Duke says it won’t take virus-related federal relief funds

DURHAM, N.C. (AP) — Duke University says it won’t accept federal relief funds related to the coronavirus.

The school in North Carolina said in a statement Thursday that accepting the funds could pose legal and regulatory liabilities, even if it passed the money on to students.

Congress is offering $14 billion to the nation’s colleges and universities as part of a $2.2 trillion rescue package. Schools were allotted varying sums based on their size and the number of students they teach from poorer backgrounds.

 
“We continue to maintain our commitment to supporting students in distress through institutional and donated funds, and we will also continue to identify other sources of relief for the most vulnerable members of the Duke community,” the school said.

Several Ivy League schools, including Harvard and Yale, have said they will reject millions of dollars in federal funding amid growing scrutiny of wealthy colleges.