Trump’s university ‘compact’ is gone. That doesn’t mean the assault on education is over
The administration’s proposed agreement met a scathing response. But universities must remain vigilant
TL;DR
- The Trump administration's "Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education" aimed to give universities privileged access to federal grants if they adhered to the administration's ideology on governance.
- Universities largely rejected the compact, criticizing its potential to compromise academic freedom and institutional independence, and arguing that grants should be based on merit, not ideology.
- The administration has withdrawn the compact but continues to exert pressure on universities through demands for public statements on reforms and potential manipulation of federal grants.
- Past actions by the administration include threats to prioritize student visas, unsubstantiated discrimination findings, seeking large fines, and freezing federal grants.
- The article stresses that the vitality of universities is crucial for democracy and calls for continued collective defense against governmental attempts to control academia.