Trump administration targets UA with federal fund incentives

UA asked to freeze tuition, limit international students, and revise certain programs.

Trump administration targets UA with federal fund incentives
The University of Arizona is among nine schools offered federal funding incentives in exchange for policy changes. Photo by Gracie Kayko.

The University of Arizona was one of nine universities offered easier access to federal funds by the Trump administration in exchange for a tuition freeze, a ban on race and sex considerations, and new limits on international students.

The Wall Street Journal first reported Wednesday that the 10-point memo invited nine universities to join the “Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education” in exchange for priority access to federal grants.

UA spokesman Mitch Zak did not immediately respond to Tucson Spotlight's request for comment, but told KTAR News, "We are reviewing it carefully."

The memo asked universities to cap international enrollment at 15% of the undergraduate student body, with no more than 5% from any single country, according to Reuters.

The UA reported that international students made up 3.3% of its first-year class in fall 2024.

The White House memo said international students admitted should support “American and Western values,” and that universities should “screen out students who demonstrate hostility to the United States, its allies, or its values.” It also said universities should share information about international students with the Department of Homeland Security upon request.

The Justice Department will oversee universities that agree to the memo’s terms, and violations could result in the loss of those benefits.

The memo also called on the nine universities to eliminate “institutional units that purposefully punish, belittle, or incite violence against conservative ideas.”

The compact follows previous orders targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion programs and withholding grants from noncompliant universities.

The UA said it has lost millions in unspent grant money since Trump took office.

Along with the UA, the White House extended the offer to Brown University, Dartmouth College, Vanderbilt University, MIT, the University of Southern California, the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Texas and the University of Virginia.


Ian Stash is a journalism major at the University of Arizona and Tucson Spotlight intern. Contact him at istash@arizona.edu.

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