Northwestern President Michael Schill announced his resignation amid a battle with the Trump administration which resulted in the university having its federal funding suspended.
In April, the administration froze $790 million in federal funding, citing civil rights investigations into Northwestern’s handling of both on-campus protests and mistreatment of Jewish students.
“As I reflect on the progress we have made and what lies ahead, I believe now is the right time for new leadership to guide Northwestern into its next chapter,” Schill said in a statement announcing his resignation. “Therefore, I have decided, in consultation with the leadership of the Board of Trustees, that I will step down as President.”
This past June, Northwestern announced it was cutting 425 staff jobs, while the school was still unable to come to an agreement with the Trump administration. Schill, Northwestern Provost Kathleen Hagerty, and Chief Financial Officer Amanda Distel said recent months have been “among the most difficult in our institution’s 174-year history.”
Schill said he will remain in his post until the Board of Trustees announces an interim president, but promises to work with the board to help the school restore its federal funding.
“I also recognize that difficult problems remain, particularly at the federal level. It is critical that we continue to protect the University’s research mission and excellence while preserving academic freedom, integrity, and independence,” Schill said.
Like other elite universities, Northwestern saw an increase in antisemitic incidents on campus following the Hamas attack of October 7, 2023. Inspired by similar protests at Columbia University, anti-Israel students set up an encampment on Northwestern’s campus in the spring of last year and, in some cases, intimidated and harassed Jewish students.
Schill testified in front of Congress in May 2024, and refused to acknowledge whether student and faculty participants would be held accountable for their involvement, prompting calls for his resignation.
In a November 2024 statement, Schill said “I have said repeatedly since October 7, 2023, I condemn hate in all its forms, including antisemitism, Islamophobia, anti-Israeli or anti-Palestinian hate, or any form of identity-based discrimination.”
The Anti-Defamation League said “Campus Conduct and Climate Concerns” on Northwestern’s campus remain high, citing a high “level of severe antisemitic and anti-Zionist incidents” and a high “level of hostile anti-Zionist staff and faculty activity,” to name a few of ADL’s claims.
Schill, who took over as president three years ago, will remain on faculty, teaching and researching at Northwestern’s Pritzker School of Law.
White House spokesperson Liz Huston said in a statement to Reuters that the administration “looks forward to working with the new leadership” at Northwestern.
Northwestern is not alone in its battle with the administration, which has cut off billions in combined federal funding to elite universities across the country in response to administrators’ refusal to comply with its demands involving the rooting out of diversity, equity, and inclusion and the combatting of antisemitism.
Schill’s resignation comes after University of Virginia President James Ryan resigned earlier this year in similar circumstances.