Stanford University has reached an agreement with the Ford Foundation about conditions related to terrorism that Ford had added to its basic grant agreement and has ended a one-year-old moratorium on accepting grants from the foundation, the university's news service reports.

Stanford officials placed a moratorium on grants from the Ford and Rockefeller foundations last year after the foundations refused to change anti-terrorism language that had been added to their grant agreements post-9/11. Under the agreement reached with Ford, the New York City-based foundation clarified that it supports the principle of academic freedom, lawful expression, and lawful activities at colleges and universities by faculty, students, and others. But it also reaffirmed language in the agreement prohibiting speech or conduct that promotes or encourages violence, terrorism, bigotry, or the destruction of any state.

Stanford provost John Etchemendy, who announced the lifting of the moratorium, said the university had notified foundation officials that, although it does not anticipate adopting or endorsing positions that could be considered violations of the agreement, Stanford does not intend to modify its speech or require faculty to do so in order to comply with foundation restrictions, except for what is necessary to comply with existing laws. Under the new agreement with the foundation, Etchemendy added, faculty are allowed to submit proposals and accept grants from Ford as long as they acknowledge the risk that the foundation could find the university to be in violation of its grant agreement, which could lead it to suspend or deny future funding.

"It was a difficult process to work through these negotiations with the Ford Foundation, but I am satisfied that this resolution continues to uphold the university's principles of academic freedom, free speech, and organizational autonomy," said Etchemendy. "This resolution also meets the needs of the Ford Foundation, which has been an important supporter to Stanford and to higher education."

Discussions are continuing with the Rockefeller Foundation, Etchemendy added.