The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has officially rejected a federal funding proposal that the U.S. Department of Education introduced recently. The compact, termed the “Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education,” requires educational institutions to enforce several controversial measures, including monitoring foreign students for potential hostility towards the United States and reporting disciplinary records to federal authorities.
The short, posted on a Friday, establishes an unambiguous precedent. Institutions need to limit their undergrad population of international students to no more than 15% of their total undergrad population. In addition to those requirements, it requires that no more than 5% of the international student population be from one country. These far-reaching provisions have caused deep alarm among academic leaders about how they will undermine the freedom to teach and learn in diverse ways.
In a letter addressed to Education Secretary Linda McMahon, MIT President Sally Kornbluth articulated the institution’s reasons for rejecting the proposal. She argued that the compact asks for principles that are directly opposite to MIT’s fundamental ideals. This is especially the case for the values associated with freedom of expression and institutional independence.
“We freely choose these values because they’re right, and we live by them because they support our mission,” – Sally Kornbluth
As Kornbluth pointed out, MIT has already been using standardized tests in its admissions process. The university has been committed to creating an environment supportive of free speech across campus. Today, international students represent close to a tenth of MIT’s student body. This indicates that the university prioritizes a robust, diverse, and inclusive academic environment over the impositions detailed in the compact.
California’s Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom is as categorical a rejectionist of the compact as one can find. He goes on to threaten that any local university that takes the deal will suffer disastrous fiscal repercussions. He ominously threatened that any California university that agrees to this radical pact will immediately forfeit billions in state funding. This entire loss weighs heavily on Cal Grants. Newsom’s statement speaks to a growing desire among state leaders to preserve and protect the value of academic freedom and academic integrity.
In her remarks, Kornbluth largely doubled down on MIT’s position. He continued to oppose the compact’s central premise because it contradicts their conviction that funding for science should be awarded only on scientific merit.
“And fundamentally, the premise of the document is inconsistent with our core belief that scientific funding should be based on scientific merit alone,” – Sally Kornbluth
She emphasized that America’s leadership in science and innovation relies on independent thinking and open competition for excellence, reinforcing MIT’s commitment to these principles.
“In our view, America’s leadership in science and innovation depends on independent thinking and open competition for excellence… Therefore, with respect, we cannot support the proposed approach to addressing the issues facing higher education,” – Sally Kornbluth
