Columbia University elevated a professor known for supporting the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement, sparking federal funding cuts that threaten the school’s accreditation.
At a Glance
- Farah Jasmine Griffin was named University Professor, Columbia’s highest academic rank.
- Griffin first signed a petition calling for divestment from Israel in 2002.
- A 2016 faculty petition she backed accused Israel of “systemic forms of discrimination.”
- The Trump administration cut more than $430 million in federal funding to Columbia.
- Columbia received a non-compliance warning endangering its accreditation.
Controversial Appointment
Columbia University president Claire Shipman announced on June 30, 2025, that Farah Jasmine Griffin will become a University Professor, the institution’s highest academic distinction reserved for “exceptional scholars” announced by Shipman.
Griffin joined the Columbia faculty in 2000 and has openly championed the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement, most recently signing a 2016 petition that accused Israel of “inhumane segregation” and called for institutional divestment.
Watch a report: Students Sue Columbia after Suspensions.
Funding Fallout
The Trump administration slashed over $430 million in federal grants to Columbia in early 2025, citing alleged violations of antidiscrimination laws that govern federally funded institutions. Critics argue that honoring a vociferous BDS advocate while negotiating with federal officials has undermined the university’s appeals for restored support.
Columbia’s leadership has implemented a series of policy changes—ranging from revised nondiscrimination clauses to enhanced campus oversight—to satisfy federal “preconditions,” but long-term funding remains unresolved amid escalating political tensions.
Accreditation Jeopardy
Columbia’s accreditor, the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, issued a non-compliance warning in June 2025, stating the university “may be in jeopardy” for failing to meet Standard II on ethics and integrity accreditation warning.
Only eight professors may hold the esteemed University Professor title at any given time, which adds a significant layer of prestige and exclusivity to the position. For Griffin’s elevation to this prestigious title, it was necessary to secure approval from multiple high-ranking administrators, including the president, the provost, and the tenured members of the University Senate’s Executive Committee.
This committee is chaired by a notable supporter of campus protest movements, which has raised concerns among some factions within the university community. Detractors of Griffin’s appointment assert that this decision may undermine existing efforts to effectively tackle antisemitism on campus and could potentially jeopardize Columbia University’s overall standing and reputation in the academic world.
Such concerns highlight the complexities and sensitivities surrounding this high-profile appointment.
