University of Arizona becomes 6th out of 9 to reject Trump-era research compact

The University of Arizona has formally rejected the Trump administration’s proposed “Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education,” making it the sixth institution out of nine invited universities to do so.

UA President Suresh Garimella confirmed the decision in a letter to US Education Secretary Linda McMahon, citing the need to protect academic freedom, institutional independence, and merit-based research funding.The compact, issued under US President Donald Trump, links priority access to federal research funding to adherence to a set of policy requirements. These include tuition freezes, caps on international enrolment, and restrictions on university speech related to societal and political matters.

The deadline to provide feedback was October 20, with a final decision deadline of November 21.Proposal ties funding to policy complianceAccording to the Arizona Daily Star (tucson.com), the Trump administration’s 10-page compact proposes federal funding incentives for universities that commit to banning the use of race or gender in admissions and hiring, freezing tuition for five years, and capping international undergraduate enrolment at 15%.

It also includes measures to abolish units perceived as critical of “conservative” ideologies and restrict faculty and staff from commenting on political or societal issues unless directly tied to the university.President Garimella, in his letter to Secretary McMahon, stated, “A federal research funding system based on anything other than merit would weaken the world’s preeminent engine for innovation.” He further wrote, “We seek no special treatment and believe in our ability to compete for federally funded research strictly on merit,” as reported by the Arizona Daily Star (tucson.com).Statement of principles submitted insteadInstead of signing the compact, the University of Arizona submitted a Statement of Principles to the US Department of Education. This document reaffirms the institution’s commitment to academic freedom, equal treatment, and merit-based excellence. In a message to the university community, Garimella noted that while some elements of the compact merit consideration, key foundational principles must be upheld.The Arizona Board of Regents, which oversees the state’s public universities, met with Garimella in a closed session prior to the decision. Regents Chair Doug Goodyear later expressed full support, stating in a written statement, “The board is committed to protecting the values of Arizona higher education — most importantly academic freedom, institutional independence and merit-based research,” as quoted by the Arizona Daily Star (tucson.com).Widespread faculty and community oppositionAccording to the Arizona Daily Star (tucson.com), opposition to the compact came from UA faculty, student government, the Tucson City Council, and the Pima County Board of Supervisors. Faculty members submitted a 20-page letter advising rejection. Professor Lynn Nadel said faculty leaders were “grateful” for Garimella’s decision, praising his emphasis on merit.Other faculty members, including Professors Keith Maggert, Melanie Hingle, Danny Clifford, Lucy Ziurys, and Nolan Cabrera, also voiced support for the decision, highlighting concerns over free expression, research integrity, and political interference, as reported by the Arizona Daily Star (tucson.com).Mixed political reactions across ArizonaArizona Governor Katie Hobbs, a Democrat, expressed reservations about the compact but left the final decision to the regents.

Meanwhile, Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen, a Republican, encouraged Garimella to accept what he described as an “incredible opportunity” to bring in additional federal resources, according to the Arizona Daily Star (tucson.com).National trend of rejections continuesThe University of Arizona joins five other institutions — the University of Virginia, the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Southern California, Brown University, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology — that have rejected the compact. Dartmouth has signalled disapproval but has not formally rejected the plan. In contrast, some university regents in Texas have expressed enthusiasm for the proposal.