The Trump administration has discovered that promoting political diversity at some of the top universities in the U.S. will be a significant challenge, even with priority funding offered to these institutions.
This past weekend, Dartmouth College, similar to the University of Virginia (UVA), turned down a Trump administration plan to prioritize funding in exchange for commitments to review or dismantle departments that oppose conservative perspectives.
UVA and Dartmouth are among the elite schools included in a proposal the government initiated called the Agreement on Academic Excellence in Higher Education.
Besides Dartmouth and UVA, other institutions such as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Brown University, the University of Pennsylvania, and the University of Southern California have also declined the proposal.
Reportedly, only three universities remain undecided about the offer: Vanderbilt University, the University of Arizona, and the University of Texas at Austin.
In a correspondence to Education Secretary Linda McMahon and Dartmouth College President Xian-Lee Beilock, it was expressed, “I don’t believe that government intervention through agreements, irrespective of the political party in the White House, is the right avenue to ensure our foremost universities stay dedicated to their educational and research goals.”
The proposed terms include prohibiting considerations of race, gender, and religion in the admissions process, freezing tuition for a five-year period, limiting undergraduate admissions of international students to 15%, and mandating entrance exam requirements like the SAT.
The agreement also emphasizes restoring order on campuses that have faced disruptions, particularly during events featuring conservative speakers and recent anti-Israel protests. In relation to this, the agreement specifies:
Universities must not endorse or allow disruptions through intimidation or vandalism, ensuring that actions which hinder classes or library functions do not occur. Furthermore, demonstrations should not impede access based on a student’s race, ethnicity, national origin, or religion.
UVA’s interim president Paul Mahoney noted to McMahon that while the university agrees with many ideas in the agreement, it “is not seeking special treatment” in its pursuit of a dynamic exchange of ideas and fair treatment for all students.
Other universities from various regions also opted against the Compact. Some administrative officials mentioned that funding should rely on “scientific merit” instead of federal approval.
The most dramatic disapproval came from Governor Gavin Newsom (D-Calif.), who threatened to withdraw state funding from California universities that consented to the deal. His statement, characterized by an all-caps warning typical of social media, highlighted the stakes.
“If the University of California signs this radical agreement, it will lose billions in state funds, including UC grants. California will not support institutions that compromise students, faculty, and researchers while neglecting academic integrity,” the governor declared.
