Newly released Justice Department records have forced universities to take immediate personnel and program actions after disclosures tying academics and trustees to Jeffrey Epstein. Multiple campuses have seen resignations, trustee departures and program closures in the days since the DOJ dump, and institutions are publicly reassessing donor vetting and governance processes. Bard College President Leon Botstein surfaced in the records for thanking Epstein after a Caribbean trip; the disclosure prompted renewed calls for transparency at liberal-arts institutions. At other schools, administrators moved quickly: department chairs resigned, trustees stepped down, and high-profile research centers shut amid student protests. The files have prompted federal and campus reviews of past partnerships and gift acceptance practices. Universities now face urgent governance questions: what oversight was exercised, who authorized relationships, and which records should be made public. Trustees, presidents, and development officers are central actors in ongoing reviews. For campuses, the challenge is immediate: reconcile past fundraising with current ethical standards while addressing student and faculty demands for accountability. Clarification: DOJ-produced “Epstein files” refers to court and investigative records recently released by the Department of Justice that document Epstein’s contacts and donations to academic and philanthropic networks.