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With a Monday deadline looming, several universities are rejecting a proposed Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education that ties preferential access to federal funds to the Trump administration’s priorities. The Oct. 1 letter to nine schools demanded bans on transgender restroom and sports participation by gender identity, a five-year tuition freeze, limits on international enrollment, and mandatory standardized tests. MIT led the refusals; Brown, the University of Pennsylvania and USC followed. After a virtual meeting with colleges, Dartmouth and the University of Virginia also declined, citing merit-based research funding. The White House offered no comment amid staffing shortages.

Prepared by Lauren Mitchell and reviewed by editorial team.