The Massachusetts Institute of Technology on Friday became the first school to reject an offer of federal funds in exchange for agreeing to the Trump administration’s education agenda.
MIT disagreed with a number of aspects of the administration’s proposal, which was sent to nine major universities last week, arguing that it would restrict the university’s freedom of expression and independence, Sally Kornbluth, president of the Cambridge-based school, wrote in a letter Friday to the Department of Education.
“In our view, America’s leadership in science and innovation depends on independent thinking and open competition for excellence. In that free marketplace of ideas, the people of MIT gladly compete with the very best, without preferences,” Kornbluth wrote. “Therefore, with respect, we cannot support the proposed approach to addressing the issues facing higher education.”
The Department of Education did not immediately respond to NBC News’ request for comment.
The compact asked the nine schools to agree to a set of conditions such as barring transgender people from using restrooms or playing in sports that align with their gender identities and capping international undergraduate student enrollment.
“Signatories pledge to select those foreign students on the basis of demonstrably extraordinary talent, rather than on the basis of financial advantage to the university; to screen out students who demonstrate hostility to the United States, its allies, or its values; and to provide instruction in American civics to all foreign students,” the memo about the compact said.
Signers would be required to freeze tuition rates charged to American students for the next five years, among other conditions, according to the memo. In return, the schools would be given a “competitive advantage,” including priority for grants and invitations to White House events and discussions with officials, a White House official said in a statement.
In her letter, Kornbluth wrote that MIT “meets or exceeds” many of the standards in the compact. She wrote that the university already rewards merit and practices need-blind admissions in which those with fewer financial resources are not disadvantaged in the admissions process. The school also values freedom of expression, Kornbluth wrote.
“We must hear facts and opinions we don’t like — and engage respectfully with those with whom we disagree,” she acknowledged, but adding that the school does not align with all aspects of the proposal.
“Fundamentally, the premise of the document is inconsistent with our core belief that scientific funding should be based on scientific merit alone,” she said.
Most of the nine schools — including Vanderbilt University, the University of Pennsylvania, Dartmouth College, the University of Southern California, the University of Texas, the University of Arizona, Brown University and the University of Virginia — are currently still reviewing the compact. Among them, the University of Texas appeared to respond positively to the proposal.
“Today we welcome the new opportunity presented to us and we look forward to working with the Trump Administration on it,” Kevin P. Eltife, U.T. System Board of Regents Chairman, said in a statement last week.
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