University of Texas: Reject the federal government’s “Compact”

We are calling on you – as the leaders of the University of Texas at Austin – to stand up for the values that make higher education a cornerstone of American democracy: academic freedom, open inquiry free from government interference, and educational opportunity for all.

The federal government’s so-called “Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education” is a dangerous attempt to place universities under direct political control. It will tie federal funding to ideological compliance, forcing schools to rewrite their policies and curricula and rewire campus life to fit the administration’s agenda. This is not reform; it’s coercion.

The Compact strikes at the heart of what makes UT Austin great: independent thought, world-class scholarship, and fearless pursuit of truth. Signing it would betray those principles and send a message that political power, not academic merit, determines what can be taught, studied, or spoken on campus.

To date, none of the 9 universities originally targeted by the federal government have signed on to the Compact. Like the other universities that are standing up for campus freedom, we urge you to meet this moment with courage and clarity as well.

When you meet on November 19-20 for the UT System Board of Regents meeting in Austin, we demand that you:

This is not the time to play it safe or go it alone.

Let UT Austin be remembered for standing firm in this historic moment. For its mission, for its people, and for the democratic freedoms at the heart of higher education.

Hook ’em,

-- Longhorns for Liberty, and our allies and supporters across the country, including: