The Trump administration sent letters to nine American universities, including MIT and the University of Southern California, in early October, inviting them to join a plan to reshape higher education. By the feedback deadline of October 20, seven universities, including these two, had declined to participate in the program. However, the latest reports from the media indicate that the University of Texas is currently in talks with the White House for a collaboration plan.
Axios News website reported on October 24 that the Trump administration is engaged in closed-door discussions with the University of Texas regarding this matter, with an anonymous White House official stating that “the government is having good discussions”.
The Epoch Times has reached out by email to the University of Texas system board and its Austin branch for confirmation and comment.
On October 1, U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon and officials from the White House jointly sent a letter to the nine universities, inviting them to sign a “Higher Education Academic Excellence Accord” memorandum (click here to see the previous report), committing to prioritize the Trump administration’s initiatives for higher education, including curbing the influence of radical liberalism in university education. Participating universities would receive preferential treatment in federal funding, among other benefits.
Other six universities that received the invitation were Vanderbilt University, Dartmouth College, the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Arizona, Brown University, and the University of Virginia.
MIT was the first among the nine universities to publicly reject the program on October 10. In a letter to Secretary McMahon, MIT President Sally Kornbluth expressed agreement with some concepts in the accord but also disagreement, particularly concerning “restrictions on free speech and on our institutional autonomy”.
Pennsylvania University openly rejected the program in a letter to the Secretary on October 24, expressing similar views to MIT, stating that they “are not seeking additional funding beyond what is fair and merit-based”. The university further mentioned that the accord tilts towards protecting conservative ideals, conflicting with free speech and diversity, which are essential contributions universities make to democracy and society.
Arizona University was the final one among the seven rejecting universities to send a refusal letter on October 20. In the letter, President Suresh Garimella expressed agreement with promoting reforms beneficial to American higher education with the government but disagreed with using federal research funds as a condition for cooperation.
Vanderbilt University President Daniel Diermeier in an email to students and staff on October 24 stated that the school would remain neutral, neither accepting nor rejecting the federal program. He emphasized the school’s commitment to neutrality, avoiding taking political stances unless directly related to their core mission of providing groundbreaking education and research.
Regarding the accord, Secretary McMahon and White House officials held an online discussion with several universities, including some from the nine original invitees, and additional universities on October 17.
Following the meeting, McMahon posted on social media, thanking university presidents and White House officials for engaging in a “positive and broad discussion about the Higher Education Academic Excellence Accord”. She expressed anticipation for ongoing discussions in the coming weeks, emphasizing the importance of reaffirming enduring principles to enhance American universities, build public trust in higher education, and strengthen the country.
President Trump, in a post on True Social on October 19, expressed regret over many American higher education institutions being “engulfed in ‘woke’, socialist, anti-American ideology”. Through the reform agenda in higher education, his administration seeks to swiftly address these issues and correct the situation.