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Harvard president cancels India trip amid federal scrutiny
The university has not indicated when Garber’s India visit will be rescheduled.
Harvard president Alan M. Garber '76 opted not to travel over spring break, postponing a planned trip to India. / Frank S. Zhou/ Harvard
Harvard University president Alan M. Garber, who was set to visit India over spring break has canceled the trip last week.
His visit would have marked Harvard’s first formal presidential trip to India since 2006, when former president Lawrence H. Summers pledged to strengthen academic collaborations with Indian universities.
Also read; Harvard dean Khurana reflects on his journey
According to the Harvard Crimson, Garber’s visit, planned over a month in advance, included meetings with alumni, donors, and academic leaders. The events in Mumbai and New Delhi have now been repurposed as networking gatherings.
Jason A. Newton, a university spokesperson, acknowledged that the visit will be rescheduled but declined to elaborate on why Garber's travel was postponed. However, the timing of the decision suggests it may be linked to growing federal scrutiny of Ivy League universities.
On March 17, four days before Garber’s first planned event, the Trump administration wrote to Columbia University, offering to reinstate $400 million in federal funding in exchange for changes to its disciplinary procedures and authority over its Middle Eastern studies department. Columbia ultimately complied with the demands, sparking concerns that other Ivy League institutions could face similar pressure.
Before the cancellation, Garber reportedly met with a small group of Harvard affiliates to discuss the university’s engagement in India. He and vice provost of international affairs Mark C. Elliott were scheduled to visit St. Xavier’s College in Mumbai to explore developments in liberal arts education post-pandemic.
Garber has prioritized strengthening Harvard’s global connections since assuming leadership following Claudine Gay’s resignation in January. Last month, he traveled to Miami for an alumni event and previously visited London to address donor concerns.
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