College Matters from The Chronicle Trump’s ‘Compact’ Is Freaking People Out
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Oct 8, 2025 In this discussion, Sarah Brown, a Senior Editor at The Chronicle of Higher Education, breaks down the Trump administration's proposed compact, which seeks to reshape federal-higher education relations. Key points include bans on race-conscious admissions, caps on international student enrollment, and mandates to eliminate departments that challenge conservative views. Sarah also addresses higher education's historical independence, current tensions in campus politics, and the potential implications for academic freedom. The compact raises significant questions about the future of American higher education.
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Administration Seeks To Reshape Federal-University Compact
- The compact is an attempt by the Trump administration to reshape its long-standing federal relationship with higher education.
- It bundles admissions, hiring, discipline, and speech demands into a single document for elite universities to accept or face consequences.
Compact Repackages Known Policy Demands
- The compact repeats the administration's highest-priority asks: cap international undergraduates and ban race-conscious practices beyond admissions.
- It extends Supreme Court rulings into areas like scholarships and campus programs via the administration's interpretation.
Voluntary In Name, Coercive In Practice
- The White House calls the compact voluntary but its language suggests steep penalties for noncompliance tied to federal benefits.
- That creates pressure: refusal could mean losing critical government funds and competitive advantages.