In 2025 the U.S. Department of Education under the Trump administration circulated a proposal called the 'Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education' that tied preferential access to federal grants to colleges' agreement to a list of policy commitments.
October 20, 2025
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policy
Describes the nature of a federal policy proposal linking grant priority to institutional commitments.
The Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education is a proposed agreement that would ask colleges to conform to standards around admissions, hiring, and student life in exchange for preferential access to federal funds.
January 01, 2025
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policy
Description of the content and purpose of a proposed higher-education agreement.
The compact proposal offered universities that sign on substantial federal grants and other positive federal benefits as incentives for adopting the proposed reforms.
high
policy
Explains the incentive mechanism described by the proposal linking federal financial benefits to institutional compliance with specified reforms.
The compact would offer universities that agreed priority for federal grants and invitations to White House events as incentives for compliance.
high
policy
Incentives described as part of the compact for participating institutions.