Campus Clips

A federal lawsuit filed in January alleges that 16 universities, including Yale, illegally conspired on financial aid policy to the detriment of the plaintiffs, five former undergraduates at some of the schools named in the suit. The colleges are members of the 568 Presidents Group, which coordinates financial aid policies under an antitrust exemption carved out for colleges with need-blind admissions. The suit alleges that nine of the schools (not including Yale) aren’t strictly need-blind, making the entire group’s collaboration illegal. Yale spokesperson Karen Peart says that Yale’s financial aid policy is “100 percent compliant with all applicable laws.”

Family and friends of 2022 graduates will be able to attend this year’s commencement—as long as they’re vaccinated. After one year of virtual commencement and another with only the graduates attending in person, this year’s will be closer to tradition. One change: the Yale College baccalaureate service will be held outside on Old Campus instead of in Woolsey Hall.

The emerging field of data science wiill be the focus of a new institute to be headed by Sterling Professor of Computer Science Daniel Spielman ’92. The Kline Tower Institute for the Foundations of Data Science will support faculty research, student and postdoc training, and partnerships with researchers and practitioners.

Starting this fall, Yale College will offer financial aid to meet 100 percent of demonstrated need for nontraditional students in the Eli Whitney Students program, including tuition, fees, housing, meals, books, and other expenses. The Eli Whitney program is for adult students, including military veterans; there are currently about 46 students in the program.