Universities Reject Trump’s Education Compact Amidst Growing Dissent

The Trump administration has issued a 'Compact for Academic Excellence' to nine colleges, requiring them to adopt policies such as banning transgender students from restrooms and sports aligning with their gender, freezing tuition, limiting international students, and requiring standardized tests, in exchange for federal funds. Most schools have declined to sign, citing disagreements with the principles and concerns over academic integrity. The White House has held discussions with some institutions, but key universities like UVA and Dartmouth have also refused to sign, emphasizing the importance of merit-based funding and academic independence.