Northwestern University President Michael Schill to step down

EVANSTON, Ill. - Northwestern University President Michael Schill announced Thursday that he will resign, ending a three-year tenure marked by the freeze of hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding by the Trump administration and heated criticism from House Republicans over the university's response to campus protests.

What we know:

The funding freeze and uncertainty over its finances contributed to Northwestern's decision to lay off around 200 people over the summer.

In a statement announcing his resignation, Schill acknowledged the pressure from the White House.

"It is critical that we continue to protect the University's research mission and excellence while preserving academic freedom, integrity, and independence," he said.

Northwestern emerged as a prominent target of President Donald Trump's campaign to reshape elite colleges he has derided as hotbeds of liberalism and antisemitism. In April, the administration froze $790 million in federal funding for the private school in Evanston, Illinois, one of dozens of colleges under investigation over claims they did not do enough to protect Jewish students.

During the wave of pro-Palestinian protests in spring 2024, Northwestern drew ire from conservatives over an agreement it struck with demonstrators to take down their encampment. In exchange, Northwestern pledged to reestablish an advisory committee on university investments and made other commitments.

Schill defended the arrangement during an appearance in May 2024 before a House committee investigating campus antisemitism.

"We had to get the encampment down," Schill said. "The police solution was not going to be available to us to keep people safe, and also may not be the wisest solution as we've seen at other campuses across the country."

Supporters of Israel and the administration officials have framed the protests at Northwestern and other schools as antisemitic and "pro-Hamas." But people involved in the demonstrations reject that characterization. They say advocating for Palestinian human rights and territorial claims, or criticizing Israeli military action, is not antisemitic.

Schill also navigated the fallout from a hazing scandal that broke not long after he was named Northwestern's president in August 2022. Former football players filed lawsuits in 2023 alleging sexual abuse and racial discrimination on the team, and similar allegations then spread across several sports.

Northwestern's football coach, Pat Fitzgerald, was initially suspended then later fired after an investigation. The school concluded he had a responsibility to know that hazing was occurring and should have stopped it. Fitzgerald denied wrongdoing and filed a lawsuit that ended with a settlement last month.

What we don't know:

The university has not yet announced who will serve as interim president or when a permanent successor may be named.

What's next:

In the statement, Schill said he will remain in the role until an interim president is named and will assist with the leadership transition. Afterward, he plans to take a sabbatical before returning to the Northwestern Pritzker School of Law to teach and conduct research.

"It has been my profound honor to serve as President of Northwestern University," Schill wrote. "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 he looks forward to returning to the classroom and "continuing to champion higher education, a cornerstone of American society that, despite its imperfections, is more important than ever to our nation’s future."

"And, lastly, I appreciate our students, who I am confident will go on to change the world for the better," he concluded.

To read his full statement, click HERE.