The University of Arizona Faculty Senate voted Monday to oppose the Trump administration’s Compact for Academic Excellence and approved a resolution calling on university leadership to reject the proposal.
Senators also discussed the proposed changes to the general education curriculum and the recent shutdown of UA microcampuses in China.
The compact “violates several tenets of the First Amendment and academic freedom,” Roy Spece, a professor at the James E. Rogers College of Law, said. According to Spece, the compact also misuses federal spending power.
The public meeting in the Old Main building drew faculty, staff and students who watched deliberations on the compact, Gen-Ed revisions and an ad hoc review of international partnerships.
The White House sent the compact and a cover letter to nine universities on Oct. 1 and requested “limited, targeted” feedback by Oct. 20, according to the compact. Administration officials said the federal government plans to have signatories in place by Nov. 21.
Faculty leaders at Monday’s meeting criticized the compact as an unacceptable intrusion on university autonomy.
The agreement could effectively centralize research and undercut incentives to compete for grants, according to Lucy Ziurys, chemistry and biochemistry professor. Faculty senator Joellen Russell urged caution, noting the university’s tighter budget compared with better-endowed institutions.
Faculty Senate Chair Leila Hudson introduced the resolution, stressing the institution’s obligation to protect academic independence and the rights of students and staff.
The motion passed decisively, 40–8, with one abstention.
The compact, which was sent to the UA along with Brown University, Dartmouth College, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Southern California, the University of Texas at Austin, Vanderbilt University and the University of Virginia, contains a range of policy expectations tied to federal funding.
The provisions that made attendees most upset include potential caps on international student enrollment, restrictions on the use of race or sex in hiring and admissions, and other requirements critics say could limit academic freedom.
After the compact discussion, senators reviewed a shift from rolling admissions to a “deadline‑guided” model.
Christina Wong Davis, vice president for enrollment management, outlined the possible new calendar: Early Action applications will have a Nov. 1 deadline with decisions released by Jan. 15; Regular Decision rounds will remain in the February to March period.
Senators stated that they are concerned students from under-resourced high schools might miss the earlier deadline, potentially jeopardizing scholarship and aid opportunities.
Meeting attendees also criticized the university’s decision to close microcampuses in China after a federal report flagged certain programs as high‑risk partnerships. According to meeting attendees, the UA decided to close five microcampuses.
According to Jenny Lee, dean of Arizona International, currently enrolled students in China will be supported — options include completing degrees online or transferring to the Tucson campus — and additional resources will be offered to impacted faculty and staff.
The Faculty Senate also voted 19–9 to form an ad hoc committee to review international collaborations and related policies.
With federal feedback due Oct. 20, and a potential sign‑by date of Nov. 21, the university has a short timeline to evaluate the document’s legal ramifications and policy consequences.
According to Provost Patricia Prelock, university leaders are coordinating with the Arizona Board of Regents and other institutions to assess the compact’s legal and operational implications before making any final decision.
Student Maia Nguyen, who attended the meeting, stated that several faculty members described the compact’s funding conditions as extortion.
“It was clear the Senate opposed signing the Compact,” Nguyen said. “But most students still don’t know what it is or how it could affect tuition and financial aid.”
