Columbia College to adjust to Trump administration calls for for masks ban, particular officers, extra
Columbia College has introduced a brand new masks ban, the hiring of particular officers and different new insurance policies, a few of that are in step with the Trump administration’s calls for.
Thursday marked the deadline that the Trump administration gave Columbia to adjust to its checklist of calls for earlier than even discussing the $400 million in funding that the federal authorities pulled resulting from what it known as the college’s failure to guard college students from antisemitism.
“Our response to the federal government businesses outlines the substantive work we have been doing over the past tutorial 12 months to advance our mission, guarantee uninterrupted tutorial actions, and make each pupil, school, and employees member protected and welcome on our campus,” Interim President Katrina Armstrong wrote in an e mail to college students Friday.
Face masks banned, officers introduced
One of many new insurance policies is a ban on face masks or coverings supposed to hide a person’s identification. Nevertheless, the coverage says, “Face masks or face coverings are at all times allowed for non secular or medical causes.”
Moreover, anybody collaborating in a protest or demonstration on campus should current their college ID if requested by a college delegate or public security officer.
The varsity can also be hiring 36 new particular officers who can have the flexibility to take away individuals from campus or arrest them, if wanted.
“These people are close to completion of their coaching and credentialing below New York regulation to work on our campus,” the coverage says partially. “Whereas we prepare and credential our inner safety pressure, we’ll proceed to depend on our relationship with the NYPD to offer further safety help when wanted.”
There are additionally adjustments to the disciplinary course of, together with shifting the college judicial board below the purview of the president’s workplace. There’s additionally a brand new Workplace of Institutional Fairness with 57 fulltime employees to research discrimination complaints.
Educational and admission insurance policies below scrutiny
The college may even appoint a brand new senior vice provost to evaluate its instructional packages referring to Center Jap research. Armstrong says the evaluate will work to make sure instructional choices are complete and balanced.
Columbia can also be going to evaluate its admission procedures and make suggestions on how to make sure unbiased admission processes.
The interim president says the workplace will undertake a place of institutional neutrality and can set up an institution-wide coverage implementing that stance.
It is unclear if the Trump administration will now reinstate that $400 million in federal grants and funding. In its letter, it had stated compliance with the calls for was a prerequisite to discussing the college’s monetary relationship with the federal government.
