PP Language Lessons
EasyEducationOctober 18, 2025

Universities Reject a Federal Funding Compact

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Key Vocabulary

compact /ˈkɒmpækt/

a formal written agreement
Example: The university declined the compact.

tuition /tjuːˈɪʃən/

money students pay for school
Example: They discussed a five-year tuition freeze.

merit /ˈmɛrɪt/

quality or ability that deserves reward
Example: Research should be funded on merit.

📖 Article

In October 2025 the White House offered a plan called the Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education. The plan asked nine universities to follow new rules and said they could get special federal funding. Some rules would cap international students at 15% and freeze tuition for five years.

Several universities said no. MIT said on October 10 it would not sign. Brown, Penn, USC and the University of Virginia also declined in mid October. The White House asked for feedback by October 20. Faculty and students wrote petitions and letters asking leaders to refuse the compact. Universities said they want research and hiring to be decided on merit.

109 words

❓ Quiz

Q1. What is the name of the government proposal?
Q2. When did MIT say it would not sign?
Q3. Which university first rejected the proposal?

💬 Discussion

1.

Do you think your local university should decide admissions rules by itself? Why or why not?

2.

Have you ever signed a petition or asked leaders to change a rule? What happened?

3.

What do you think about the idea of freezing tuition for several years?