Brown University Declines Federal Compact Over Academic Autonomy Concerns

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

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 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.