It’s unclear whether Vanderbilt University will sign on to a compact sent by the White House, according to a letter sent by Chancellor Daniel Diermeier to faculty and staff Monday afternoon.
The White House gave the school a deadline of Oct. 20 to make a decision on the offer, which would give funding advantages if Vanderbilt aligns itself with certain Trump policies. Diermeier has not outright rejected the proposal, instead issuing a vague statement on what path the university will take, citing Vanderbilt’s policy of “institutional neutrality.”
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“Despite reporting to the contrary, we have not been asked to accept or reject the draft compact,” the letter reads. “Rather, we have been asked to provide feedback and comments as part of an ongoing dialogue, and that is our intention. ”
The compact was also sent to eight other schools across the U.S., most of which have rejected it.
The offer, called the “Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education,” has been met with sharp opposition from Vanderbilt students and faculty who worry it could encroach on free speech and other constitutional rights in research, curriculum and campus life. The Vanderbilt Faculty Senate passed a resolution earlier this month urging the university to reject the compact.
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White House policies outlined in the compact include the prohibition of race and sex in hiring and admissions, a five-year tuition freeze, international student enrollment cap and the enforcement of the government’s binary definition of gender.
Below is the full letter sent to Vanderbilt students and faculty:
Dear Vanderbilt community,I’m writing to share an update on Vanderbilt’s ongoing involvement in an important conversation about the future of higher education.As many of you know, a little over two weeks ago, Vanderbilt and other universities were invited to provide input on the administration’s proposed Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education. Despite reporting to the contrary, we have not been asked to accept or reject the draft compact. Rather, we have been asked to provide feedback and comments as part of an ongoing dialogue, and that is our intention.Last Friday, Vanderbilt participated in a discussion with members of the administration and other university leaders about shaping a productive process for providing such comments. We expect to share our input with the administration through that process.Our response will be grounded in our long-held principles and values, which were reaffirmed by our Board of Trust in October 2024. One such principle is our commitment to institutional neutrality. Institutional neutrality means that the university’s leadership will refrain from commenting on political matters unless they directly affect our core purpose of providing transformative education and conducting pathbreaking research. Since the compact could directly affect our teaching, research and other operations, our policy of institutional neutrality not only permits comment by the university’s leadership, it encourages it. Therefore, Vanderbilt will continue to share our point of view with the administration, just as we have previously shared our perspective at the local, state and federal level—most recently regarding the tax on university endowments and proposed restrictions on visas for international students.Our North Star has always been that academic freedom, free expression and independence are essential for universities to make their vital and singular contributions to society. We also believe that research awards should be made based on merit alone. This merit-based approach has enabled the scholarly and scientific excellence that has driven American health, security and prosperity for decades. It must be preserved.Over the last two weeks, many of you—students and faculty, family members and alumni—shared your thoughts about the compact. Your input continues to be invaluable, and I am grateful to be part of such an engaged and passionate university community.Vanderbilt believes deeply in the power of constructive dialogue, particularly among people of differing views and perspectives. This is often how the greatest progress is made. We look forward to continuing the conversation—on our campus and with leaders in government and higher education—as we work toward our shared goal of restoring public trust in higher education and ensuring that America’s universities remain the best in the world.
Sincerely,Daniel Diermeier
Chancellor
