MIT becomes first to reject White House higher‑ed funding compact, citing free‑expression concerns
The White House sent a proposed "Compact for Academic Excellence" to nine universities — Arizona, Brown, Dartmouth, MIT, Penn, USC, Texas-Austin, UVA and Vanderbilt — offering "substantial" federal grants and other benefits in exchange for commitments such as a five‑year tuition freeze, caps on international undergraduates, bans on considering race or sex in hiring/admissions and other policy changes, and asked for feedback by Oct. 20 ahead of a Nov. 21 decision. MIT president Sally Kornbluth became the first to formally reject the compact in a letter to Education Secretary Linda McMahon, saying it would curb free expression and institutional independence and arguing research funding should be awarded on merit, while other invitees have voiced mixed reactions — from UT-Austin’s interest to UVA and Dartmouth expressing serious concerns and local officials in Tucson opposing the plan.
Politics
Education
📌 Key Facts
- The White House solicited feedback from nine universities — University of Arizona, Brown University, Dartmouth College, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), University of Pennsylvania, University of Southern California, University of Texas at Austin, Vanderbilt University, and University of Virginia — about a proposed “Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education.”
- The administration offered substantive incentives for signatories, promising “substantial and meaningful” federal benefits including research funding, approvals for student visas, preferential tax treatment and greater access to federal student loans, grants and contracts.
- The proposed compact’s provisions (as reported) include a five‑year tuition freeze; limits on international undergraduates (commonly reported as a 15% cap overall and a 5% cap from any single country); bans on consideration of race or sex in hiring and/or admissions; requirements to use the U.S. government’s definition of gender for bathrooms/locker rooms/women’s sports; requiring SAT/ACT for undergraduates; and targeted tuition waivers for hard‑science students at well‑endowed programs — among other policy changes.
- MIT President Sally Kornbluth sent a letter to Education Secretary Linda McMahon formally rejecting the compact — the first university to do so — saying MIT “cannot support” the proposal because it would constrain freedom of expression and institutional independence and that scientific funding should be awarded on merit alone.
- The White House asked for feedback on the compact by Oct. 20 and set a decision target of Nov. 21, with advisers (including May Mailman) saying the administration hopes many schools will find the compact reasonable and indicating there is room for negotiation.
- Responses have been mixed: some institutions (the UT System) said they welcomed the invitation to engage, while others (UVA, Dartmouth and others) signaled deep concerns or warned acceptance would be difficult; Fox reported none of the other eight had formally rejected the compact at the time of MIT’s response.
- Organized and political pushback emerged quickly: the American Association of University Professors urged colleges not to sign on free‑speech and academic‑independence grounds; AEI’s Frederick Hess called the plan “profoundly problematic” and “ungrounded in law”; local officials in Tucson formally opposed the compact as federal interference; Virginia Democrats warned of possible state funding consequences if UVA signed.
- The compact’s drafting and advocacy involved outside figures including Marc Rowan (Apollo Global Management), who argued publicly that outside intervention was needed because higher‑education governance has “lost its way.”
📊 Analysis & Commentary (1)
The Trump Rules for Radical Schools
"A Wall Street Journal editorial praises the goal of reining in campus ideological conformity and using federal funding as leverage, but criticizes the White House’s heavy‑handed 'compact' approach as overbearing and potentially counterproductive."
📰 Sources (8)
MIT rejects Trump admin funding compact, citing free expression concerns
New information:
- MIT is described as the first university to formally reject the administration’s compact.
- Fox reports that none of the other eight invited universities have responded yet.
- Article details specific benefits in the White House memo: research funding, approval of student visas, preferential tax treatment, and access to student loans, grants and federal contracts.
- Article lists specific requested commitments: accept the U.S. government’s definition of gender for bathrooms/locker rooms/women’s sports; bar consideration of sex, race, etc., in admissions; require SAT/ACT for undergraduates.
MIT president rejects proposal to adopt Trump priorities for funding benefits
New information:
- MIT President Sally Kornbluth’s letter explicitly cites concerns that the compact would limit free speech and institutional independence and says funding should be based on merit alone.
- University of Texas System leaders said they were honored UT-Austin was invited to consider the compact.
- University of Virginia leaders opened a campus feedback process and said it would be 'very difficult' to accept certain terms, pledging to be guided by academic freedom and free inquiry.
- Virginia Senate Democratic leaders warned UVA they would consider cutting state funding if the university signs the compact, calling it a 'trap.'
- Tucson’s mayor and city council formally opposed the compact as 'unacceptable' federal interference (affecting the University of Arizona).
- Conservative education analyst Frederick Hess (AEI) criticized the compact as 'profoundly problematic' and 'ungrounded in law.'
- Brown University previously reached a July agreement with the White House to resolve federal investigations; its president, Christina Paxson, commented on the compact on Friday.
MIT president says she 'cannot support' proposal to adopt Trump priorities for funding benefits
New information:
- MIT President Sally Kornbluth sent a letter to Education Secretary Linda McMahon and White House officials stating MIT 'cannot support' the compact, citing free-speech and institutional-independence concerns.
- The letter emphasizes MIT’s view that scientific funding should be awarded on merit alone.
- University of Texas system leaders said they were honored UT Austin was invited to consider the compact.
- Tucson’s mayor and city council formally opposed the compact, calling it an 'unacceptable act of federal interference.'
- AEI’s Frederick Hess criticized the compact as 'profoundly problematic' and 'ungrounded in law.'
- AP reiterates the White House timeline: limited feedback by Oct. 20 and a decision by Nov. 21.
MIT Rejects Trump’s Sweeping ‘Compact’ Offering Colleges Funding Advantages
New information:
- MIT formally rejected the White House’s 'Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education' in a letter to Education Secretary Linda McMahon.
- MIT President Sally Kornbluth said the proposal would restrict freedom of expression and the school’s independence, arguing scientific funding should be based on merit alone.
- White House adviser May Mailman said the administration hopes many schools will view the compact as reasonable and indicated room for negotiation with feedback requested by Oct. 20.
- The compact promises 'substantial and meaningful federal grants' for signatories and includes provisions such as a five‑year tuition freeze, a 15% cap on international undergraduates, and bans on race or sex in hiring.
- Other invited schools offered cautious or critical statements: UVA said agreeing to certain provisions would be difficult; Dartmouth signaled concerns, while UT Austin indicated enthusiasm to engage.
- Marc Rowan (Apollo Global Management), who helped draft the compact, argued in a New York Times op‑ed that outside intervention is necessary because higher education governance has 'lost its way.'
How Colleges Stack Up Against Trump’s Sweeping ‘Compact’ Demands
New information:
- WSJ names the nine specific universities the administration solicited for feedback: University of Arizona; Brown University; Dartmouth College; Massachusetts Institute of Technology; University of Pennsylvania; University of Southern California; University of Texas at Austin; Vanderbilt University; University of Virginia.
- WSJ reports that some elements of the proposed compact are consistent with existing university practices while other elements would require substantial changes to current policies.
Shutdown postpones monthly jobs report. And, Trump dangles a carrot to colleges
New information:
- NPR names MIT and the University of Texas among the nine schools contacted and reports on initial university reactions (UT System Board of Regents said it 'welcomes the new opportunity').
- NPR highlights critics' responses, including the American Association of University Professors urging colleges not to sign the agreement, framing the letters as a free‑speech/academic‑independence concern.
White House asks 9 universities to sign agreement to guarantee funding
New information:
- Identifies the nine recipient universities by name (Arizona, Brown, Dartmouth, MIT, Penn, USC, Texas, UVA, Vanderbilt).
- Lists concrete compact provisions: 5‑year tuition freeze; 15% cap on foreign undergraduate enrollment; 5% cap of foreign students from any single country; waiver of tuition for hard‑science students where endowment exceeds $2M per undergraduate.
- Names the letter’s signers (May Mailman, Secretary Linda McMahon, Vincent Haley) and confirms CBS News obtained a copy of the letter.