Undergraduate Student Government President Mikaela Bautista and Vice President Emma Fallon met with USC interim President Beong-Soo Kim Tuesday to discuss the results of an undergraduate student government survey on the Trump administration’s Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education. Their findings: 92.7% of students want to reject it.
The survey was sent out to faculty, undergraduates and graduates, receiving 273 student responses as of October 14. According to Fallon, the USG survey gained a “resounding no” to whether respondents wanted USC to sign the compact.
“A lot of it had to do with USC values and not wanting to stray away from those values – a lot of worries surrounding international students and our queer students and what that would mean for them. Others were worried about state funding and Cal State grants,” Fallon said. “A lot of concerns regarding different personal stories, but also just the university as a whole.”
The compact requires universities to change policies on international students, tuition and diversity definitions, in exchange for federal funding, which many universities depend on for research grants and student aid. USC has until October 20 to provide feedback to the Department of Education.
Kim told the USG representatives that he is speaking with the Academic Senate and Board of Trustees. He said he wants to do more outreach with students, but is unsure if he can before October 20.
“We thought it was really important that admin, as they’re making their decision for October 20, was able to hear what the students are feeling and what they’re thinking,” Bautista said. “Because ultimately, what happens in the compact affects the students as well.”
The deadline for whether to accept or reject the compact is November 21. USG’s survey is still open to provide feedback on, and Kim has access to all responses.
“President Kim has the link to this feedback response sheet, so he’ll see the updates as they roll in,” Fallon said. “So if people are still interested in voicing their opinion or response, they are still able to do that directly to the president, essentially.”
Bautista and Fallon said they had been receiving questions and feedback from students on campus regarding the compact for about a week. They put out their survey over fall recess, and within four days, met with the interim president.
“I appreciate that he was willing to meet on such short notice after we reached out during fall break, and grateful that there’s that open line of communication between admin and USG,” Bautista said.
Fallon is optimistic that student voices will be taken into account.
“He’s clearly very dedicated to getting a lot of input,” she said.
Fallon said that this upcoming deadline is more than an indication of whether USC will accept the compact or not.
“I think what we learned from that meeting was that there are more options than just reject or accept the compact. If we were to reject, there’s the option to not say anything to the compact,” Fallon said. “There’s also the option to send it back with adjustments and drafts. I think that it was interesting to learn the different options that admin is grappling with right now.”
USC was one of nine universities offered a chance to sign the compact. MIT is the only university to give a response thus far, refusing to sign. While the University of Texas at Austin has given no official response, a statement said they were “honored” to be selected.
Students can fill out the survey at this link.