Two weeks after the Trump administration sent USC its Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education, proposing policy changes in exchange for preferential access to federal funding, several student and faculty groups published statements demanding that the University reject the offer.

Five USC labor unions have called on USC to “completely reject” the compact, which they have called an attack on higher education in a joint statement released Oct. 6.

Separately, the International Student Association and Graduate Student Government released statements condemning the compact and any attempt to negotiate. The Undergraduate Student Government found in a survey that 93% of student respondents were in favor of rejecting the compact, according to Annenberg Media.

The compact would require USC to cap undergraduate international student enrollment at 15% of the undergraduate population, freeze tuition rates for American students and maintain institutional neutrality, among other demands. 

Interim President Beong-Soo Kim released a statement on Oct. 3 announcing that he was consulting with multiple stakeholder groups at USC on how to move forward and that he is committed to hearing “wide-ranging perspectives.” 

Kim has given no further indication of what the University’s position on the compact will be as of publication. 

Labor unions join to denounce compact 

The statement asking the University to reject the offer was signed by unions representing School of Cinematic Arts adjunct faculty, postdoctoral scholars, graduate student workers as well as the proposed union of research, teaching, practitioner and clinical-track faculty, also known as RTPC faculty. Unions representing healthcare and hospitality workers from the Keck School of Medicine of USC, as well as Unite Here! Local 11, a separate union of hospitality workers, also signed on to the statement.

Kyle Hulburd, president of UAW Local 872, the union of graduate student workers, said that USC’s vagueness in the face of the offer is representative of a larger pattern of disrespect and capitulation. Hulburd cited the pushback against RTPC unionization and the “last, best, and final” offer the postdoctoral scholars’ union recently rejected. 

“A pattern has started to develop of USC choosing to stand with Trump and this billionaire agenda instead of with workers on campus,” said Hulburd, also a Ph.D. candidate in the sociology department. “That raises some serious questions about if USC actually is interested in working with us, the grad workers, postdocs, RTPC faculty, the people that keep this university running.”

Shenali Pilapitiya, a Ph.D. student studying political science, said she sees rejecting the compact as an opportunity for USC to show its commitment to workers and students. 

“I think this compact is suggesting that USC commits to a very narrow-minded single ideology,” Pilapitiya said. “What I would hope to continue to see is that USC rejects this compact and affirms to students that it does value those ideological differences.” 

Hulburd and Pilapitiya said the compact, which states that institutions should seek “a broad spectrum of ideological viewpoints,” allows the federal government to have overarching influence in classrooms and research labs. The compact calls for universities to get rid of academic units that “punish, belittle, and even spark violence against conservative ideas.”

Kate Levin, an associate teaching professor in the writing program, said the compact was “vague” and could potentially harm academic freedom if it were signed. 

“I teach a class here in the writing program called Writing and Critical Reasoning. Part of critical reasoning, the key part of critical reasoning, is asking questions,” Levin said. “If you’re not allowed to ask questions, which includes questions about a whole range of social issues … how can we teach?” 

In the past week, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dartmouth College and Brown University — all rejected the compacts they had received; MIT said the compact would “restrict freedom of expression.” MIT has previously faced federal funding cuts from the Trump administration and has supported Harvard University in its effort to combat the administration’s withholding of funds. 

Levin said she hopes the compact will provide an opportunity for USC to show its commitment to the principles of open communication and accountability. 

“Will USC engage in negotiations with the Trump administration but not its own faculty?” Levin said. “What does it say that USC, so far, is not willing to protect the democratic rights of its own faculty but is entertaining an offer from an entity like the Trump administration, which has done so much harm to communities that are here at USC?”

Student groups warn against compact

A survey of students by the Undergraduate Student Government found that roughly 93% of respondents were in favor of USC rejecting the compact. 

On Wednesday, the International Student Assembly released a statement in support of students feeling anxious about the compact and directed readers to the ISA’s mental health and immigration resource guide.  

“We understand that the constant fear of instability makes it difficult for students to fully devote themselves to their education,” the statement read. “However, we ask the international Trojan community to trust that the University will make the right decision and stand by its international students.”  

The Graduate Student Government released a statement the day before urging University leadership to reject the compact, warning that it threatens academic freedom, diversity initiatives and the University’s independence.

It stated that while the compact is framed as voluntary, it would tie compliance to federal research funding, student loans, visa programs and tax-exempt status. GSG stated the policy would coerce universities and undermine their autonomy.

“The compact’s language about creating a ‘vibrant marketplace of ideas’ rings hollow when recent government actions have targeted students and faculty for political speech,” the statement read. 

GSG urged USC to stand with peer institutions who have rejected the compact. They also suggested that the University explore legal and financial options that would uphold the University’s core values.