Brown University's $50 Million Settlement with Trump Administration Reshapes Admissions Policies

Brown University has announced a significant agreement with the Trump administration that involves a payout of $50 million to organizations focused on workforce development in Rhode Island. This deal is intended to restore lost federal research funding and conclude investigations into alleged discrimination at the university. As part of the agreement, Brown has made several concessions that align with President Trump’s political priorities, including adopting the federal definitions of “male” and “female” and omitting race from its admissions criteria.

President Christina H. Paxson emphasized that this deal allows Brown to uphold its academic integrity and core values, stating that the university will maintain control over its curriculum and academic discourse. The agreement aims to mitigate the government’s concerns while ensuring that the university's commitment to diversity and free inquiry remain intact. Paxson reassured the community that the settlement does not reflect wrongdoing on Brown's part, but rather a strategy to navigate financial pressures associated with federal funding.

The agreement closely follows a similar one made by Columbia University, but with notable differences, such as the absence of an external monitor in Brown’s deal. The three-year agreement will restore numerous suspended grants and contracts while requiring the government to reimburse the university for $50 million in unpaid federal grant costs. Furthermore, this settlement puts an end to three federal investigations focused on allegations of antisemitism and discrimination in admissions, concluding without any findings of wrongdoing.

In response to concerns about antisemitism on campus, Brown has committed to renewing partnerships with Israeli academics and encouraging Jewish students to apply. By the end of the year, the university must engage an outside organization to conduct a comprehensive survey of the campus climate regarding Jewish students. Education Secretary Linda McMahon remarked that this settlement will ensure admissions evaluations are based solely on merit, not race or gender.

The settlement further mandates that Brown disclose extensive data on applicants, which will be subject to government audit. It restricts the university from favoring applicants based on race and extends beyond the existing Supreme Court ruling prohibiting such practices. The $50 million pledged to the local workforce organizations is to be distributed over a decade, which is seen as a progressive step compared to fines. However, concerns remain about ongoing governmental influence over universities.