Dear Wahoos4UVA Supporters,
On Wednesday night, the White House sent letters to nine universities—including UVA—inviting their presidents and boards to sign the “Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education.” Behind the euphemistic title lies an alarming reality: this Compact is a political loyalty test designed to strip universities of their autonomy and force compliance with the Trump administration’s ideological agenda.
The nine universities are rumored to have been chosen because the Trump administration perceives them to have weak, submissive presidents and boards—a group that outraged insiders at the nine universities are already calling Trump’s “Bootlicker List.”
As Wahoos, we should be incensed that UVA is on that list. It suggests that Interim President Paul Mahoney and Rector Rachel Sheridan are not seen in Washington as principled stewards of higher education, but rather, as pliable actors who can be pressured into surrendering university control for access to increased federal funds.
What’s at Stake
- The Compact would shift control of research funding, admissions practices, and academic standards from universities to political appointees.
- It would require compliance with ideologically driven mandates, including data reporting schemes and curriculum oversight, that undermine institutional autonomy. The penalty for non-compliance: loss of federal ANDprivate funding.
- Signing it would set a dangerous precedent for federal interference in the core academic functions of public and private universities alike.
Why the 9-School Alumni Petition Matters
Alumni from these nine institutions are coming together to send a unified message: We will not allow our universities to be bullied into obedience. The petition calls on presidents and boards to refuse to sign the Compact and to publicly defend academic freedom, institutional autonomy, and shared governance.
What You Can Do Now
- Sign the petition — it takes less than a minute.
- Share the petition widely: with fellow Hoos, alumni networks, and friends at the other eight schools.
- Post on social media why you’re signing, and tag your alma mater’s leadership to make sure they see it.
UVA belongs on lists of academic excellence, integrity, and courage, not on a list of institutions deemed easy to coerce. Let’s make it clear to Interim President Mahoney, Rector Sheridan, and the Board of Visitors that signing this Compact would be a betrayal of UVA’s core values and a stain on its reputation.
Together, we can show that alumni will not stay silent while political forces try to commandeer our university.
The louder our collective voice, the harder it will be for UVA’s leaders to capitulate to President Trump’s demands. Please sign and share today!
With appreciation and resolve,
Ann Brown (College ’74, Law ’77) and Chris Ford (Engineering ’87)
Co-Chairs, Wahoos4UVA
Other ways to take action
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