White House Schedules Urgent Meeting as Trump’s College Compact Fails to Gain Support

The White House has called a meeting with five major universities. This comes after its proposed higher education compact received no initial support. According to the Associated Press, the meeting is set for Friday. The invited schools are still considering the deal.

President Donald Trump’s administration invited nine universities to be initial signatories. So far, four have publicly rejected the offer. The remaining five have not yet announced their decision, prompting the urgent call.

Key Sticking Points and University Resistance

The compact outlines ten pages of commitments. These commitments align with the administration’s political priorities. They include eliminating race and sex from admissions decisions.

The agreement also requires accepting a strict binary definition of gender. It promotes conservative views on campus. Another provision demands “institutional neutrality” on current events. The document states that colleges are free to forgo these terms if they also decline federal benefits.

Many institutions have cited concerns over academic freedom. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology was the first to decline the deal last week. Brown University, the University of Pennsylvania, and the University of Southern California followed with similar rejections. They argued the compact would limit free speech and campus independence.

Broader Implications for Academic Autonomy

The proposed compact represents a significant shift in strategy. It seeks to reshape higher education through negotiation instead of legislation. This approach has sparked intense debate across the academic world.

More than 30 higher education organizations have urged the administration to withdraw the compact. Led by the American Council on Education, they argue it gives the government unprecedented control. They say it would hinder free speech and institutional independence.

The political backlash has been swift. Governor Gavin Newsom of California has threatened to cut state funding for any university that signs. Democrats in Virginia have issued similar warnings. This places additional pressure on the schools still considering the offer.

The future of the Trump higher education compact remains uncertain. Its failure to secure early support highlights deep divisions. The administration’s meeting on Friday may be a final effort to salvage the deal.

Thought you’d like to know

What is the Trump Higher Education Compact?

It is a proposed agreement from the White House. It asks universities to adopt policies aligned with the administration’s priorities. In return, they would receive favorable access to federal funding.

Which universities have rejected the compact?

MIT, Brown University, the University of Pennsylvania, and the University of Southern California have all said no. They cited concerns over free speech and institutional independence.

Which schools are still considering the offer?

Dartmouth College, the University of Arizona, the University of Texas, the University of Virginia, and Vanderbilt University have not yet decided. They are participating in a White House call on Friday.

What are the main criticisms of the compact?

Critics say it threatens academic freedom and free speech. They argue it gives the federal government too much control over university policies and academic matters.

What happens if a university does not sign?

The compact suggests they would forego certain federal benefits. The exact consequences, however, are not fully detailed in the proposal.