Barnard College terminates many workers shortly after settling an antisemitism lawsuit.

Bernard College Announces Staff Layoffs Amid Restructuring

Bernard College has announced a difficult decision to lay off nearly 80 full-time employees as part of a university-wide restructuring. School officials conveyed this news on Thursday.

This decision follows, notably, just weeks after the college’s leadership reached a settlement regarding a lawsuit from a Jewish student who claimed that Columbia University failed to adequately address anti-Semitism on campus.

In a letter posted on the university’s website, President Laura Rosenberry mentioned, “We have made difficult but necessary decisions to eliminate multiple staff positions across the department.” Overall, 77 staff members were let go, none of whom were engaged in faculty or educational services.

“This restructuring is part of a broader strategy to ensure that Bernard remains strong, focused, and ready to meet the needs of our community and the changing higher education landscape,” she continued.

All-women’s institutions like Bernard are grappling with a significant financial challenge, facing $252 million in projected debt by the end of 2024 along with a deficit that has doubled over the past decade.

To tackle these issues, Bernard had already enacted several cost-cutting measures, such as reducing contributions to staff and faculty benefits, limiting business travel expenses, and eliminating 40 positions from its unskilled staff.

As part of the recent settlement, the college agreed to implement several major changes, including banning specific groups associated with anti-Israel protests and establishing a dedicated Title VI coordinator to ensure compliance with relevant laws. Rosenberry emphasized that “Anti-Semitism, discrimination, and harassment in all forms are contrary to the values of Bernard College,” in a statement regarding the settlement.

Bernard has experienced intense anti-Israel protests, including a notable incident where around 200 students stormed the Milstein Library, leading to clashes with the police. Following this protest, nine students were arrested, an outcome that sparked from tensions surrounding anti-Israel sentiments on campus.

In a related note, Columbia University has pledged over $220 million to address civil rights violations against Jewish students and employees, aiming to reverse discriminatory practices. The ongoing negotiations have indicated a potential impact on university research grants, though details remain vague.