Over 4,000 faculty members from universities across the country, including 75 professors from USC, have signed a letter voicing their concerns regarding the future of higher education under the Trump administration.
The letter highlights the struggles universities have recently faced, with faculty sharing how their respective institutions are navigating various threats. The letter also emphasized a need for more unity and communication across campuses.
Universities have already faced the effects of Trump’s recent actions, which have primarily affected schools that receive government funding. Funding totaling $400 million was rescinded from Columbia University in March. The University of Pennsylvania is also being threatened with a $175 million freeze.
Daniel Cox, a professor at UC Davis and one of the faculty members who signed the letter, said in a phone interview that “cuts and freezing of funding have already impacted [UC] Davis.”
Cox explained that UC Davis’ RU program — a research experience for undergraduate students sponsored by the National Science Foundation (NSF) — is “no more” because of the temporary federal freeze on government agencies.
The letter begins by addressing the warning issued by the U.S. Department of Education to 60 universities under investigation, including USC, for alleged anti-Semitic discrimination and harassment.
The letter alleges that the Trump administration is weaponizing a legitimate investigation to create an “unprecedented federal attack on higher education.”
It cites Columbia University, which is experiencing consequences under the administration’s mandates, such as stripping faculty of control over their research and curriculum, suggesting that the goal is political control rather than protecting students.
“We ask all sixty institutions…[to] assemble a nimble task force to unite on effective, coordinated action that can adapt as the situation on the ground changes,” the authors of the letter state.
The proposed task force would help universities refuse to comply with illegal government overreach, lobby state and federal representatives, protect student immigration records and work with the media to expose abuse of power, according to the letter.
The task force would also “publicly affirm that universities will not tolerate intimidation of students,” whether they be international, Jewish, Palestinian or of any other background.
Faculty members are calling on university leadership to act decisively, especially during times of federal pressure, political scrutiny and financial threats.
The faculty’s call for action centers on the importance of institutions standing together to defend the future of higher education and institutional autonomy.