Statement From Northwestern University on Settlement Agreement

EVANSTON, Ill. --- Northwestern University has entered into a settlement agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to end litigation over the expenditure of certain federal grant funds by a former Northwestern faculty member. The settlement involves no findings or admissions of wrongful conduct by Northwestern. The University was nonetheless disappointed to see the allegations in the complaint because they are at odds with the University's commitment to a culture of compliance in the administration of federal research grants. Northwestern takes its grant administration responsibilities seriously, and fully cooperated with the government's investigation of these allegations in an effort to demonstrate their inconsistency with its institutional values.

Under the agreement, Northwestern will pay the government $2.93 million. Although Northwestern expressly denies wrongdoing by any current faculty members, the University has elected to settle the case rather than engage in protracted litigation that would divert time and resources from its primary missions of education and research. Northwestern is pleased that the settlement fully resolves this matter as to the University and its current faculty members, thereby allowing them to focus fully on the important research they continue to do.