Colleges turn down Trump's "compact" agreement offer

Seven of the nine universities approached by the Trump administration have declined an agreement that would have given them preferential funding in exchange for changes to their policies. Why it matters: The institutions' unwillingness to acquiesce to President Trump's policy demands could set the stage for another round of higher ed retaliation from the administration. State of play: The "Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education," terms are in line with Trump's education priorities. The pact requires universities to cap enrollment of international students, commit to strict definitions of gender, freeze tuition for five years, conduct merit-based faculty hiring, and ban race and gender in admissions decisions. Several of the schools the Trump administration approached about the compact previously had funding disputes over changes in their research policy or DEI initiatives. Agreeing to the pact would have given the universities priority for grants and invitations to White House events.Driving the news: The University of Arizona, Brown University, Dartmouth College, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Southern California and the University of Virginia have all rejected the compact.Vanderbilt University, in a Monday statement from university chancellor Daniel Diermeier, said it would continue to share input with the administration and that research awards should be made on merit alone. The University of Texas suggested it might be open to signing the compact, Axios Austin previously reported. The school did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment. Zoom out: Several of the schools publicly challenged some of the guidelines and expectations listed in the pact.MIT's values and practices "meet or exceed many standards outlined in the document you sent," the university's president, Sally Kornbluth, wrote in a letter to Education Secretary Linda McMahon on Oct. 10.On Monday, Suresh Garimella, the University of Arizona's president, wrote in a letter: "We seek no special treatment and believe in our ability to compete for federally funded research strictly on merit.""I do not believe that the involvement of the government through a compact — whether it is a Republican- or Democratic-led White House — is the right way to focus America's leading colleges and universities on their teaching and research mission," Brown University President Sian Leah Beilock wrote. The other side: When asked for comment on Wednesday, the White House referred Axios to May Mailman's recent appearance on Fox Business. Mailman, who has been at the helm of Trump's university crackdown, left the administration in August but continues to advise the White House on these projects, the New York Times reported. "Universities should only get funding if they're going to be a benefit for Americans on the other side of it," she said in the interview. "There's research that, absolutely, I think the federal government has an interest in funding. But there's research that shouldn't be." Friction point: Mailman claimed that "a lot of these universities are not saying no" to the pact, though several have provided outright declinations regarding the Trump proposal. The big picture: A coalition of more than two dozen education organizations has also opposed the Trump administration's offer, saying its conditions "run counter to the interests of institutions, students, scholars and the nation itself." "The compact is a step in the wrong direction," they said. "The dictates set by it are harmful for higher education and our entire nation, no matter your politics. We urge the administration to reverse course and withdraw the compact."Go deeper: Trump administration sharpens framework for university funding settlements

Comments

World news

British Columbians urged to get flu, COVID-19 shots amid vaccine ‘disinformation’

Global News

Comments

Similar News

University of Arizona becomes seventh US college to reject Trump’s ‘compact’

With no takers yet, White House sets meeting with colleges still weighing an agreement with Trump

Stormzy elected honorary fellow of Jesus College Cambridge

Mississippi inmate tells family ‘I’ll be in heaven’ ahead of execution for 1993 rape and murder of college student

Utah man arrested for ‘threatening to shoot rival fans’ ahead of BYU-UU college football game, police say

Ontario college support staff reach tentative agreement to end strike

Israel and Hamas have a ceasefire deal. But college protesters say activism won't stop

College basketball legend Sister Jean dies aged 106

College basketball legend Sister Jean dies aged 106

Ontario college strike enters 4th week with no new talks scheduled

Former Ontario college basketball star gets jail sentence, out on bail pending appeal

Classes cancelled at Conestoga college campus amid support workers’ strike

College student burned alive inside Tesla Cybertruck 'after doors locked shut when the vehicle burst into flames, leaving her trapped'

Lawyer for late college football star Kyren Lacy claims there was a cover-up in fatal crash investigation

Trump asks 9 colleges to commit to his political agenda and get favorable access to federal money

Classes cancelled at 2 Ontario college campuses amid support workers’ strike

Talks break down between Ontario colleges, union with strike in 3rd week

Randall Denley: Skills-training in Ontario is in chaos as the college strike drags on

Ontario college strike approaches 2-week mark without breakthrough

US college rankings for 2025 are released amid a year of turmoil for universities

World news

British Columbians urged to get flu, COVID-19 shots amid vaccine ‘disinformation’

U.S. sanctions Russia’s largest oil firms after latest attack on Ukraine

N.B. pediatric dental specialist says demand is high, operating room time scarce

Five things about Nova Scotia’s decision to approve Whale Sanctuary Project

Oilers back home, hoping one win can spark another

Windsor now offering weekly dirty diaper pick-up amid garbage schedule changes

Death of 21-year-old in Ottawa treated as ‘criminally suspicious’: police

‘Simply unbearable’: Mother of slain 20-year-old wants DHS to stop using her daughter to justify Chicago crackdown

Eric Trump posts AI video of crowd in White House holding up his book to promote his memoir

Journalist files suit against Melania Trump saying she is stopping him from asking questions about her and Epstein

Trump ally who wants Jack Smith in jail says grand jury will investigate Mar-a-Lago raid ‘conspiracy’

Trump slaps Russia’s biggest oil companies with sanctions over Ukraine war: ‘Now is the time to stop the killing’

US government nuclear physicist arrested on child sex charges

Pentagon’s ‘next generation’ press corps features MyPillow guy’s reporters and other MAGA luminaries

An unwanted neighbor: Heavy rain drives venomous snakes to residential areas in Florida

Tucker Carlson loses it at MAGA student who asked him question about his dad: ‘I’m gonna have to kick your a**’

Louvre CCTV failings blamed for $102 million jewelry heist

Two killed after fight spills into the road and they are hit by a passing motorist – who fled the scene

Eight Americans arrested in the Bahamas after ‘high-powered weapons’ and cash allegedly found on their boat

Why Trump Is a ‘Scarcity President’

Rutte Holds a Last-Minute Meeting With Trump on Russia-Ukraine

South Africa Unveils New Energy Policy

Milan-Cortina 2026 unveils official posters for Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games

Exclusive: Hegseth's military speech a "waste of time," Panetta says

Exclusive: Trump's border czar says 600k to be deported in 2025

Exclusive: Government shutdown signals weakness to foes, ex-Defense Secretary says

Michael Wolff files lawsuit against First Lady over alleged Epstein defamation

Police officers hurt in second night of violence in Dublin

Louvre director offers to resign and admits jewel heist was 'terrible failure'

US strikes eighth alleged drug boat in Pacific

US announces sanctions on Russia's largest oil companies

No camera covered Louvre wall where jewel thieves broke in, director says

Entire White House East Wing to be demolished within days

Iceland reports the presence of mosquitoes for the first time, as climate warms

Jared Kushner says business ties help him broker peace

At a Mass Burial in Gaza, Palestinians Mourn the Unknown Dead

The Steep Cost of A.I.

Iceland Says It Is No Longer Mosquito-Free

Congress Members Question Defense Department’s Delay in PFAS Cleanup

8 arrested after officers dismantle huge Toronto-Montreal cocaine ring

Part-time faculty on strike at Mount Saint Vincent University in Halifax

Ford wants to revisit ending ticket scalping amid Blue Jays ‘gouging’

Canadian trips to the U.S. fell for the 8th straight month: StatCan

‘Unreasonable’ to cancel election won by single vote, lawyer for Liberal MP says

Woman fatally shot in Brampton identified; suspect is now dead

Vancouver police bust criminal network operating out of Downtown Eastside hotel

Nova Scotia opposition criticizes premier’s surprise cabinet shuffle

N.S. RCMP arrest two youths after video of violent assault shared online

Edmonton election recount to take place after tight race in sipiwiyiniwak ward

Kraken’s Lambert a different coach in 2nd NHL gig

U.S. strikes new alleged drug-carrying boat — this time in Pacific Ocean

White House demolition clears space for Trump’s $250m ballroom

Fox News rages over Jen Psaki’s ‘disturbing’ comments about JD Vance’s wife Usha: ‘Outright slander!’

The Trump House? President’s massive changes to White House in first year will shape how it looks for decades

North Carolina approves new congressional map intended to add Republican seat

More than 30 people killed by US strikes on ‘narco’ boats, as Trump launches first attack in Pacific waters

Dec. 11 trial set for Fox Sports analyst Mark Sanchez on charge of attacking truck driver