The proposed Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education is a proposal by the Trump administration to American universities. The compact would confer access to federal funds in exchange for agreeing to demands. [1] In a letter introducing the compact, Education Secretary Linda McMahon, described it as supporting university students to "grow into resilient, curious, and moral leaders, inspired by American and Western values." [2] The compact purports to offer "multiple positive benefits" and "substantial and meaningful federal grants" to those universities that would abide by it. [1] Policy analyst Kevin Carey described the compact as "the newest escalation in Trump’s attempt to impose ideological dominance over" American higher education. [3] [4] [5]
The compact was proposed to Brown University, Dartmouth College, MIT, University of Arizona, University of Pennsylvania, University of Southern California, University of Texas at Austin, University of Virginia, and Vanderbilt University. [2] It was sent along with a letter from Secretary of Education Linda McMahon, May Mailman, senior adviser for special projects at the White House, and Vincent Haley, director of the Domestic Policy Council. [6]
Specific demands by the compact would include a cap on international undergraduate students of 15% and a tuition fee freeze for five years. [1]
The text of the compact has been shared with multiple media outlets. [7] The compact enumerates policies in eight areas of policy (titles as listed below), as well as provisions for exceptions and for enforcement.
Sian Leah Beilock, Dartmouth College's President, responded to the compact by vowing to "always defend our fierce independence" and stating, "We will never compromise our academic freedom and our ability to govern ourselves." [8] [9] Kevin Elte, head of the University of Texas Board of Regents, responded positively, stating, “Today we welcome the new opportunity presented to us and we look forward to working with the Trump Administration on it.” [10]
The Association of American Colleges and Universities issued a statement rejecting the Compact, and declaring that university administrators "cannot bargain with the essential freedom of colleges and universities to determine, on academic grounds, whom to admit and what is taught, how, and by whom." [9]
The White House is asking nine major universities to commit to President Donald Trump's political priorities in exchange for more favorable access to federal money. A document sent to the universities encourages them to adopt the White House's vision for America's campuses, with commitments to accept the government's priorities on admissions , women's sports, free speech, student discipline and college affordability, among other topics.