First HBCU Expresses Interest in Trump’s Academic Compact Amid Opposition
St. Augustine’s University in North Carolina has become the first Historically Black College and University (HBCU) to express interest in joining President Donald Trump’s Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education, following the rejection of offers by Ivy League schools and prominent universities. The school’s interim president, Verjanis Peoples, and board chair Sophie Gibson, sent a letter to the Trump administration’s assistant secretary for postsecondary education, expressing the institution’s willingness to participate in and shape the initiative.
They highlighted the compact’s potential conflicts with HBCUs’ mission to serve historically marginalized communities, including its restrictions on race-based admissions and tuition freeze policies. Despite these concerns, the university expressed eagerness to collaborate on refining the framework to ensure it aligns with both the compact’s goals and the unique role of HBCUs in expanding educational opportunities.
The Trump administration’s academic compact, which offers preferential federal funding to participating universities, has faced significant resistance from major institutions, including MIT, the University of Arizona, Brown University, Dartmouth College, the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Southern California, and the University of Virginia. While several schools remain noncommittal, St. Augustine’s University’s interest signifies a potential shift in the initiative’s reception.
The letter from the HBCU underscores the tension between the compact’s policies and the educational mission of HBCUs, which historically aim to increase access for Black and marginalized students. The compact’s restrictions on DEI programs, foreign admissions, and the potential impact on tuition policies for HBCUs with smaller endowments have been cited as key concerns.
However, the school’s willingness to engage in dialogue suggests a commitment to finding a compromise that maintains the compact’s goals while acknowledging the specific needs of HBCUs. The administration had solicited feedback from nine schools, some public and some private, nationwide, with a deadline of October 20. As of now, none of the colleges have signed the compact, leaving Vanderbilt University and the University of Texas at Austin in noncommittal positions.
This development highlights the ongoing debate over the role of race in admissions and the broader implications of the Trump administration’s education reforms.