linda McMahon, the education secretary, sent a letter to Duke administrators on Monday expressing concerns about “racial preferences in hiring, student admissions, governance, patient care, and other operations” in the university’s health care system.

In the letter, the officials accused Duke of violating Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination based on race and nationality in programs receiving federal funding. Mr. Kennedy and Ms. McMahon called on Duke Health, the university’s health care system, to review all policies “for the illegal use of race preferences” and to create a “Merit and Civil Rights Committee” that would work with the federal government. The $108 million cut could be permanent, if the government concludes the university violated the Civil Rights Act...

Full story at https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/29/us/politics/trump-duke-university-frozen-funding-discrimination.html.

Terrell

From Politico: The head of the federal antisemitism task force that has helmed the controversial crackdown on universities in recent months says his team plans to intensify its actions in the wake of the shooting that left two Israeli Embassy staffers dead in downtown Washington. Leo Terrell, a former Democrat and Fox News contributor-turned Department of Justice senior counsel in the civil rights division, is the little-known figure behind the Trump administration’s efforts to target 10 academic institutions across the country over claims of antisemitism...

Harvard isn’t the only school facing the administration’s ire. Terrell’s task force in February announced a list of 10 institutions that it planned to investigate for allegedly allowing antisemitism on their campuses. In addition to Harvard, the universities include: Columbia; George Washington; Johns Hopkins; New York University; Northwestern; the University of California, Berkeley; the University of California, Los Angeles; the University of Minnesota; and the University of Southern California...

Full profile at https://www.politico.com/news/2025/05/23/leo-terrell-trump-universities-harvard-00368352.

More Cuts

From the NY Times: The Trump Administration’s abrupt withdrawal of $400 million in federal funding from Columbia University cast a pall over at least nine other campuses worried they could be next. The schools, a mix that includes both public universities and Ivy League institutions, have been placed on an official administration list of schools the Department of Justice said may have failed to protect Jewish students and faculty...

Harvard University, whose former president Claudine Gay resigned last year following a bruising appearance before a House committee, is also on the list. So are George Washington University; Johns Hopkins University; New York University; Northwestern University; the University of California, Los Angeles; the University of California, Berkeley; the University of Minnesota; and the University of Southern California...

Full story at https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/08/us/columbia-trump-colleges-antisemitism.html.

The Visit

From a DOJ news release of 2/28/25:

The Federal Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism announced that it will be visiting 10 university campuses that have experienced antisemitic incidents since October 2023. Created pursuant to President Trump’s Executive Order on Additional Measures to Combat Anti-Semitism, the Task Force set as its first priority to eradicate antisemitic harassment in schools and on college campuses...

The 10 universities identified by the Task Force are: Columbia University; George Washington University; Harvard University; Johns Hopkins University; New York University; Northwestern University; the University of California, Los Angeles; the University of California, Berkeley; the University of Minnesota; and the University of Southern California...

Full release at https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/federal-task-force-combat-antisemitism-announces-visits-10-college-campuses-experienced.

Shifting Into Neutral: It's a Thing!

Last Friday, we posted about Berkeley's new chancellor deciding to be neutral about non-university events.* It's in fact a thing that's going around among university leaders throughout the country. From the University of Minnesota:

Office of the President

Dear students, faculty, and staff, As we embark on an exciting fall semester—my first here at the University of Minnesota—my energy and enthusiasm for what we can accomplish together grows by the minute. I am writing to you today to help set expectations for when the University community should expect to hear—and not hear—from me. University presidents around the country are often called on to issue public statements in response to a wide range of global issues—from natural disasters and armed conflicts overseas, to international health outbreaks and political elections. Like many of you, I have strong personal feelings and opinions on many of these issues, and a deep sense of empathy for those, near and far, who suffer as a result of these events. But it is important to separate my personal reactions, however deeply felt, from my role as President. As President, I am fundamentally committed to cultivating an environment where diverse perspectives are fully embraced and where dialogue across our differences—with vibrant civic engagement—is encouraged. That is core to the University’s mission of research, education and outreach. A statement from the President, however careful, can have the effect of excluding those who disagree and inhibiting dialogue. For that reason, I will refrain from commenting publicly on the vast majority of global issues, unless they are directly tied to the University of Minnesota’s mission, its work, and its identity. There are separate discussions taking place collaboratively with shared governance across our University about departmental and unit statements, and you will hear more about those in the coming months. Rest assured that your individual rights to free speech are respected and guaranteed, as are the principles of academic freedom. Today, I want to focus on my role as President. As President, the way I can best support our community as we grapple with complex challenges and tensions is by helping you tap the deep wells of knowledge, expertise, creativity, and energy existing across our campuses. Working with our faculty, administration, students, and the broader community, I will support forums where you can engage in unfettered inquiry. I will also work intensely to protect your physical and psychological safety, health and wellness. In an environment of viewpoint diversity, these are my highest priorities. I understand some members of our University community will disagree with my position, and I respect that. I will strive to uphold open lines of communication on important issues that directly impact our mission. When there are critical updates regarding University operations, you will hear from me. And when there are opportunities to celebrate our shared accomplishments, you will most definitely hear from me. I look forward to working with you to leverage the power of open and free inquiry so that we can push the boundaries of research and scholarship, transform learning and teaching, and strengthen our public engagement for the betterment of society. Sincerely, Rebecca Cunningham President

This email was sent to all systemwide students, faculty, and staff by the Office of the President, 100 Church St S.E., Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA. Source: https://view.ecommunications2.umn.edu/?vawpToken=EC24USJZ3JIEFHXFD6LOZPWF5I.60244. === *https://uclafacultyassociation.blogspot.com/2024/09/berkeley-chancellor-interview.html.

 
 

U of Minnesota Free Speech Issue at Faculty Senate

Inside Higher Ed has a lengthy piece on a proposal at the University of Minnesota's Faculty Senate for a resolution supporting free speech on campus: [excerpts]

The University of Minnesota at Twin Cities is considering a set of statements on free speech that, if passed, could be the strongest such affirmation seen on any campus. Yet the statements’ future is uncertain, given concerns -- especially those from students -- about free speech being “paramount” to other values. At the same time, it’s unclear whether free expression can truly be protected without declaring it paramount.

“Ideas are the lifeblood of a free society and universities are its beating heart,” reads a statement passed by a majority of members of the powerful Faculty Consultative Committee and now under debate before the Faculty Senate. “If freedom of speech is undermined on a university campus, it is not safe anywhere. The University of Minnesota resolves that the freedom of speech is, and will always be, safe at this institution.”...

Most notably, the actions document proposes the creation of a free speech “advocate” or watchdog charged with “ensuring freedom of expression is respected and protected during any investigation” involving free speech issues on campus. That role could be assigned to an independent officer or a person or committee within the existing faculty governance structure...

Regarding concerns about climate, the addendum says, “There are many steps the university may appropriately and lawfully take to create a welcoming climate, including by fostering diversity in its faculty and staff. But no person or group, merely by claiming offense, may bring down the disciplinary machinery of the university to prohibit or punish speech on that account.”...

Full story at https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2016/05/10/minnesota-faculty-senate-ponders-policy-making-free-speech-paramount

UPDATE: Similar issues seem to have arisen at Emory U:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/volokh-conspiracy/wp/2016/05/10/emory-university-open-expression-committee-opinion-on-trump-chalkings-mein-trumpf-poster-and-other-matters/

Phone home, but not work

Home is OK but don't call work

Your emails are not really private. Coming soon, your phone may not be if you use it for work, according to Inside Higher Ed:

Faculty unions in the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System are objecting to a new system rule that says officials may inspect the personal mobile phones or other devices of professors, if the professors sometimes use these devices for work... reported. Faculty leaders say that this rule is not needed and would represent an invasion of privacy. They also note that many faculty members routinely use their phones for some official business, even if most of their use is private. University officials say that they aren't trying to invade anyone's privacy, but are required under state law to be able to perform such inspections to be sure that state data and information are not being shared inappropriately...

Full story https://www.insidehighered.com/quicktakes/2016/03/31/minnesota-professors-object-mobile-phone-rule