With deadline looming, 4 of 9 universities reject Trump’s “compact” to remake higher ed

In a bold move, the Trump administration recently presented an ultimatum to nine prestigious universities, urging them to embrace a more conservative agenda. The proposal demanded that these institutions increase conservative representation, eliminate departments perceived to undermine conservative viewpoints, and adhere to strict definitions of gender and sex. Additionally, the universities would have to relinquish control over admissions and hiring processes, commit to maintaining tuition rates for five years, suppress student protests, and adopt a stance of institutional neutrality on contemporary issues. In return, they were promised continued access to federal benefits, including crucial funding and immigration support for students and faculty. As the looming deadline of October 20 approaches, a significant backlash has emerged. Four of the nine universities—namely the University of Pennsylvania, Brown University, the University of Southern California, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)—have publicly declared their refusal to sign the proposed compact. This rejection marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing debate over the role of government in higher education. Furthermore, the American Council on Education, representing over 1,600 colleges and universities, has issued a statement advocating for the complete withdrawal of the compact. They argued that it imposes unprecedented restrictions on academic institutions, threatening their fundamental freedoms to determine their educational missions. The council criticized the proposal as a clear example of excessive federal intervention, countering the administration's stated opposition to such overreach and calling for a return to local governance and academic independence.