News Summary
The Trump administration is proposing a $1 billion settlement to UCLA to regulate its admissions, protest policies, and healthcare practices in return for federal funding. The settlement mandates that UCLA create a claims fund for individuals affected by discrimination, restrict protest activities, and make significant policy changes, including guidelines for international students. It also requires accountability measures for federal access to university documents. This proposal has drawn criticism from California Governor Gavin Newsom, who labeled the demands as ‘extortion,’ highlighting ongoing tensions between federal and state governance in higher education.
Los Angeles – The Trump administration is proposing a $1 billion settlement to the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) aimed at regulating its admissions, protest, and healthcare policies in exchange for federal research funding. A draft of this settlement was obtained recently, detailing a comprehensive set of demands from the federal government.
Under the proposed agreement, UCLA would pay $200 million annually over five years, totaling $1 billion, while creating a $172 million claims fund for individuals who claim to have been affected by alleged violations of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Title VII prohibits discrimination in employment based on color, national origin, race, religion, or sex, as overseen by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
The settlement seeks a three-year term during which UCLA would implement various policy changes. Notably, UCLA is required to take steps to prevent the admission of foreign students perceived as likely to engage in disruptive or anti-Western activities, and is tasked with developing guidelines for international students that ensure adherence to the norms of free inquiry and open debate on campus.
Protest Regulations and Restrictions
As part of the settlement, UCLA would be mandated to restrict protests in key campus areas like Dickson Plaza and Royce Quad, where such activities are already limited. Additionally, overnight protests would be banned on campus, and demonstrators would not be allowed to wear masks that obscure their identities. This follows a previous measure by former UC President Michael Drake to prohibit face coverings during university events, introduced in response to heightened tensions during protests.
Access and Accountability
UCLA would also be obligated to provide the federal government with comprehensive access to employee and staff information, alongside any documents related to the agreement, barring those protected by attorney-client privilege. This follows an instance where approximately 160 UC Berkeley faculty, staff, and students had their information shared with the federal authorities regarding allegations of campus antisemitism.
In addition, UCLA is to appoint a resolution monitor and a senior administrator, with costs covered by the university. Another crucial aspect of the regulation requires UCLA to issue a public statement denying the recognition of transgender identities, and to cease offering gender-affirming care for minors at its medical facilities. UCLA would be required to provide female-only housing and ensure that the rights of female athletes in women’s sports are upheld.
Impacts on Federal Funding
UCLA currently receives approximately $5.7 billion in federal research funding, along with $9.9 billion in Medicare and Medicaid funding, and $1.7 billion in financial aid. UC President James Milliken has voiced concerns regarding the potential ramifications of federal investigations. He highlighted the risk of layoffs and other detrimental effects pervading campuses throughout the University of California system.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has criticized the federal demands, calling them “extortion” and asserting the state’s determination to resist such pressures. The proposed settlement echoes similar agreements reached between the Trump administration and other prestigious institutions like Columbia and Brown universities.
Ongoing Investigations
The broader University of California system is under scrutiny, with all ten campuses facing ongoing investigations. The Trump administration has already suspended over $500 million in federal research funding to UCLA, affecting various federal grant programs.
While the settlement proposal does not present specific allegations against UCLA regarding antisemitism, it underscores the necessity for the institution to cultivate a more inclusive environment for Jewish students. Furthermore, the agreement seeks to impose restrictions on race-conscious hiring and admissions practices, advocating for an end to scholarships based on race or ethnicity and prohibiting indirect methods of considering race during hiring or admissions. The proposal calls for UCLA to distance itself from reliance on foreign student admissions and partnerships with overseas entities.
Overall, the draft agreement reflects a significant shift in federal oversight and expectations for UCLA, positioning the institution at a crossroads between compliance with federal demands and maintaining its commitment to diversity and inclusion on campus.
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Additional Resources
- Los Angeles Times
- Daily Bruin
- The Guardian
- Politico
- Inside Higher Ed
- Wikipedia: University of California, Los Angeles
- Google Search: UCLA settlement Trump administration
- Google Scholar: UCLA admissions policy changes
- Encyclopedia Britannica: University of California, Los Angeles
- Google News: UCLA Trump settlement
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