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Date October 15, 2025
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Brown University president declines invitation for Brown to join federal Compact

In a letter to the White House, President Christina H. Paxson wrote that Compact provisions restricting academic freedom and undermining autonomy would impede the University’s ability to fulfill its mission.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. [Brown University] — In a Wednesday, Oct. 15, letter to federal officials, Brown University President Christina H. Paxson declined the invitation for Brown to join the White House’s proposed Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education.

Paxson led the letter asserting the importance of a strong relationship between the government and higher education and noted that Brown and the government have a resolution agreement in place that already commits the University to a set of principles. However, she contrasted that existing agreement with the Compact, which does not include safeguards for protecting academic speech.

“I am concerned that the Compact by its nature and by various provisions would restrict academic freedom and undermine the autonomy of Brown’s governance, critically compromising our ability to fulfill our mission,” Paxson wrote. “Additionally, a fundamental part of academic excellence is awarding research funding on the merits of the research being proposed. The cover letter describing the Compact contemplates funding research on criteria other than the soundness and likely impact of research, which would ultimately damage the health and prosperity of Americans.”

Paxson noted in the letter that on July 30, Brown signed a voluntary resolution agreement with the government that advances a number of the high-level principles articulated in the Compact, while maintaining core tenets of academic freedom and self-governance “that have sustained the excellence of American higher education across generations.” In that agreement, the University asserted its commitment to equality of opportunity in admissions and hiring, pledged continued compliance with nondiscrimination laws, and committed to funding for workforce development in Rhode Island — all aligned with Brown’s mission and values.

Paxson said she also understands the Compact’s focus on the rising costs of education, making clear that Brown continues to be responsive to concerns about affordability and access. 

“Financial aid has been among the fastest-growing areas of Brown’s budget in the past decade,” she wrote. “We admit undergraduate students without consideration of their financial circumstances; all financial aid awards are loan-free and based solely on economic need; and we have targeted initiatives serving rural students and veterans, including doubling the number of undergraduate student veterans in recent years with expanded aid that funds full scholarships.”

“While we value our long-held and well-regarded partnership with the federal government, Brown is respectfully declining to join the Compact. We remain committed to the July agreement and its preservation of Brown’s core values in ways that the Compact — in any form — fundamentally would not.”

Christina H. Paxson President, Brown University
 
Brown President Christina H. Paxson

Despite Brown’s alignment with some goals of the Compact — as well as Brown’s own commitments to affordability and the free exchange of ideas — provisions that restrict academic freedom, undermine the autonomy of Brown’s governance and tie research funding to criteria other than the likely positive impacts of the research would impede the University’s ability to fulfill its mission, Paxson asserted.

“While we value our long-held and well-regarded partnership with the federal government, Brown is respectfully declining to join the Compact,” Paxson wrote. “We remain committed to the July agreement and its preservation of Brown’s core values in ways that the Compact — in any form — fundamentally would not.”

Paxson wrote in the response to the White House that she shares the overall goal stated in the federal government’s letter describing the Compact: “to renew and strengthen the vital, mutually beneficial relationship between the U.S. Government and higher education that is essential to our nation’s future and success.”

“I share this goal and strongly agree with the importance of sustaining a relationship that historically has made our country’s education and research enterprise the best in the world,” she wrote. “Indeed, soon after the transition to the current federal administration, I affirmed that Brown would work with the government to find solutions if there were concerns about the way the University fulfills its academic mission. I remain committed to contributing to national conversations about principles for improving American higher education.”

Paxson shared news of the decision and a copy of her response to the White House in an Oct. 15 message to the Brown community. She noted that her decision to decline participation in the Compact aligns with the views of the vast majority of Brown stakeholders.

The Brown community will remain focused on meeting the commitments under the July 30 agreement, while safeguarding its mission and academic values, Paxson wrote. At the same time, she remains dedicated to participating “in dialogue anchored in these values” as discussions continue about how to improve American higher education.

“I maintain the firm belief that American colleges and universities are a cornerstone of innovation, growth, prosperity and national security for our nation,” she wrote. “Brown is committed to maintaining the excellence of our nation’s colleges and universities.”

Paxson’s response to the White House and message to the Brown community are available on Brown’s website.

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