Brown University Declines Federal Compact Over Academic Autonomy Concerns.pdf

Brown University declines a federal compact to safeguard its academic freedom, highlighting Brown University academic autonomy.

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​​Source: Bloomberg
Key Points:
●​Brown rejects federal compact over academic freedom.
●​Stresses academic autonomy and faculty-led governance.
●​Sparks debate on federal oversight in universities.
Brown University has declined to sign a proposed federal compact that would have required
policy changes in exchange for preferential access to research funding, citing concerns over
Brown University academic autonomy. The decision was outlined in a letter sent Wednesday by
Brown President Christina Paxson to Education Secretary Linda McMahon and White House
aides May Mailman and Vincent Haley.
University Cites Academic Independence

2. In the letter, Paxson expressed concern that accepting the “Compact for Academic Excellence in
Higher Education” could restrict academic freedom and affect institutional governance. She
emphasized that while Brown remains open to dialogue on improving higher education, the
compact appeared to overstep federal authority in areas such as curriculum design and
academic speech, posing risks to Brown University academic autonomy.
Paxson wrote that the university is “committed to contributing to national conversations about
principles for improving American higher education,” but underscored that Brown’s academic
mission must remain guided by faculty expertise and independent governance rather than
external mandates.
The compact, introduced earlier this month, was sent to nine major universities, including the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Vanderbilt University, Dartmouth College, the
University of Pennsylvania, the University of Southern California, the University of Texas at
Austin, the University of Arizona, and the University of Virginia.
The proposal outlined ten policy requirements for participating institutions. These included
freezing tuition for five years, expanding opportunities for military service members, promoting
open academic debate, and setting limits on international student enrollment. In return,
institutions would receive priority access to federal research funding opportunities.
MIT and Other Universities Respond
MIT became the first university to publicly reject the compact last week. Reports indicate that the
administration has since extended the proposal to other higher education institutions nationwide.
Universities have been reviewing the compact to determine how the proposed conditions align
with their existing academic and administrative policies. Some have raised questions about the
potential impact on institutional autonomy, admissions policies, and campus inclusivity efforts,
reinforcing concerns about Brown University academic autonomy.
Brown’s Recent Federal Agreements
Earlier this year, Brown reached a separate agreement with the federal government to resolve
antidiscrimination investigations and restore $500 million in research funding. Under that
arrangement, the university committed to several actions, including investments in workforce
development, maintaining sex-based athletic facilities, and upholding merit-based admissions
policies.
In her latest statement, Paxson reaffirmed Brown’s stance on “equality of opportunity in
admissions and hiring,” emphasizing the importance of maintaining a respectful and inclusive
campus environment while protecting Brown University academic autonomy.
Student and Campus Reactions
The student organization Brown Rise Up, which had campaigned against the compact, described
the university’s decision as “a major win” for the campus community. In a post shared on social

3. media, the group encouraged continued engagement from students, faculty, and alumni in
supporting academic independence and student representation.
Across higher education, the situation has sparked renewed discussion on the balance between
federal oversight and university autonomy, particularly regarding funding structures, admissions
policies, and freedom of academic inquiry.
As of now, Brown University maintains that it will continue collaborating with government partners
to advance higher education goals, but only in ways that preserve its institutional integrity and
Brown University academic autonomy.