The Trump administration continues with its agenda to shape higher education in the United States.
Its plan is to exert increasing control over both public and private universities.
This month alone, it asked nine universities, including Vanderbilt, the University of Pennsylvania, Dartmouth, and others, to sign a “Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education” in exchange for more favorable access to federal funds.
The document asks the schools to commit to the White House’s vision on issues including admission, free speech, college affordability, and other topics, a vision communicated in both public speaking appearances as well as a number of executive orders and other memos issued since President Donald Trump retook office in January.
He’s complained about antisemitism on campuses, of gender- and race-based course offerings, even communist indoctrination.
There is a growing fear among student bodies nationwide that this is just the beginning and there will be, as Evan Bowman with the group Higher Education Labor United put it, “escalation in this administration’s continuous attacks on higher education.”
The president is using the power of money to force change by withholding billions in research funding and clamping down on international student visas. There are increasing questions about its legality and the impact on academic freedom.
Princeton University professor Khalil Gibran Muhammad joins me on this week’s Politics & Power to discuss the impact on the university system and student population.
This week’s “Politics & Power” episode streams at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. Tuesday on News4JAX+ or watch any time on demand on News4JAX.com, News4JAX+ and our YouTube Channel.