In the past few weeks, the Trump administration has been sending a new educational policy to some of the nation’s most prestigious universities. The proposal, known as the Compact for Academic Excellence in Education, promises preferential federal funding to schools that agree to its rules.
The compact calls for merit‑based hiring and admissions that are “free of race, sex, political orientation, ethnicity, or nationality.” It also requires universities to support free expression, to stop any government‑backed committee that “punishes ideas,” and to recognize biological sex for athletics, restrooms, and locker rooms. The policy would tie research awards and federal funding to the compact’s requirements, a point that has drawn strong objections from many campuses.
On October 1, the U.S. Department of Education sent the draft to nine universities: University of Arizona, MIT, Vanderbilt, Brown, Dartmouth, University of Pennsylvania, University of Southern California, University of Texas at Austin, and the University of Virginia. Seven of those institutions declined to sign the compact, and two—UT Austin and the University of Alabama—have yet to give a firm answer.
Brown University’s president, Christina Paxson, wrote that the compact would limit academic freedom and undermine the school’s autonomy. “It would restrict what we can do and who we can hire,” she said in a letter to Secretary of Education Linda McMahon.
MIT’s president, Sally Kornbluth, agreed that the school already follows the values in the compact and chose not to sign. Kornbluth noted that MIT “abides by the law” and that its policies already meet or exceed the proposed standards.
The University of Pennsylvania also declined. President J. Larry Jameson said Penn was “respectfully” turning down the compact and gave the department focused feedback on areas of alignment and concern.
Dartmouth College rejected the compact, underscoring that the government should not dictate academic policies. “Our universities must set our own policies based on mission and values,” a Dartmouth senior wrote. “Staying true to this principle is how we maintain public trust in higher education.”
USC president Kim Beong‑Soo also declined, citing the compact’s potential to shift research priorities away from merit. In a letter, she warned that tying funding to a voluntary contract could erode free inquiry and put America’s research output at risk.
The University of Virginia’s interim president, Paul Mahoney, said that “a contractual arrangement predicating assessment on anything other than merit will undermine the integrity of vital research.” The University of Arizona, which accepted the proposal’s values but remained cautious, also turned it down.
Vanderbilt University’s president, Daniel Diermeier, remained neutral, saying the university “will give feedback but will not sign.” He emphasized that constructive dialogue across different viewpoints is key to restoring trust in American higher education.
UT Austin has not formally answered. Board of Regents chairman Kevin Eltife said the school was “honored” to be consulted and that it looks forward to reviewing the compact.
The compact remains in the works, but its lack of support from top universities signals a significant challenge for the Trump administration as it seeks to reshape higher education and connect federal funding to a set of political and academic reforms. The debate hinges on whether universities will place their mission of free research and academic independence above federal incentives and potential constraints.
Source: Fox News
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