Colleges Grapple with Epstein's Exploitation of Fundraising

Schools try to balance ethics and funding needs in wake of Epstein scandal

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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Several universities, including Yale, Columbia, and UCLA, have taken action against faculty members over their ties to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, who exploited colleges' "tremendous drive to acquire money" to fund research and conferences. Experts say universities must strengthen policies and training to prevent such ethical breaches in the future, as money is crucial for funding faculty, staff, and operations, creating pressure to raise funds that must be balanced with moral considerations.

Why it matters

The Epstein case highlights the challenges universities face in vetting donors and managing potential conflicts of interest, as they rely heavily on private funding to support their research and operations. This scandal could lead to more rigorous donor screening and oversight policies at colleges, but the inherent pressure to raise money remains a constant challenge.

The details

Epstein provided funding for research and conferences at several universities, despite having a history of sexual abuse allegations. Schools have taken steps like canceling events, placing professors on leave, and accepting faculty resignations over ties to Epstein. Experts say universities must strike a balance between acquiring necessary funding and ensuring ethical standards, as money is a key metric of success and rankings for colleges.

  • On February 6, 2026, astrobiologist Stuart Hameroff wrote on social media that he 'obtained one-time funding' for a conference from Epstein.
  • In February 2026, Bard College's president, Leon Botstein, said he met with Epstein for fundraising purposes.

The players

Jeffrey Epstein

A disgraced financier who exploited colleges' need for funding to support research and conferences, despite his history of sexual abuse allegations.

Stuart Hameroff

An astrobiologist who wrote on social media that he 'obtained one-time funding' for a conference from Epstein.

Leon Botstein

The president of Bard College, who said he met with Epstein for fundraising purposes.

Brian Herman

A former vice president for research at the University of Minnesota, who discussed how universities typically fund research and the challenges they face in vetting donors.

Amy Lieberman

The education editor at The Conversation U.S., who interviewed Brian Herman for this article.

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What they’re saying

“There is a tremendous drive to acquire money to support the work of faculty and staff. The pressure has always been there – but you can still approach that in an ethically and morally acceptable way.”

— Brian Herman, Former Vice President for Research, University of Minnesota (The Conversation)

What’s next

Experts expect universities to enact more stringent policies and procedures to guard against situations like the Epstein case, including requiring more substantive background checks on all donors regardless of donation size, and increasing training for faculty, staff, and administrators on securing individual donor support.

The takeaway

The Epstein scandal has exposed the delicate balance universities must strike between acquiring necessary funding and maintaining ethical standards. This case is likely to lead to more rigorous donor vetting and oversight, but the inherent pressure to raise money will remain a constant challenge for colleges and universities.