Penn to begin review of White House preferential funding compact, Jameson writes

Penn is reviewing a federal proposal from the White House that would require adherence to a set of principles in order to receive preferential funding, according to an email on Sunday. 

The proposal — titled the “Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education” — set forth guidelines that would govern Penn’s admissions, pricing, and hiring practices. In an Oct. 5 message to the University community, Penn President Larry Jameson said that administrators will review the document with stakeholders across campus to develop Penn’s response to the federal government.

“The long-standing partnership with the federal government in both education and research has yielded tremendous benefits for our nation. Penn seeks no special consideration,” Jameson wrote.

According to the message, the “review and response” to this proposal will “rely on a set of principles drawn from Penn’s values and mission.” University administrators will “seek the input of our Penn community” — including from deans, the Faculty Senate, and the University Board of Trustees.

Penn has been given a deadline of Oct. 20 to submit its response.

If Penn signs the compact, the University would be required to prohibit the use of race or sex in hiring and admissions, disclose foreign funding, and freeze tuition.

In exchange, according to the memo, Penn will receive “multiple positive benefits,” including “substantial and meaningful federal grants.”

While the measure does not entirely cut off funding for non-signatory schools, multiple expert organizations and Penn professors have described its potential to threaten academic freedom and reshape the relationship between institutions of higher education and the federal government.