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The White House has asked nine of the nation’s most prestigious universities to sign a new agreement aligning their campus policies with President Donald Trump’s political priorities, promising more favorable access to federal funding in return.
A document sent last week to the universities outlines the “Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education,” a proposed agreement that would require participating schools to adopt the administration’s standards on admissions, women’s sports, free speech, and student discipline, among other issues. In exchange, the universities could receive “substantial and meaningful federal grants” and “increased overhead payments where feasible,” according to a letter sent with the compact.
The letter describes the compact as a “proactive partnership” intended to strengthen compliance with federal civil rights laws and advance the administration’s campus priorities. It asks universities to sign on by Nov. 21.
Universities Asked to Adopt Trump’s Definitions and Standards
Under the compact, universities would be required to accept the government’s definition of gender and apply it to campus bathrooms, locker rooms, and women’s athletic programs. The plan also seeks to restrict the use of race, gender and other demographic factors in admissions decisions, mandating that all undergraduate applicants submit SAT or ACT scores.
The 10-page draft agreement was sent Wednesday to nine universities: Vanderbilt, the University of Pennsylvania, Dartmouth College, the University of Southern California, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the University of Texas, the University of Arizona, Brown University and the University of Virginia. It remains unclear why those institutions were selected or whether others will be invited later.
Universities that sign on would become “initial signatories” to the compact, the letter said, adding that the White House welcomes feedback before finalizing the agreement.
Shift From Punishment to Incentives
The effort marks a shift in strategy for the Trump administration, which has previously moved to penalize universities it accuses of liberal bias or violating civil rights. In recent months, the Education Department cut billions in federal research funding for Harvard and Columbia University over what it described as “institutional discrimination,” though a federal judge restored Harvard’s funding in September, ruling that the department had exceeded its authority.
This time, the administration is offering incentives instead of penalties. “Institutions that align themselves with the compact’s goals will enjoy a range of benefits commensurate with their cooperation,” the letter said.
The University of Virginia confirmed it received the compact and is reviewing it. “We have no indication why UVA was included, but we will evaluate the document carefully,” the university said in a statement. Interim President Margaret Cooley convened senior administrators Thursday to assess the implications.
The University of Texas System, however, expressed optimism. “We are honored that UT-Austin was chosen to participate,” said Kevin Eltife, chair of the Board of Regents. “We welcome the opportunity to work with the Trump administration on this initiative.”
State Leaders Push Back
California Gov. Gavin Newsom swiftly condemned the plan, warning that any university in his state that signs the compact will lose access to state-funded financial aid programs. “California will not bankroll schools that sell out their students, professors and researchers, and surrender academic freedom,” Newsom said in a statement. His office oversees Cal Grants, a $2.8 billion program that supports hundreds of thousands of California students.
Critics argue the compact undermines campus independence and academic freedom. Ted Mitchell, president of the American Council on Education, called it a “Faustian bargain.”
“It’s not worth the compromises they would have to make,” Mitchell said. “Federal funding should not be used as a political weapon.”
Limits on International Enrollment and Tuition Increases
The compact would also impose limits on international enrollment, capping it at 15% of a university’s undergraduate population, with no more than 5% coming from a single country. According to federal data, most invited universities already fall below the threshold, though Dartmouth and USC enroll about 14% international students.
Colleges that sign would also face tuition restrictions. Institutions with endowments exceeding $2 million per undergraduate would be prohibited from charging tuition to U.S. students pursuing degrees in the physical sciences, and all participants would be required to freeze tuition for domestic students for five years.
Requirements to Promote Ideological Diversity
The agreement calls for universities to create what it describes as a “vibrant marketplace of ideas,” ensuring that no single ideology dominates campus life. It instructs universities to review faculty and student views to verify ideological balance and to “transform or abolish institutional units that punish or marginalize conservative ideas.”
The compact also includes provisions responding to the campus protests that erupted nationwide last year over the Israel-Hamas conflict. It asks universities to prevent disruptions to classes and campus libraries and to ensure demonstrators do not interfere with other students.
Critics Warn of Political Overreach
Free speech and civil liberties groups have denounced the compact as a threat to constitutional rights. Larry Summers, a former Treasury secretary and Harvard president, said he supports reform in higher education but called the administration’s approach “ill conceived and counterproductive.”
“This is like trying to fix a watch with a hammer,” Summers said. “The backlash against its crudity will likely set back necessary reform efforts.”
The agreement states that universities that violate the compact’s terms would lose access to its benefits for at least one year, with repeated violations triggering longer suspensions. Enforcement would be overseen by the Justice Department.
“Institutions of higher education are free to develop other models,” the compact says, “if the institution elects to forego federal benefits.”
Next Steps
The White House has not said whether it intends to publish the full compact publicly or whether additional universities will receive the same offer. Officials said the goal is to “strengthen fairness and accountability” in higher education, though critics say the proposal risks politicizing campus governance.
Universities are expected to submit comments or intentions to sign by late November, setting up a potential clash between federal and state governments — and reigniting the long-running debate over academic freedom in America’s universities.
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The White House is asking elite universities to sign a new compact adopting Trump’s higher education priorities in exchange for expanded federal funding.
