SA R75 (2025-2026): Reassessing the Financial Relationship Between Cornell University and the State of Qatar

Rejected by the President

• Resolution:
  SA R75 (2025-2026): Reassessing the Financial Relationship Between Cornell University and the State of Qatar
• Day:
  June 26, 2026
• Action:
  Rejected by the President
• Summary / Notes:
• File Attachments:
• Text Attachment:

  Dear Eeshaan,

  My thanks to Zora and to the Student Assembly for conveying Resolution 75: Reassessing the Financial Relationship Between Cornell University and the State of Qatar. I reject this resolution, which reflects a partial and inaccurate understanding of the relationship between Cornell University and the State of Qatar; disregards the nature and purpose of the funding at issue; and vastly overstates the amounts received from Qatari sources.

  Notably, the resolution asserts, without evidence, that $2.3B in funding was provided to Cornell by the State of Qatar in 2025. In fact, this figure corresponds to the cumulative transactions of more than a dozen years, as of 2025.

  The resolution also fundamentally misrepresents the nature of the Qatari funding, which is not a donation to the University, but the contractually stipulated support provided by the State of Qatar for the operations of Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar (WCM-Q): an institution which, over the 25 years since it was established as the first medical school in Qatar, has brought critical medical education, care, and expertise to people across and beyond the region.

  In 2019, the United States Department of Education reviewed the compliance of a number of institutions with Section 117 of the Higher Education Act. Cornell, like many universities, identified compliance issues requiring correction. The university undertook an external review of our foreign agreements, filed corrective reports, and established new policies and administrative procedures to ensure that all gifts and contracts from foreign sources are reported according to federal and state law and guidance.

   

  Cornell is committed to full and transparent reporting, and devotes an enormous amount of staff time and resources to fulfilling that commitment. Indeed, since the original 2019 investigation, there have never been adverse findings with regard to Cornell’s compliance with these reporting requirements. Separately, the university already has robust policies in place which require advance review of large donations from foreign sources, including foreign governments.

  Along with its errors of fact and omission, the resolution contains a number of assertions regarding the State of Qatar that, prima facie, demonstrate no relevance to the funding of Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar. At the same time, the resolution lacks any assessment or consideration of the potential impact that would result were Cornell, as resolved by the Student Assembly, to “immediately cease accepting new donations and contracts from the government and royal family of the State of Qatar.” Were Cornell to reject contractually scheduled payments and refuse future funding for WCM-Q operations, it would effectively end the partnership that underpins the institution: disrupting or ending the medical educations of nearly 350 students, from over 30 countries, while also disrupting the care provided by WCM-Q’s many partner teaching hospitals. Such an action would, as well, end the research conducted by Cornell faculty at the college, on areas including hepatitis and HIV/AIDS—for example, through units like the WCM-Q Infectious Disease Epidemiology Group.

  The mission of Weill Cornell Medicine, whether in New York City or in Doha, is to care, discover, and teach—in the firm and enduring conviction that all people, wherever they live and whatever the actions of their governments, are equally deserving of high-quality medical care.

  Finally, the university strongly rejects the principle that political considerations should outweigh considerations of academic and scientific merit. Cornell’s international programs, projects, and collaborations are integral to its excellence, and the university currently maintains 159 active agreements with institutions in 59 nations and regions in support of its academic mission. All of these institutions have some government affiliation; undoubtedly, every one of those governments pursues some policies, or has engaged in some activities, to which some members of our community would object. While every member of our community is free to hold and share their own opinions on political matters, they are not the grounds on which our academic partnerships, collaborations, or priorities are based.

  Sincerely,

  Michael Kotlikoff