From Goodgoodgood (thanks to Pam P.)
This summer, any American can add ‘Harvard University’ to their resume — for free.
The university has offered free online courses for several years, but with tensions rising in relation to the Trump administration, more attention is on the institution than ever.
Since the start of Donald Trump’s second term as president, he has waged war with Harvard, threatening to withhold federal funds from the institution if its leadership does not comply with his demands.
These demands include “audits” of academic programs and departments (including the viewpoints of students, faculty, and staff), and changes to Harvard’s governance structure and hiring practices, according to the Harvard Gazette.
“The University will not surrender its independence or relinquish its constitutional rights,” Harvard President Alan Garber wrote in a message to the community as a response to these demands.
He added: “No government — regardless of which party is in power — should dictate what private universities can teach, whom they can admit and hire, and which areas of study and inquiry they can pursue.”
As a result, the Trump administration has frozen more than $3 billion in research grants and attempted to revoke the school’s ability to enroll international students.
Harvard is suing the federal government for both of these actions.
Most recently, President Trump has sent a letter to all federal agencies, instructing them to end contracts with Harvard, totaling about $100 million, and essentially severing ties between the federal government and the university.
Still, Harvard is holding strong, maintaining its reputation as a cultural and educational institution that represents the American people. (continued)
What on earth made Trump think the governance of a private university – or a State university either – are any of his business?
Alice Blair Wesley