Columbia University submits first data to US government under $221 million Title VI agreement

Columbia University submits first data to US government under $221 million Title VI agreement

Columbia University has submitted an “initial set of information” to the US federal government in compliance with its $221 million agreement signed with the Department of Education earlier this year, according to a statement shared with Columbia Spectator.The submission meets two October deadlines outlined in the July 23 settlement, which was established to restore nearly $400 million in suspended federal funding and resolve the university’s Title VI violations, Spectator reported. Under the agreement, Columbia must issue public semi-annual progress reports, provide detailed admissions data, and create training programs to reinforce campus norms and values.

Admissions data and compliance monitoring

As reported by Columbia Spectator, the agreement requires Columbia to submit admissions data to Bart Schwartz, the independent monitor overseeing compliance. This data must include both rejected and admitted students, broken down by race, color, GPA, and standardised test scores.The university must also provide “training materials to socialise all students to campus norms and values more broadly” by October 1, according to the settlement. A Columbia spokesperson told Spectator that the university “will provide regular public reports on its progress” but did not confirm when those reports would begin.

Leadership and oversight

According to Columbia Spectator, Jim Glover, senior associate dean for academic administration at the Climate School, has been named the resolution administrator and vice provost responsible for overseeing implementation of the July deal. Glover will assume the role in November and will submit regular progress updates to Schwartz.At a University Senate plenary held on October 3, acting University President Claire Shipman stated that the settlement has already led to the reimbursement of “almost 99 percent” of affected research grants, Spectator reported.

Shifts in international enrolment

The federal agreement also calls on Columbia to “examine its business model and take steps to decrease financial dependence on international student enrolment,” Columbia Spectator noted. International students represented 38 percent of the total student population in fall 2024, according to data from the International Students and Scholars Office cited by Spectator.At a Senate plenary on October 24, Shipman remarked that international student applications are declining, with many families concerned about the political climate. She said the university is “watching the trend very closely,” according to Spectator.In compliance with the agreement, Spectator reported that Columbia Law School has added a new required essay question for international applicants to its fall 2026 JD program, asking them to explain why they wish to study in the United States. Columbia College will introduce a similar question in its next admissions cycle.

Broader implications

Columbia’s settlement highlights a growing federal focus on transparency and accountability in higher education, particularly in areas tied to Title VI and nondiscrimination policies. As Columbia Spectator noted, the university will now issue public reports and review its admissions model — steps that could influence how other US institutions navigate diversity, equity, and compliance requirements under increased federal oversight.