Brown University has rejected the Trump administration’s Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education, which offers preferential federal funding in exchange for policy changes like banning diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs and capping international student enrollment. Following the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s lead last week, Brown becomes the second major institution to rebuff the proposal, prioritizing academic freedom and institutional autonomy.

In a Wednesday letter to administration officials, Brown President Christina H. Paxson stated that the compact “would restrict academic freedom and undermine the autonomy of Brown’s governance.” Echoing MIT President Sally A. Kornbluth’s concerns, Paxson criticized the compact for jeopardizing merit-based research grant processes. The compact, initially offered to nine universities on October 1, was recently extended to all U.S. colleges, though the other seven invited institutions have yet to respond publicly.

The White House defends the compact as a step toward “restoring academic excellence and common sense,” with spokesperson Liz Huston claiming participation would “positively shape America’s future.” However, President Trump has warned that non-compliant universities may face federal investigations, though the impact on research grants or student aid remains unclear. Brown’s decision comes despite a July agreement with the administration to restore significant research funding, which Paxson said included safeguards for academic independence that the compact violates.

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Facing pressure from its community, especially after MIT’s rejection, Paxson noted her decision “aligns with the views of the vast majority of Brown stakeholders.” The move signals growing resistance among leading universities to perceived federal overreach, potentially influencing other institutions’ responses to the compact.

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