The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is rejecting a Trump Administration proposal to realign university priorities in exchange for preferential treatment for federal funding. MIT will become the first of nine schools that were sent the federal proposal to turn the offer down.
MIT President Sally Kornbluth sent a letter Friday to the Education Department affirming the university’s stance on the federal proposal. In this letter, Kornbluth expressed that MIT disagreed with several aspects of the proposal, stating that the university strives for freedom when deciding on science, innovation and admissions.
Last week, the Trump Administration issued a 10-point compact to nine universities around the nation, including schools in California, Texas, Virginia and Massachusetts, among others. The compact represents the latest action by the Trump Administration to exert federal control over public state universities, seeking to realign university priorities with that of the White House.
The compact outlines several criteria for universities to implement for preferential federal funding opportunities. Among these criteria, universities would place a cap on international student enrollment, which has already been falling following the cancellation of thousands of student visas. Standards for accepting international students are slated to drastically increase through stricter vetting procedures.
Schools would also be required to adopt a stance on gender identity, recognizing only two valid genders. The letter includes a request to eliminate departments that have been alleged to spark violence against conservative ideas. Staff would also be prohibited from expressing political views while representing the universities they are employed by.
As part of the federal government’s focus on removing in-place DEI policies across all levels of government, universities have been asked to ban the consideration of race and gender during the hiring and admissions processes.
Additional points outlined in the letter would require the universities to:
- Refrain from inflating or deflating grades.
- Ensure applicants take the SAT or a similar test.
- Institute a five-year tuition freeze.
- Change governance structures and responsibilities.
Following the university’s letter, MIT will become the first of the nine selected schools to decline the Trump Administration’s offer. While universities consider the compact and funding treatment, there will likely be additional announcements for other universities in the coming weeks.
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