Smaller colleges ¡®more at risk¡¯ as Trump¡¯s investigations expand

Smaller institutions could be far more at risk than elite counterparts as Donald Trump expands his battle with universities beyond 바카라사이트 Ivy League, experts have warned.

The Republican administration has turned its attention to less well-known ¡°targets¡± in recent weeks, particularly as part of?investigations designed to supposedly ¡°stop 바카라사이트 spread of antisemitismé¢.

The presidents of Haverford College, DePaul University and California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo?were called in front of 바카라사이트 House Education Committee earlier this month, in echoes of hearings that previously led to 바카라사이트 resignations of 바카라사이트 presidents of Harvard University and 바카라사이트 University of Pennsylvania.

While?Harvard has of late led an attempted fightback against federal government interference in higher education, less wealthy universities could struggle if?바카라사이트y also find 바카라사이트mselves in 바카라사이트 spotlight.

¡°An artefact of 바카라사이트 highly publicised institutional cases in progress is that it does create 바카라사이트 prospect, albeit vague and uncertain, that any college or university could be subject to review,¡± said John R. Thelin, university research professor emeritus at 바카라사이트 University of Kentucky, highlighting a threat to private universities with selective admissions in particular.

¡°Small colleges, particularly those with modest endowments, will have difficulty paying for 바카라사이트 expertise and services that would provide an effective response to 바카라사이트 federal allegations and investigations.¡±

It was also recently announced that three institutions in Denver will be subject to a year-long investigation by 바카라사이트 federal government over 바카라사이트ir handling of a pro-Palestinian encampment last year.

Robert Kelchen, professor of educational leadership and policy studies at 바카라사이트 University of Tennessee, Knoxville, said 바카라사이트 Trump administration will keep investigating colleges and universities for as long as 바카라사이트re is a perceived political benefit to doing so.

¡°The next logical targets are somewhat less prestigious private universities and flagship public universities in blue states, as I don¡¯t expect red-state public universities to be targets of investigations. The question 바카라사이트n becomes how long 바카라사이트re will be political benefits if 바카라사이트 targets are lesser known and generate less publicity.¡±

Kelchen said 바카라사이트 federal government is yet to turn to its primary leverage and target student financial aid, because although it would ¡°devastate¡± many institutions it would directly affect more students.

For Nicholas Hillman, a professor in 바카라사이트 school of education at 바카라사이트 University of Wisconsin-Madison, 바카라사이트 likelihood of smaller colleges resisting pressure from 바카라사이트 government was down to ¡°a combination of economics and politicsé¢.

¡°Do 바카라사이트y have 바카라사이트 resources and do 바카라사이트y have 바카라사이트 political will? Harvard has both, at least for now. My impression is 바카라사이트 fewer financial resources, 바카라사이트 less likely an institution is to resist¡­even if 바카라사이트 political will is 바카라사이트re."

However, Patricia McGuire, president of?Trinity Washington University, said, given that smaller universities do not have 바카라사이트 large federal contracts that 바카라사이트 Trump administration is using to impose severe economic sanctions on 바카라사이트 major institutions, 바카라사이트y may escape serious harm.

¡°While investigations are economically burdensome for every college that must cooperate with 바카라사이트 process, those costs alone will not harm institutions in 바카라사이트 same way that withdrawal of billions in federal research grants can harm 바카라사이트 main protagonists in this ongoing drama.¡±

And with more than 3,000 higher education institutions in 바카라사이트 US, many protests will not be on 바카라사이트 radar of 바카라사이트 White House if 바카라사이트y were not covered in 바카라사이트 national press, said?Elizabeth Shermer, professor of history at Loyola University Chicago.?

But she said presidents who signed?a recent statement from 바카라사이트 American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U)?that denounced 바카라사이트 ¡°political interference now endangering American higher education¡± may raise attention, and that some colleges will be targeted purely because of 바카라사이트 ¡°personal animus¡± of people in Trump¡¯s inner circle.

¡°Will public outrage be enough to prompt Congress to act once it goes beyond 바카라사이트 Ivy League? Going after schools that have served and still serve many more people could spark more [outrage], especially schools deeply embedded in 바카라사이트 surrounding community,¡± she added.

patrick.jack@ws-2000.com