Academic Freedom & the future of Ethnic Studies at the University of Texas

President Trump sent a letter to nine colleges, including UT, on Oct. 1, inviting them to sign a “compact for excellence in higher education.” The compact would offer preferential federal funding to universities in exchange for fulfilling a slew of requests, including freezing tuition for five years and limiting speech that antagonizes conservative values. On Oct. 14, he extended the invitation to all American universities. Trump said the compact will eliminate “anti-American ideology” from universities and usher the United States into a “golden age of academic excellence.”

The compact’s goals clearly attempt to limit discussion on topics that do not align with conservative values. If staff and students fail to alter course discussions accordingly, they are at risk of ambiguous, institutionally defined punishments.

The compact asks universities to compromise their First Amendment rights for financial compensation. UT has an obligation to its students and faculty to reject this offer, which undermines academic freedom and politicizes higher education.

“Academic freedom is fundamental to both teaching and research to consider multiple, including controversial, points of view, work at the forefront of our fields and help students understand cutting-edge ideas,” said Pauline Strong, past president of the AAUP chapter at UT.

While the compact claims to protect civil discourse, its vague language does the opposite. By restricting how students engage with diverse perspectives and how faculty disseminate their full breadth of expertise, higher education loses its very purpose: to challenge, question and expand understanding.

Join HABLA for a passionate panel discussion and Plática on Academic Freedom and the future of Ethnic studies at University of Texas, Thursday, Novembr 13, 2025, 7:30am - 9am. Panelists will include Student Voices and Academic Perspectives.

Program:

7:30am - 8am Networking & Breakfast* (*Note attendees will purchase individual breakfast)

8am - 9am - HABLA Panel and Platica

9am - Adjourn