QuickTake:

The university said it did not receive formal communications about the compact and will make any decisions about federal initiatives based on the university’s values. The compact would, if agreed to and enforced, force universities to get rid of departments that “belittle” or threaten conservatives, limit numbers of international students and only recognize two genders.

The University of Oregon is not making a statement in support or against President Trump’s higher education compact. Angela Seydel, UO director of issues management, said the federal government has not formally contacted the university about the Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education. 

“The university remains committed to its values of academic excellence, integrity, and the free exchange of ideas, and we continue to evaluate all federal initiatives in that context,” Seydel said.

The compact would require universities to do many things, including limiting the number of international students to 15% of enrollment, acknowledging only two genders, “recognize that academic freedom is not absolute,” and eliminating departments that “purposefully punish, belittle, and even spark violence against conservative ideas.”

Seven out of the nine universities the Trump administration formally offered the compact to, Oct. 1, said no. The universities have until Nov. 21 to make a decision and no college has agreed to the compact.

Colleges were encouraged to give feedback before Oct. 20, and a new version of the document will be sent out in November in response to the feedback. President Trump informally opened the offer to all higher education institutions in his Oct. 12 Truth Social post.

Institutions that agree to the compact will receive “substantial and meaningful federal grants” as a reward, according to a cover letter to the pact.

Those who agree to the compact but fail to follow it will be punished.

“Institutions of higher education are free to develop models and values other than those below, if the institution elects to forego federal benefits,” the pact states. 

Associations, including the American Association of Colleges and Universities, have written letters against the compact, which many college presidents have endorsed. Oregon president Karl Scholz did not endorse the AACU letter.

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Lilly is a graduate of Indiana University and has worked as a journalist at the Indianapolis Star and in Burlington, Vermont, as well as working as a foreign language teacher in France. She covers education and children's issues for Lookout Eugene-Springfield.