University President Christopher Eisgruber ’83 spoke out against the Trump administration’s higher education compact in a LinkedIn post on Oct. 10, calling the proposed agreement on university funding “a dangerous step in the wrong direction.”
“It should be withdrawn, and we should work together to find better ways to strengthen the research enterprise on which America so vitally depends,” Eisgruber wrote.
He also thanked the presidents of the Association of American Universities (AAU), and the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) for opposing the compact, which was sent to nine universities, including Brown, Dartmouth, and the University of Pennsylvania in early October.
Universities that accept the compact would be granted preferential access to federal funding in exchange for agreeing to a comprehensive vision for the Trump administration’s educational priorities. So far, seven of the nine universities initially approached have refused.
The compact seeks to upend Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) admissions practices, define gender “according to reproductive function and biological processes,” and establish a 15 percent cap on international student enrollment. Among other demands is the pursuit of a “vibrant marketplace of ideas” with a requirement to dismantle programs that “punish, belittle, and … spark violence against conservative ideas.”
Universities are considering the compact amid a broader pattern of concessions to federal directives targeting higher education institutions, including from Brown and UPenn — both of whom have rejected the compact. Most recently, the Texas Tech University system directed faculty to limit academic discussions of gender in the classroom, citing a Trump administration executive order.
Under the compact, universities would be subject to an annual determination of compliance, subject to review by the Department of Justice. Institutions accepting the compact’s terms would receive preferential consideration for federal research funds. “Institutions of higher education are free to develop models and values other than those below, if the institution elects to forgo federal benefits,” the compact also reads.
In statements, the AAU and AAC&U agreed with the compact that “American higher education is the envy of the world.” However, the AAU statement attributed this success to “the independence of … colleges and universities” while the AAC&U statement emphasized a “commitment to academic freedom.” Both associations described the historic and continued importance of the relationship between American higher education and the federal government.
Eisgruber is the chair of the AAU Board of Directors, sometimes also acting as spokesperson, particularly on issues related to federal policies impacting universities.
Echoing the AAU and AAC&U statements in his LinkedIn post, Eisgruber affirmed his alignment with many of the “general principles” outlined in the compact, welcoming “opportunities to work with the Trump administration” to strengthen university-federal partnerships.
However, in an interview with Fareed Zakaria on CNN’s Global Public Square last week about his new book “Terms of Respect,” Eisgruber criticized the compact for infringing on universities’ right to decide what to teach.
“[The compact] is an example of using federal funds to try to control what it is universities are doing or teaching,” he said. “It’s going to erode the quality of the research and it’s going to erode academic freedom.”
In response to questions about DEI hiring practices and “very left-wing” course content at universities, Eisgruber spoke to his own context as the University’s president, describing a “relentless emphasis on excellence” he views as integral to Princeton’s hiring model.
“We bring talented people to the campus and we turn them loose,” he said.
Kian Petlin is a staff News writer for the ‘Prince.’ He is from San Francisco, Calif. and typically covers campus events and student life.
Please send any corrections to corrections[at]dailyprincetonian.com.
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