What’s in Trump’s Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education – A Point-by-Point Analysis

Liberals strongly oppose President Trump’s new Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education. Yet, a point-by-point analysis shows the compact is designed to reverse years of DEI and “woke” policies that have stifled free speech and scientific debate on campus.

The compact prioritizes STEM education, requires universities to inform students about salary expectations for different majors, and demands responsible use of university endowments. Institutions with large endowments must provide free education for STEM students, ensuring resources are directed toward academic excellence and real-world outcomes.

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### An Analysis of the Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education

#### 1. Marketplace of Ideas & Academic Freedom
The compact begins with a call for a vibrant marketplace of ideas where no single ideology dominates campus culture. It requires universities to revise governance structures to eliminate departments that suppress or punish conservative views. At the same time, it strengthens protections for academic freedom and prohibits discriminatory or harassing behavior. This principle echoes the historic mission of universities to cultivate intellectual diversity and open inquiry.

#### 2. Non-Discrimination in Hiring and Admissions
The compact prohibits universities from considering sex, ethnicity, race, national origin, disability, or religion in hiring, promotion, or admissions decisions, aligning with Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Title VII already bars employers—including educational institutions—from discriminating in employment based on these characteristics, whether through intentional actions or policies with discriminatory effects. It also covers harassment and requires reasonable accommodations for religious practices unless they cause undue hardship.

Essentially, the compact mirrors these existing requirements, stating that no such factors may be considered in academic, administrative, or staff decisions except where Title VII provides exceptions. It does not impose new rules but demands that universities comply with existing anti-discrimination law.

#### 3. Institutional Neutrality
The compact requires university employees, in their official capacity, to refrain from making statements or taking actions on social and political issues unless those issues directly affect the institution. The intent is to prevent universities from acting as political entities rather than educational institutions, ensuring focus on teaching, research, and open inquiry.

#### 4. Foreign Student Enrollment & Transparency
The compact limits international undergraduate enrollment to 15% of the student body, with no single country exceeding 5%, and requires full disclosure of all direct and indirect foreign funding. China remains a central concern: in 2023/24, it sent about 277,000 students to the U.S., roughly 25% of all international students—though India recently surpassed it as the top sender.

The FBI has identified China as the most severe counterintelligence threat to the United States, with nearly 1,000 open investigations into economic espionage and intellectual property theft, most linked to Chinese actors targeting American universities and research institutions.

This provision also addresses foreign funding transparency. During Trump’s first term, Department of Education investigations found universities had failed to report more than $6.5 billion in foreign gifts and contracts from countries including China, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, despite Section 117 of the Higher Education Act requiring disclosure of amounts over $250,000.

In April 2025, Trump signed an executive order tightening these rules and threatening to withhold federal funding from institutions that fail to disclose foreign support.

#### 5. Grade Integrity
The compact commits to addressing grade inflation and maintaining rigorous standards for student grading.

Grade inflation is a well-documented problem. In the 1960s, the most common grade at American universities was a C. By the 2010s and 2020s, it had shifted to an A. At many elite universities, over 40–50% of grades are now A’s, with average GPAs reported above 3.6 or 3.7.

When too many students receive top marks, grades lose their ability to distinguish exceptional, good, and mediocre performance—devaluing credentials and undermining their signaling function to employers and graduate schools. This trend also contributes to an “everyone gets a trophy” culture, creating a false sense of mastery.

For example, a pre-med student who earns A’s in organic chemistry might still struggle with the MCAT chemistry section because their grades gave them false confidence rather than rigorous preparation.

When students can achieve high marks without exceptional effort, the incentive to push themselves intellectually diminishes, reducing both learning and long-term growth.

#### 6. Tuition Freeze & Affordability
The compact requires schools to freeze tuition for American students for five years, curb grade inflation, and eliminate programs that fail to serve students. Universities with endowments exceeding $2 billion per undergraduate must provide free tuition for students in hard science programs, except those from wealthy families.

This provision achieves the long-discussed goal of free education for STEM students without placing the financial burden on taxpayers, unlike liberal proposals for universal free tuition and loan forgiveness. It also eliminates taxpayer money wasted on programs such as gender studies or general studies that provide little value after graduation.

#### 7. Student Outcomes Transparency
The compact requires universities to publish statistics on average earnings for graduates in each program and to refund tuition to students who withdraw during their first academic term.

These measures address two key problems in higher education:

– **Information asymmetry:** Students often take on huge debts without knowing the real return on their degree.
– **Financial risk:** Those who quickly realize a program is a poor fit lose their entire investment.

By providing earnings data, students can make informed choices rather than blindly entering debt in a trophy culture of inflated grades. By offering refunds, universities share risk and are held accountable to deliver on their promises.

This provision also targets the hypocrisy of wealthy universities hoarding tax-exempt endowments worth billions while still charging families $80,000–$90,000 per year in tuition.

Schools like Harvard, Yale, and Princeton each hold more than $6 million per student in endowment funds yet continue to burden middle-class families with crushing costs—even though their annual endowment gains alone could cover all tuition many times over.

Under the compact, universities with endowments exceeding $2 billion per undergraduate student must provide free tuition for those studying hard science programs, with exceptions for families of substantial means. By prioritizing STEM, this measure addresses both the nation’s urgent need for scientific talent and the injustice of universities functioning as tax-exempt hedge funds rather than fulfilling their educational mission.

#### 8. Gender Policies & Title IX Compliance
The compact commits universities to definitions of sex and gender consistent with the administration’s interpretation, particularly regarding transgender participation in women’s sports and access to facilities.

Compliance will be monitored annually through certifications by senior administrators and anonymous polling of faculty, students, and staff, with reviews conducted by the Department of Justice. Schools found in violation risk losing federal benefits for at least two years.

This provision reinforces legal compliance and traditional academic principles, requiring institutions to uphold Title VII’s ban on considering sex, race, religion, national origin, or disability in hiring, admissions, or promotion decisions.

It also aligns with recent Supreme Court rulings that struck down race-based admissions, ensuring universities conform to established law rather than continuing unconstitutional practices.

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The Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education presents a comprehensive approach aimed at restoring intellectual rigor, transparency, fairness, and fiscal responsibility within American universities. Whether embraced or opposed, these measures spark a crucial conversation about the future of higher education in the United States.
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2025/10/whats-trumps-compact-academic-excellence-higher-education-point/