The University of Arizona has officially turned down the Trump administration’s proposed ‘Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education.’ This makes it the sixth of nine universities invited to reject the initiative. UA President Suresh Garimella formalized the decision in a letter to US Education Secretary Linda McMahon, emphasizing the critical need to safeguard academic freedom, institutional independence, and research funding based purely on merit.
Introduced during US President Donald Trump’s tenure, this compact sought to link priority access to federal research funds with adherence to specific policy mandates. These requirements included tuition freezes, limits on international student enrollment, and restrictions on university faculty and staff speaking out on social and political issues.
Proposal Links Funding to Policy Compliance
According to reports, the Trump administration’s 10-page compact outlined federal funding incentives for universities that agreed to specific terms: prohibiting the consideration of race or gender in admissions and hiring, implementing a five-year tuition freeze, and capping international undergraduate enrollment at 15%. Additionally, it proposed abolishing academic units deemed critical of ‘conservative’ ideologies and curtailing the ability of faculty and staff to comment on political or societal matters unless directly related to their university roles.
President Garimella articulated his institution’s stance to Secretary McMahon, stating, “A federal research funding system based on anything other than merit would weaken the world’s preeminent engine for innovation.” He further asserted, “We seek no special treatment and believe in our ability to compete for federally funded research strictly on merit.”
Statement of Principles Offered Instead
Instead of endorsing the compact, the University of Arizona presented a comprehensive Statement of Principles to the US Department of Education. This document robustly reaffirms the university’s dedication to academic freedom, equitable treatment, and excellence driven by merit. In a message to the wider university community, Garimella acknowledged that while certain aspects of the compact warranted discussion, several core foundational principles could not be compromised.
The Arizona Board of Regents, responsible for overseeing the state’s public universities, convened with President Garimella in a private session before the announcement. Following this, Regents Chair Doug Goodyear issued a statement fully endorsing the university’s decision, underscoring the board’s commitment to protecting the values of Arizona higher education—particularly academic freedom, institutional independence, and research funding awarded on merit.
Widespread Opposition from Faculty and Community
The rejection of the compact was met with strong support from various groups within the UA community and beyond. Faculty members submitted a 20-page letter advocating for the compact’s refusal. Professor Lynn Nadel expressed the faculty leaders’ gratitude for Garimella’s decision, especially commending his focus on merit-based criteria.
Several other faculty members, including Professors Keith Maggert, Melanie Hingle, Danny Clifford, Lucy Ziurys, and Nolan Cabrera, publicly supported the decision, reiterating their deep concerns about potential threats to free expression, the integrity of research, and undue political interference in academic affairs.
Varied Political Responses Across Arizona
Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs, a Democrat, had previously voiced reservations about the compact but ultimately deferred the final decision to the Board of Regents. Conversely, Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen, a Republican, encouraged Garimella to embrace what he termed an “incredible opportunity” to secure additional federal resources for the state’s universities.
National Trend of Rejections Continues
The University of Arizona joins a growing list of prominent institutions—including the University of Virginia, the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Southern California, Brown University, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology—that have also rejected the compact. Dartmouth College has indicated its disapproval, though it has not yet formally rejected the proposal. In contrast, some university regents in Texas have shown considerable interest and enthusiasm for the compact’s terms.