More than 575 Dartmouth College faculty members have signed a petition opposing the Trump administration’s Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education, claiming it poses a threat to academic freedom. The pact, introduced to improve accountability and restore merit-based standards in universities receiving federal funds, has sparked backlash from faculty who view the proposal as excessive federal involvement in campus governance.
The compact offers financial incentives to institutions that commit to policies promoting transparency, viewpoint diversity, and equal opportunity in admissions and hiring. It also encourages schools to avoid discriminatory practices based on race or sex and to prioritize academic rigor over ideological programming. Faculty critics, however, described the initiative as “fascist” and accused the administration of undermining higher education’s independence.
According to the petition, the compact would influence core areas such as tuition, research, faculty hiring, grading, and student admissions. One professor claimed it was an “egregious attack on First Amendment rights,” while others warned it would discourage international student enrollment.
Dartmouth President Sian Leah Beilock affirmed the college’s commitment to academic freedom, stating Dartmouth would not compromise its internal governance. Despite the opposition, the compact’s supporters argue that taxpayer-funded institutions should meet clear standards to ensure fairness, excellence, and constitutional protections in academic environments.
The initiative reflects broader concerns over ideological bias in higher education, particularly regarding the exclusion of conservative viewpoints and the erosion of merit-based advancement. Advocates contend the pact restores balance by reaffirming constitutional values, academic accountability, and institutional neutrality in political and social matters.
This policy debate centers on whether publicly funded universities should uphold national principles such as nondiscrimination, free speech, and institutional transparency, especially when federal dollars are involved. The compact aims to realign higher education with those priorities, while opponents frame it as a top-down imposition on campus autonomy.
