St. Augustine’s University Expresses Interest in Trump’s Higher Education Compact
In a significant development, St. Augustine’s University has become the first Historically Black College and University (HBCU) to show interest in President Donald Trump’s Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education. This initiative, which has faced mixed responses from prominent academic institutions, is now being considered by an HBCU that has long played a pivotal role in addressing educational disparities among Black students.
Verjanis Peoples, the interim president of St. Augustine’s University, along with Sophie Gibson, the chair of the school’s board of trustees, submitted a formal letter to the Trump administration, expressing their desire to participate in the compact. This move comes after several other notable universities, including Ivy League schools and prominent state institutions, have opted out of the proposal. The letter, which was obtained by Fox News Digital, outlines the university’s position and concerns regarding the compact’s structure.
The letter emphasizes St. Augustine’s University’s support for the Compact’s goals of promoting academic excellence, accountability, and transparency across all higher education institutions. However, it also highlights concerns regarding the compact’s explicit restrictions on the use of race, ethnicity, and identity-based factors in admissions and financial support. These policies could conflict with the mission of HBCUs, which have historically relied on such considerations to expand access for Black students and marginalized communities.
Another key concern raised in the letter is the compact’s tuition freeze, which prohibits participating schools from raising tuition for five years after joining the initiative. This could be a significant barrier for HBCUs, many of which have smaller endowments and financial resources compared to private and large public universities. Additionally, the compact’s restrictions on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs and its caps on foreign student admissions raise questions about compatibility with the University’s global partnerships and its longstanding traditions within the HBCU community.
Despite these challenges, the university remains open to working with the Trump administration to refine the compact’s framework.