In a turn of events that underscores the ongoing tensions between the Trump administration and institutions of higher education, MIT President Sally Kornbluth announced her firm opposition to a new White House proposal. The proposal asks MIT and eight other universities to align themselves with President Trump's political agenda in order to secure favorable federal funding, which Kornbluth described as 'untenable'.
'Our commitment to academic independence and free speech is non-negotiable,' she stated in a letter addressing Education Secretary Linda McMahon. 'The conditions set forth in the proposal would undermine the very foundation of scientific inquiry and educational integrity,' she added, highlighting that funding should be merit-based, not politically driven.
This educational compact emphasizes requirements including freezing tuition rates for U.S. students, reinstating standardized testing for admissions, and advocating conservative viewpoints on campus—a move that has drawn sharp criticism from numerous academic leaders.
Other institutions invited to join the compact include the University of Pennsylvania, Vanderbilt, and USC among others. Yet, many schools have remained silent, grappling with the implications of such an agreement amidst pressure from faculty and student bodies. The mayor of Tucson, Arizona, formally opposed the compact, calling it an 'excessive federal intrusion into local education'.
Kornbluth's position represents a growing sentiment among higher education leaders, many of whom view the compact as a veiled attempt to impose political ideology on academic environments. 'We select our values based on what is right, not what is politically expedient,' she stated, affirming MIT's commitment to educational excellence and equity.
