The Trump administration is encouraging leaders at nine universities to sign a compact committing their schools to adopt President Donald Trump's policy agenda for higher education in exchange for preferential access to federal funds.

Administrators at nine prominent universities, both private and public institutions, received an Oct. 1 letter from the White House urging them to sign an expansive 10-page "compact for excellence in higher education."

Resolution criteria

• Each answer (a school name or “Other”) resolves Yes if, by November 21, 2025, the institution publicly signs or formally announces acceptance of the “Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education.” Acceptable evidence: a White House announcement naming signatories or an official university statement/board action posting the signed compact. Partial/conditional acceptances do not count unless the White House lists the school as a signatory. If a school signs and later withdraws, it still resolves Yes. Otherwise resolves No after the November 21 deadline. “Other” resolves Yes if any U.S. college/university not already listed signs by the deadline. Sources to check: White House press releases and each university’s official newsroom. (apnews.com)

Background

• On October 1, 2025, the White House sent the compact to nine universities. Outlets list: Vanderbilt, Dartmouth, University of Pennsylvania, University of Southern California, MIT, University of Texas at Austin, University of Arizona, Brown, and University of Virginia. Note: Several reports name UVA (not Stanford) among the nine. (upi.com)

• Reported terms include: five‑year tuition freeze; cap international undergraduate enrollment at 15%; bans on race/sex considerations in admissions and hiring; adoption of government-defined gender policies; dismantling programs seen as hostile to conservative views; testing requirements. UT System regents chair Kevin Eltife signaled openness to review. (reuters.com)

Considerations

• Political/legal headwinds may deter signings: e.g., California’s governor threatened to cut state funding for any California university that signs (implicating USC). Expect potential litigation over enforceability. (theguardian.com)