WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration has proposed a significant new funding agreement to nine major universities, asking them to align with specific political goals in return for preferential access to federal financial aid.
The proposed 'Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education' instructs the universities to follow government policies on admissions, gender definitions in sports, and guidance on free speech and student discipline.
By signing this compact, institutions would gain priority access to federal grants and exclusive participation in White House events. The current administration clarified that while funding may favor signatory schools, it is not exclusively limited to them.
The compact, which spans ten pages, has been delivered to notable universities such as Vanderbilt, the University of Pennsylvania, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. However, it remains unclear how these institutions were selected.
Among the compact's stipulations are requirements to cap international student enrollment at 15% and limit tuition hikes for U.S. students over the next five years.
Administration officials assert that this compact will enhance educational standards aligned with their vision, although it raises concerns about academic freedom and the independence of universities.
