Michael Schill has announced his resignation as president of Northwestern University after a challenging three-year term. His tenure was marked by significant controversies, including a hazing scandal, criticism over campus antisemitism, and the freezing of nearly $800 million in federal funds by the Trump administration.

In a letter to the university community, Schill cited "extraordinary challenges" during his presidency. He noted, "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 will remain in his position until an interim replacement is appointed.

The Trump administration froze $790 million in federal research funding in April, citing ongoing investigations into alleged antisemitic discrimination and harassment at the Evanston, Illinois, campus. An official stated that the funding was frozen in connection with several credible Title VI investigations. This funding freeze led to a hiring freeze and the announcement of approximately 425 job cuts at the university.

Schill faced intense scrutiny from House Republicans and some Democrats during a congressional hearing last May. They criticized him for his handling of antisemitic protests on campus, which included demands for the university to divest from companies with ties to Israel. House Education and Workforce Committee chairwoman Virginia Foxx expressed her discontent, stating, "These antisemitic protests have led to hijacking buildings, erecting unlawful encampments, disrupting classrooms, and canceling commencements."

In response to the protests, Schill defended the university's decision to negotiate with demonstrators rather than resort to police action. He stated, "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."

Despite these negotiations, Schill faced backlash for conceding to some of the protesters' demands, which included funding for visiting Palestinian faculty and students. This led to the resignation of seven members from the university's advisory committee on combating antisemitism.

In July 2023, Schill also dealt with the fallout from a hazing scandal involving the football program, which resulted in the firing of longtime coach Pat Fitzgerald. The university's handling of the situation drew further criticism, and Fitzgerald subsequently filed a $130 million wrongful termination lawsuit, which was settled last month.

Following his resignation announcement, Schill will continue to work with the Board of Trustees to address the frozen federal funding. He plans to return to teaching and research at the Northwestern Pritzker School of Law after his sabbatical.