Andy Thomason

In this discussion, Andy Thomason, assistant managing editor at The Chronicle of Higher Education, delves into Barack Obama's call for college leaders to prioritize academic independence. They explore the potential impacts of the Trump administration's 'Compact for Academic Excellence,' which conditions funding on compliance with strict policies. The conversation examines how institutions like MIT resist political pressure while others, such as Columbia, yield under financial duress. The balancing act between personal risk and institutional survival takes center stage as they highlight the future of academic integrity.