Some of the universities say the agreement would infringe on freedom of expression. Supporters say it combats discrimination and promotes viewpoint diversity.
Multiple Ivy League and prominent state schools have declined the Trump administration’s Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education as of an Oct. 20 deadline for offering feedback.
So far, at least seven of nine universities have refused the compact, which would offer them preferred consideration for federal funding. Vanderbilt University and the University of Texas are still considering the offer but others like the University of Arizona have released statements expressing their opposition.
The compact, offered to nine universities on Oct. 1, offers financial incentives such as preferred consideration for federal grants and flexibility in research costs if the school promises to follow certain guidelines.
These include eliminating preferential treatment by race, requiring SAT scores in student applications, limiting undergraduate admission of foreign students to 15 percent, freezing tuition for five years, maintaining a policy of institutional neutrality on political and social issues, and accepting all transfer credits from military members and veterans.
The compact would also require schools to post average earnings from graduates in each program and refund tuition to undergraduates who drop out during their first semester.
University of Arizona President Suresh Garimella told the campus community on Oct. 20 that some of the administration’s proposals deserved “thoughtful consideration.”
“At the same time,” Garimella said, “principles like academic freedom, merit-based research funding, and institutional independence are foundational and must be preserved. As a result, the university has not agreed to the terms outlined in the draft proposal.”
On Oct. 17, University of Virginia interim President Paul Mahoney told Education Secretary Linda McMahon that his institution, based in Charlottesville, seeks “no special treatment in exchange for our pursuit of those fundamental goals” related to education, research, and medical patient care.
“Higher education faces significant challenges and has not always lived up to its highest ideals,” he said in a statement.
“We believe that the best path toward real and durable progress lies in an open and collaborative conversation. We look forward to working together to develop alternative, lasting approaches to improving higher education.”
By Aaron Gifford and Sam Dorman
