A New Playbook for College Donors: Power Politics

Major college donors used to expect their name on a building or the ability to call in a favor with the admissions office. They often gave money toward the end of their life, as a bookend to a successful career. And if they wanted to sway school policy, they typically worked behind the scenes to get their way. The turmoil at the University of Pennsylvania and Harvard, however, illustrates a new playbook for how the wealthiest Americans are exerting influence in higher education.