White House Proposes Compact for Academic Excellence to Major Universities

Sun Oct 19 2025 20:30:05 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

In a controversial move, the Trump administration has reached out to nine prestigious universities, urging them to align with specific political priorities in exchange for better access to federal funding. The compact, which covers various aspects of campus life, raises questions about academic independence.

The White House has proposed a 'Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education' to nine major universities, requiring them to adopt specific political priorities related to admissions, sports, free speech, and financial policies in order to receive favorable federal funding. The initiative is seen as a means of leveraging government support while challenging traditional academic norms.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House is urging nine major universities to commit to President Trump's political priorities in return for more favorable access to federal funding. This movement, dubbed the Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education, requests universities to adopt the administration's policies on topics such as admissions, women’s sports, free speech, and college affordability.

By signing, universities would gain priority access to certain federal grants and have the opportunity to engage directly with the White House, though federal aid would not be exclusively for those schools. According to an unnamed White House official, the compact encourages institutions to conform to the government's definition of gender and to revise admissions practices regarding race and gender.

The proposed agreement, which extends to elite public and private institutions including MIT and the University of Pennsylvania, raises significant questions regarding academic freedom and governance, particularly as it seeks to enforce compliance through penalties including loss of funding and mandates for monitoring adherence.

Signatories would also face constraints, such as capping international students and limiting tuition increments. This initiative forms a part of a broader strategy employed by the administration to leverage federal funding as a means to influence educational institutions, which has included cutting off financial aid to some universities.

As university leaders express varied reactions to this proposal, the implications for higher education governance and academic integrity remain a pivotal discussion point.