On Oct. 1, the Trump administration sent a compact to nine universities inviting them to adopt conservative ideologies and policies, pertaining to things such as student loans, federal contracts, funding for research, approval of student visas and more, to get priority access to federal funding.
The 10-page “Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education” document states that universities that do not comply with its terms will “forego federal benefits.”
The compact outlines changes in several areas such as admissions, student equality, foreign entanglement, and more.
In the section on admissions, the Trump administration directs universities to require SAT or ACT scores as part of the admissions process.
SHU currently does not require SAT or ACT scores upon admission. According to its test-optional policy, the university “acknowledg[es] that standardized tests are not always the best indicator of student performance.”
[Being test-optional] is another way to support students through the application process,” SHU added.
The admissions office did not respond to a request for comment on whether this policy will be changed at SHU in response to the compact.
The compact also directs universities not to consider sex, ethnicity, race, nationality, or political or religious views in “any decisions related to undergraduate or graduate student admissions or financial support.” This proposal has raised concern among students.
Soleille Manasse, a sophomore criminal justice major, said she is concerned about the potential impact on campus diversity.
“Diversity is a huge part of what makes college valuable and it provides different perspectives,” Manasse said.
Along with changes to the admissions process, the compact asks universities to accept the government's definition of gender, male and female, and to ensure “immutable characteristics, particularly race, do not permit unequal treatment, including in grading as well as access to buildings, spaces, scholarships, programming, and other university resources.”
SHU’s statement on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) is being upheld. The university says it welcomes diversity and aims to create a community where students “find a place to grow and to flourish.”
“Grounded in Catholic teaching, we affirm the dignity of every person and work to build a community that welcomes authentic diversity, fosters belonging and promotes the common good,” University Relations said in an email to The Setonian.
The compact also proposed that universities cap international student enrollment at 15%.
SHU’s Director of International Student Services, Johanna Pan-Carr, said that the university’s international student population represents 3% of the total student population, which is below the proposed 15% international student enrollment cap.
“The university values the presence of international students, who enrich our campus through their perspectives, experiences, and contributions,” she said. “International diversity is an integral part of Seton Hall’s mission as a Catholic university.”
Although SHU’s current international enrollment is below the proposed cap, some students say the compact sends a troubling message about how international enrollment may be controlled in the future.
Hanna Labanowska, a sophomore public relations major and an international student, said the proposal left her feeling uneasy.
Labanowska is “so happy” to be a student at SHU, she said.
“Being presented with a variety of amazing opportunities, getting to know prominent professionals and experiencing different cultures definitely has had an overwhelming influence on who I am and [who I am] going to be after graduation,” Labanowska said.
She said she feels “sad that some people might get deprived of their opportunity to receive education in the U.S.” because of the compact.
Moreover, Labanowska said international students benefit American universities.
“I believe that the international student body contributes a fantastic capital to every space they are in, starting in a classroom,” Labanowska said. “Dedicating our lives to coming here, we are goal-oriented, focused, and grateful.”
As a student who took the SAT, met GPA requirements, and said she even took the Duolingo English test, Labanowska said she was recruited based on her athletic abilities and her academic achievements.
Labanowska added that international students already undergo extensive government screening, including visa requirements and other federal documentation, before being allowed to study in the U.S.
“We are a neatly selected and scrutinized group of students, not a randomized draw,” she said. “Universities that accept our applications notice our aptitude, like they notice it in every other student, and want to help us evolve to our highest potential.”
Additionally, the compact asked universities to transform or abolish “institutional units that purposefully punish, belittle, and even spark violence against conservative ideas.”
Labanowska believes that universities should encourage freedom of expression and take on an independent role in society, not being held to a “majority opinion” that greatly affects a small group of people.
“Higher education not only supplies students with specialized knowledge and a degree, but also plays a substantial role in maturing and shaping young people,” Labanowska said.
Some students expressed concern that the compact blurs the traditional boundaries between the federal government and education.
“This proposal left me with an impression that its main aim is to highlight the symbiotic relationship between universities and the government,” Labanowska said. “To me, it seems to be almost a warning that if universities do not subject themselves to the stipulations, they will fail to receive the government’s financial support.”
Manasse echoed Labanowska's concerns.
“I’m concerned because I feel like politics are mixing too much with education,” Manasse said. “It’s definitely an attempt to control universities…schools should have the freedom to make their own decisions without being pressured to fit a political agenda.”
Manasse also said they believe that the compact negatively affects the independence of universities.
“It takes away the independence universities need to make the best choices for their communities and students,” Manasse said. “Instead of helping education, it’s aiding politicians.”
Keyli Ramirez, a junior physics and engineering major, said while she believes some of the portions of the compact seem positive, like keeping tuition affordable and encouraging diverse perspectives, she believes those goals can be achieved without government threats or restrictions.
“Once funding becomes conditional on political approval, universities risk losing their independence and credibility as spaces for truth and learning,” Ramirez said. “It replaces collaboration with control and that’s bad news for higher education as a whole.”
None of the nine institutions that were sent the compact have formally accepted it.
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) was the first to reject the compact. Brown University, the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Southern California and the University of Virginia followed suit.
While the institution has not formally accepted the compact, the University of Texas (UT) at Austin was the only institution to welcome the compact upon receipt.
“We enthusiastically look forward to engaging with university officials and reviewing the compact immediately,” Kevin Eltife, the chairman of the UT System Board of Regents, said in a letter responding to the compact, according to Texas AFT.
The five universities that did not decide on the compact were invited to a meeting with President Trump on Friday.
On X, Education Secretary Linda McMahon said the meeting was “an important step toward defining a shared vision.”
The University of Arizona rejected the compact on Monday, only days after the meeting. Vanderbilt University and UT have not formally accepted nor denied the compact.
Lakyn Austin is the head editor for The Setonian’s Features section. She can be reached at lakyn.austin@student.shu.edu.
