Valley Forge Military College Joins Trump’s Academic Excellence Compact Amid University Pushback
Valley Forge Military College, a Pennsylvania-based institution, has become the first academic entity to express interest in joining President Donald Trump’s Compact for Academic Excellence in Education. This development stands in stark contrast to the widespread resistance from major universities, including MIT and the University of Arizona, which have declined the proposal. The compact outlines principles such as merit-based admissions, freedom of ideas, and policies regarding biological sex in athletics, alongside demands for political neutrality in higher education and limits on admissions for foreign students. In exchange for participation, the Trump administration offers preferential federal funding to participating institutions.
Valley Forge, a two-year junior college founded in 1935, provides an early commissioning program for officers in the U.S. Army, the Army Reserve, and the National Guard. Its mission is to train future military leaders, with 98% of its graduates transferring to four-year colleges for advanced degrees. The college also offers a ‘Citizen Leader Program’ designed for civilians seeking the structure and discipline of a military institution.
The Trump administration solicited feedback from nine schools, including both public and private institutions, with a deadline set for October 20. Despite the invitation, none of the colleges signed the compact. Notable rejections came from institutions like Brown University, the University of Virginia, and the University of Pennsylvania. The University of Texas at Austin and Vanderbilt University remained noncommittal. The compact, which the administration describes as a framework for improving educational quality and accountability, has sparked significant debate, with some institutions citing concerns over academic freedom and institutional autonomy.
Valley Forge’s president, Marine Corps Col. Stuart Helgeson, and board chairman John English emphasized that their institution’s mission aligns seamlessly with the compact’s goals. They argue that the college’s focus on producing military officers and fostering leadership does not intersect with partisan politics, which they view as a potential obstacle to educational progress. Helgeson and English also highlighted that the school already meets the criteria outlined in the compact, offering additional reasons to support its participation.
Helgeson noted that the current model of higher education, characterized by a reliance on government funding and international students, is divergent from Valley Forge’s approach. The college’s unique structure, centered on military training and leadership development, sets it apart from traditional universities. The school is actively working to expand its NSA-certified cybersecurity program and a new drone piloting initiative, further reinforcing its commitment to national security and technological advancement.
Despite the broader reluctance from elite institutions, Valley Forge’s decision to engage with the Trump administration’s compact represents a significant shift in the higher education landscape. As the compact remains under consideration, its long-term implications for academic freedom, institutional autonomy, and the role of federal funding in education will likely continue to be debated.