University of Arizona Declines Trump Higher Education Compact Amid National Rejections

The University of Arizona declined to sign the Trump administration's proposed Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education, joining six other elite institutions in rejecting the compact as written. President Suresh Garimella emphasized the university's commitment to academic freedom, institutional independence, and merit-based research funding, submitting instead a "Statement of Principles" to the U.S. Department of Education that reaffirmed existing policies on admissions, nondiscrimination, and financial responsibility. The compact, which tied federal funding preferences to policy changes including restrictions on diversity hiring and caps on international student enrollment, was widely criticized for politicizing research priorities and threatening university autonomy. Despite rejecting the compact, Garimella expressed openness to constructive dialogue with the federal government to maintain a strong relationship while upholding core university principles. The administration's approach marked a new tactic in pressuring universities, following previous attempts to withhold federal funds over cultural and political disputes. The decision came after extensive campus discussions, including opposition votes by the faculty senate and protests by students and alumni.