Penn Stands Firm: Why the University Rejected Trump's Higher Education Compact

The University of Pennsylvania made a bold move by rejecting a proposal from the Trump administration aimed at reshaping higher education. This wasn't an easy decision. The university's president, J. Larry Jameson, explained that while Penn agrees with some parts of the compact, many aspects would clash with the school's mission and values. The compact, called the "Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education, " was the Trump administration's way of pushing universities to adopt specific policies. In exchange for signing, schools would get preferential treatment for federal funding. But Penn wasn't having it. Jameson pointed out that the compact could undermine the university's ability to serve both its students and the nation. Penn isn't alone in its stance. Other prestigious schools, like MIT and Brown University, have also turned down the compact. Jameson highlighted that Penn already follows many of the compact's principles, such as merit-based admissions and compliance with federal regulations. However, he raised serious concerns about the compact's lack of emphasis on academic freedom and its attempt to protect only conservative viewpoints. One of the biggest issues for Penn is the compact's requirement for schools to freeze tuition for five years. While Penn has taken steps to make education more affordable, like offering need-based grants, the university believes that setting tuition policies should be left to individual schools. Jameson also criticized the compact's vague penalties for non-compliance, which he said could jeopardize teaching and research. Jameson made it clear that Penn's primary commitment is to the public. He emphasized that universities already have a compact with the American people, built on open exchange of ideas, merit-based achievement, and the pursuit of knowledge for the public good. He argued that competition and performance, not signing a compact, should determine federal funding. The decision to reject the compact comes amid growing scrutiny of universities' relationships with the federal government. Penn has been in the spotlight recently after reaching an agreement with the Education Department over the participation of a transgender athlete on the women's swim team. This has raised questions about how universities balance their values with federal expectations.