Trump asks 9 colleges to commit to his agenda for better access to federal money
a day ago
- #higher-education
- #federal-funding
- #political-agenda
- The White House is asking nine major universities to commit to President Donald Trump’s political priorities in exchange for better access to federal money.
- The proposed 'Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education' includes commitments on admissions, women’s sports, free speech, student discipline, and college affordability.
- Universities that sign the compact would receive benefits like federal grants and increased overhead payments.
- The compact requires universities to adopt the government’s definition of gender for campus facilities and sports teams, and to stop considering race and gender in admissions.
- Undergraduate applicants would be required to take the SAT or ACT.
- International student enrollment would be capped at 15% of the undergraduate student body, with no more than 5% from a single country.
- The compact aims to promote conservative viewpoints by ensuring a 'vibrant marketplace of ideas' and diverse ideological representation in departments.
- Tuition for U.S. students would be frozen for five years, and some universities with large endowments would have to offer free tuition for 'hard science' programs.
- Opponents argue the compact threatens free speech and campus independence, with critics calling it a 'Faustian bargain.'
- Violations of the compact would be enforced by the Justice Department, with penalties including loss of benefits for at least a year.