An article from This week in 5 numbers: Education Department puts 60 colleges on notice

We’re rounding up recent stories, from letters warning colleges about antisemitism probes to massive staff reductions at the U.S. Department of Education.

Published March 14, 2025 Natalie Schwartz Senior Editor

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Columbia students organize dueling memorials and rallies both for Israel and Palestine on Oct, 7, 2024, the one-year anniversary of the Hamas attack, in New York City, N.Y. Columbia was one of 60 colleges that received a letter from the U.S. Department of Education about probes into alleged campus antisemitism. Alex Kent via Getty Images

From the U.S. Department of Education warning colleges about investigations into antisemitism on their campuses to the agency announcing massive staff reductions, here are the top-line figures from some of our biggest stories of the week. 

By the numbers   60 The number of colleges put on notice this week by the Education Department over allegations of antisemitism. The agency warned the institutions via letters that it could take enforcement action against them if it determines that they aren’t sufficiently protecting Jewish students from discrimination, including by providing “uninterrupted access to campus facilities and educational opportunities.”   2,183 The estimated number of remaining employees at the Education Department after the agency cut roughly half its staff. Although the agency promised to continue carrying out its responsibilities required by law, American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten described the move as a “cowardly way” of dismantling the agency.   $400 million The value of the federal grants and contracts to Columbia University that the Trump administration abruptly canceled last week. Several federal agencies said they were cutting off the funds over what they described as the university’s “continued inaction in the face of persistent harassment of Jewish students.”   11% The share of Harvard University’s operating budget that comes from federal funding for research. The Ivy League institution is the latest high-profile university to announce that it is freezing hiring amid federal funding uncertainty under the Trump administration.   $70 million The value of a “bridge loan” Saint Augustine’s University says it has secured from an undisclosed source. Officials of the North Carolina university pointed to the funding when announcing that they are contesting the decision from the institution’s accreditor to pull its accreditation. waitToLoadAds.push(function() { googletag.cmd.push(function() { if (window.dfp_visibility == 'mobile' ) { googletag.display('dfp-hybrid1-mobile'); googletag.pubads().addEventListener('slotRenderEnded', function (event) { var adUnitPath = '/21662595662/highereddive/highereddivehybrid1'; var onProformative = false; if (onProformative && event.slot.getAdUnitPath() === adUnitPath && !event.isEmpty ) { var adUnitPathWithVisibility = adUnitPath + '-mobile'; var selector = '.pf-comments__ad-wrapper [data-container-ad-unit-id="' + adUnitPathWithVisibility + '"]'; if (!$(selector).closest('.pf-comments__ad-wrapper').hasClass('borders')) { $(selector).closest('.pf-comments__ad-wrapper').addClass('borders') } } }); } }); }); waitToLoadAds.push(function() { googletag.cmd.push(function() { if (window.dfp_visibility == 'desktop' ) { googletag.display('dfp-hybrid2-desktop'); googletag.pubads().addEventListener('slotRenderEnded', function (event) { var adUnitPath = '/21662595662/highereddive/highereddivehybrid2'; var onProformative = false; if (onProformative && event.slot.getAdUnitPath() === adUnitPath && !event.isEmpty ) { var adUnitPathWithVisibility = adUnitPath + '-desktop'; var selector = '.pf-comments__ad-wrapper [data-container-ad-unit-id="' + adUnitPathWithVisibility + '"]'; if (!$(selector).closest('.pf-comments__ad-wrapper').hasClass('borders')) { $(selector).closest('.pf-comments__ad-wrapper').addClass('borders') } } }); } }); });

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