7 - Campus Hard or Feature News

White House Asks 9 Universities to Sign Compact to Access Federal Advantages

On Wednesday, October 1, The White House asked nine college universities to sign an agreement upholding Trump administration's higher education priorities or risk losing access to federal funding. 

According to CBS News, the following colleges were sent the letter: the University of Arizona, Brown University, Dartmouth College, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Pennsylvania, University of Southern California, University of Texas, University of Virginia, and Vanderbilt University. The selection of these schools was not determined. 

The official declined to say whether Trump administration plans to make similar offers to other colleges.  

The demands are outlined in the Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education, which asks universities to freeze their tuition rates for five years, ban the use of certain demographics in their admission processes, cap the number of international students on their campuses, and other requirements.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the administration proposes that this compact will elevate university standards and performances; the letter calls this signage a proactive effort. 

By signing, universities will adhere to the government's definition of gender: "according to function and biological processes." Campuses will then apply this definition to bathrooms, locker rooms, and women's sports. 

The compact asks universities to stop considering race, sex, political views, sexual orientation, gender identity, and other demographics in undergraduate and graduate admissions processes (unless the institution is primarily composed of these specific demographics). Colleges will also have to require undergraduates to take the SAT, ACT, or CLT. 

Signatories must also commit to "transforming or abolishing institutional units that purposefully punish, belittle, and even spark violence against conservative ideas." Fulfilling this mission would lead to "a vibrant marketplace of ideas where different views can be explored, debated, and challenged." 

[Snippets of the compact; picture above leads to source.]

By agreeing, campuses will have to put a cap on foreign student enrollment. The compact states enrollment shall not exceed 15% of a university's undergraduate population, with no more than 5% of foreign students enrolled coming from a single country. 

The compact outlines that campuses must select their foreign exchange students on the basis of "demonstrably extraordinary talent," rather than financial advantage. This will "screen out students who demonstrate hostility to the United States, its allies, or its values." 

The universities that do rely on foreign exchange students risk reducing spots available to "deserving American students" and "saturating the campus with noxious values of anti-Semitism and anti-American values." 

The schools that agree and abide by the compact will receive "allowance for increased overhead payments where feasible, substantial and meaningful federal grants, and other federal partnerships." 

University Responses

The University of Virginia had a group advising Interim President, Paul G. Mahoney, on how to respond to the letter. According to the Faculty Senate of the University of Virginia, they firmly oppose the compact and call upon the President to oppose the agreement as well. They have also announced there was nothing to suggest why they were chosen. 

According to AP News, the University of Texas was "honored" that the Austin campus was chosen to be part of the compact and for the "potential funding advantages" the agreement offers. 

The University of Southern California said they are reviewing the letter. Governor Gavin Newsom stated that if any university signed the compact, they will lose access to all state funding. He states that California "will not bankroll schools that sell out their students, professors, researchers, and surrender academic freedom." 

Massachusetts Institute of Technology stated they received the letter but have declined any further comments at the time of publication. 

On October 2, the University of Pennsylvania chapter of the American Association of University Professors said this letter amounts to a threat.

[Quote; picture above leads to source.]

Trump administration is asking for written statements by the universities "no later than October 20," with a "signed agreement no later than November 21, 2025."