UT Austin: Reject the Compact and Preserve Free Education
UT Austin: Reject the Compact and Preserve Free Education
The Issue
On October 1st, Donald Trump proposed the Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education to several institutions of higher education across the US, including the University of Texas at Austin. The compact would confer access to federal funds in exchange for agreement to strict demands. In the name of "institutional neutrality," this compact poses a serious risk to our reputation, the quality of our education, and, most importantly, our freedom of speech.
Among the list of provisions are these requirements: a cap on international student enrollment of 15%, abrogation of DEI initiatives in admissions and university hiring, a limit to free speech by "abolishing institutional units that purposefully punish, belittle, and even spark violence against conservative ideas," and the dissolution of race and gender studies coursework.
The defense of UT as a forum of progressive thought and unbridled education is of utmost importance, and the federal government has no place instituting its agenda at our school. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Brown University, the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Southern California, the University of Virginia, Dartmouth College, and the University of Arizona have already rejected the compact in defense of their academic freedom. Inaction now will permanently damage our reputation and prestige as a school, damaging our careers in the process. As students, our education is our responsibility, so it's up to us to voice our concerns to Jim Davis and the Board of Regents.
671
The Issue
On October 1st, Donald Trump proposed the Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education to several institutions of higher education across the US, including the University of Texas at Austin. The compact would confer access to federal funds in exchange for agreement to strict demands. In the name of "institutional neutrality," this compact poses a serious risk to our reputation, the quality of our education, and, most importantly, our freedom of speech.
Among the list of provisions are these requirements: a cap on international student enrollment of 15%, abrogation of DEI initiatives in admissions and university hiring, a limit to free speech by "abolishing institutional units that purposefully punish, belittle, and even spark violence against conservative ideas," and the dissolution of race and gender studies coursework.
The defense of UT as a forum of progressive thought and unbridled education is of utmost importance, and the federal government has no place instituting its agenda at our school. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Brown University, the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Southern California, the University of Virginia, Dartmouth College, and the University of Arizona have already rejected the compact in defense of their academic freedom. Inaction now will permanently damage our reputation and prestige as a school, damaging our careers in the process. As students, our education is our responsibility, so it's up to us to voice our concerns to Jim Davis and the Board of Regents.
671
The Decision Makers
Supporter Voices
Petition created on October 17, 2025