Cornell University President Martha Pollack Announces Retirement, Provost Michael Kotlikoff to Serve as Interim

Ithaca, New York United States of America
Board of Trustees to recognize Pollack with title of president emerita upon retirement.
Cornell University President Martha Pollack announced retirement effective June 30, 2024.
Pollack faced criticism for university's handling of campus controversies and antisemitism allegations.
Pollack's tenure marked by significant achievements and handling of COVID-19 pandemic.
Provost Kotlikoff assumed role of interim president on July 1, 2024. Search for new permanent president to begin soon.
Provost Michael Kotlikoff will serve as interim president during the transition period.
Cornell University President Martha Pollack Announces Retirement, Provost Michael Kotlikoff to Serve as Interim

President Martha E. Pollack, who has led Cornell University for over seven years, announced her retirement effective June 30, 2024. Provost Michael I. Kotlikoff will serve as interim president during this transition period.

Pollack's tenure at Cornell was marked by significant achievements including the creation of new interdisciplinary programs and initiatives, such as a new school of public policy, and efforts to make education more affordable and accessible for students. She also navigated the university through the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Board of Trustees will recognize Pollack's contributions by granting her the title of president emerita upon her retirement.

Provost Kotlikoff, who previously served as dean of Cornell's College of Veterinary Medicine, will assume the role of interim president on July 1, 2024. The Board of Trustees plans to begin a search for a new permanent president six to nine months before Kotlikoff's term ends.

Pollack's decision to retire was described as 'mine and mine alone.' There has been much speculation about the reasons behind her departure, but no further details have been disclosed.

During her time at Cornell, Pollack faced criticism for the university's handling of campus controversies. The Coalition for Mutual Liberation, a pro-Palestine coalition, held demonstrations and occupied buildings on campus. Muslim students had previously expressed concerns about a lack of administrative response to online threats and intimidation.

Former trustee Jon Lindseth called for Pollack's resignation in an open letter citing the University's failure to appropriately address antisemitism on campus amid a 'misguided commitment' to diversity, equity and inclusion. The university was also criticized for its response to protests during the Israel-Hamas war.

Despite these controversies, Pollack was praised for her leadership and commitment to free expression protection on campus. She launched an initiative aimed at addressing Islamophobia on campus and acknowledged the need for greater awareness of antisemitism as well.

The search for a new permanent president is expected to begin in the coming months.


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Confidence

90%

Doubts
  • The extent of the university's response to campus controversies and antisemitism allegations is unclear.
  • The reasons behind Pollack's retirement have not been disclosed.

Sources

97%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

After ‘transformational’ tenure, Pollack to retire June 30

Cornell Chronicle Wednesday, 01 May 2024 00:00
  • Unique Points
    • President Martha E. Pollack is retiring on June 30, 2024 after serving for more than seven years as the university's 14th president.
    • Provost Michael I. Kotlikoff will serve as interim president for a two-year term beginning on July 1, 2024.
    • Pollack independently decided to retire after ‘extensive reflection.’
  • Accuracy
    • President Martha E. Pollack is retiring on June 30, 2023 after serving for more than seven years as the university’s 14th president.
    • She will remain in office until July 1, 2024.
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

92%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Cornell University President, Martha Pollack, Resigns

The Name Of The NZ Prefix. I PWA NZI.P.Was Dropped. Stephanie Saul Thursday, 09 May 2024 20:03
  • Unique Points
    • Martha E. Pollack announced her resignation as president of Cornell University.
    • She will remain in office until July 1, 2024.
  • Accuracy
    • The board of trustees appointed Michael I. Kotlikoff as interim president for two years.
    • Cornell is one of four Ivy League universities with a leadership transition underway or an interim president in charge.
    • Dr. Pollack leaves at a time of controversy over disciplinary action against pro-Palestinian student protesters.
    • The university invoked a provision for ‘immediate temporary suspension’ which some professors found disturbing and draconian.
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (85%)
    The article contains an appeal to authority and inflammatory rhetoric. It also presents a dichotomous depiction of Cornell's disciplinary actions against pro-Palestinian student protesters.
    • . . . four of the eight Ivy League universities — Harvard, Yale, the University of Pennsylvania and Cornell — will now be in various stages of leadership transition, three of them with interim presidents already in charge or presidential searches underway.
    • Dr. Pollack’s resignation means that four of the eight Ivy League universities — Harvard, Yale, the University of Pennsylvania and Cornell — will now be in various stages of leadership transition, three of them with interim presidents already in charge or presidential searches underway.
    • Critics have found the disciplinary actions particularly disturbing coming in a school year when Dr. Pollack launched a campus free-expression initiative.
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

78%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

BREAKING: President Pollack to Retire After Seven Years of Leadership

The Cornell Daily Sun Julia Senzon Thursday, 09 May 2024 17:43
  • Unique Points
    • President Martha Pollack independently decided to retire after 'extensive reflection'
    • The Coalition for Mutual Liberation, a pro-Palestine coalition, occupied Day Hall, held die-ins in libraries and other campus buildings and established an encampment on the Arts Quad.
    • Muslim students have previously expressed concerns about a lack of administrative response to online threats and intimidation on campus.
    • Former trustee Jon Lindseth called for Pollack’s resignation in an open letter citing the University’s failure to appropriately address antisemitism on campus amid a ‘misguided commitment’ to diversity, equity and inclusion.
  • Accuracy
    • President Martha Pollack announced her retirement effective June 30, 2024.
    • President Martha E. Pollack is retiring on June 30, 2023 after serving for more than seven years as the university's 14th president.
    • She will remain in office until July 1, 2024.
  • Deception (30%)
    The article contains selective reporting as it only mentions antisemitic threats and ignores derogatory messages towards Muslim students. It also uses emotional manipulation by describing the 'enormous pain' felt by community members due to world turmoil and local tensions.
    • The administration has condemned the disruptive nature of demonstrations, labeled some of the organization’s language as antisemitic and arrested and suspended demonstrators. Pollack acknowledged the ‘enormous pain’ felt by community members due to world turmoil and local tensions, including for Jewish and Israeli students and Arab, Palestinian and Muslim students.
    • The Coalition for Mutual Liberation – a pro-Palestine coalition of over 40 on and off-campus organizations – occupied Day Hall, held die-ins in libraries and other campus buildings and established an encampment on the Arts Quad. Demonstrators urged the University to divest from weapons manufacturers, advocate for a ceasefire in Gaza, acknowledge Islamophobia on campus and cease educational ties with Israeli institutions.
  • Fallacies (80%)
    The author makes an appeal to authority by quoting the chair of the Board of Trustees and Kraig Kayser MBA '84 regarding Pollack's retirement and her appointment as president emerita. The author also mentions that several university presidents have stepped down amid backlash for their response to antisemitism on campus, but does not provide any evidence or context to support this claim.
    • Provost Michael Kotlikoff will serve as interim president for a two-year term beginning on July 1, 2024, according to a follow-up email sent by Kraig Kayser MBA '84, chair of the Board of Trustees.
    • However, former trustee Jon Lindseth '56 published an open letter urging Pollack and Kotlikoff's resignation...
    • This approval for Pollack has sustained into the announcement of her retirement. As of Thursday morning, the Board of Trustees appointed Pollack as president emerita...
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication