The Trump administration proposed to universities – such as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology – the so-called “A Pact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education”. It includes, among others: limiting the number of foreign students, introducing a binary definition of gender and obliging universities to respond with force to protests on campuses. Additionally, universities would have to return federal funds if they violated the terms of the agreement.
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As the BBC explains, the Trump administration's proposal is controversial because it touches the fundamental principles of academic freedom and university independence. The introduction of such regulations could affect the way universities operate, including the recruitment of foreign students and freedom of expression on campuses. MIT, as one of the world's leading universities, is sending a clear signal in defense of its values by rejecting the proposal.
“We freely choose these values because they are right and we live them because they support our mission,” wrote MIT president Sally Kornbluth in a letter to Education Secretary Linda McMahon, quoted by the BBC.
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“The pact contains principles with which we disagree, including those that would limit freedom of speech and our independence as an institution. Fundamentally, the document's premise is inconsistent with our fundamental belief that science funding should be based solely on scientific merit,” added the MIT president.
MIT Rejects Federal Funding Agreement with Trump Administration
The university has previously struggled with federal funding cuts under Trump. In February, the college joined a lawsuit against the administration over funding cuts for health research. Refusal to sign the agreement could result in further cuts, but MIT remains firm in defending its principles.
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Similar proposals have been made to universities such as the University of Arizona, Brown University, the University of Pennsylvania and Dartmouth College. As the BBC notes, California's Democratic governor, Gavin Newsom, has warned that the state will cut off funding to any university that accepts the deal. “California will not fund schools that sell out their students, professors, researchers and give up academic freedom,” emphasized Newsom, whose words were quoted by the BBC.
