White House Asks Nine Universities to Sign Political Compact
The White House has asked nine universities — Arizona, Brown, Dartmouth, MIT, Penn, USC, Texas, UVA and Vanderbilt — to sign a compact committing to elements of the administration’s agenda in exchange for favorable access to federal funds, according to ABC and a CBS News copy of the letter signed by May Mailman, Secretary Linda McMahon and Vincent Haley. The compact reportedly would impose a five‑year tuition freeze, cap foreign undergraduate enrollment at 15% with a 5% cap from any single country and waive tuition for hard‑science students at schools with endowments above $2 million per undergraduate; initial responses ranged from the UT System welcoming the outreach to critics such as the American Association of University Professors warning it threatens academic freedom and free speech.
🔍 Key Facts
- The White House asked nine universities to sign a compact tied to funding; the nine named schools are Arizona, Brown, Dartmouth, MIT, Penn, USC, Texas, UVA and Vanderbilt.
- CBS News obtained a copy of the letter and reported it was signed by May Mailman, Secretary Linda McMahon and Vincent Haley.
- The compact’s stated provisions include a five‑year tuition freeze; a 15% cap on foreign undergraduate enrollment; a 5% cap on students from any single foreign country; and a tuition waiver for hard‑science students at institutions whose endowment exceeds $2 million per undergraduate.
- NPR specifically named MIT and the University of Texas among the nine schools contacted and reported initial institutional reactions — the UT System Board of Regents said it “welcomes the new opportunity.”
- Critics responded swiftly: NPR reported that the American Association of University Professors urged colleges not to sign, framing the White House letters as raising free‑speech and academic‑independence concerns.
📰 Sources (3)
- 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.
- 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.