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Institutional Neutrality in the Higher Education Compact

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Title: Institutional Neutrality in the Higher Education Compact
Language: English
Authors: Kyle Beltramini, Steven McGuire, American Enterprise Institute (AEI), Conservative Education Reform Network (CERN)
Source: American Enterprise Institute. 2025.
Availability: American Enterprise Institute. 1150 Seventeenth Street NW, Washington, DC 20036. Tel: 202-862-5800; Fax: 202-862-7177; Web site: http://www.aei.org
Peer Reviewed: N
Page Count: 6
Publication Date: 2025
Document Type: Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: Higher Education, Educational Policy, College Administration, Politics of Education, Social Problems, Institutional Characteristics, Political Attitudes, Government Role, Government School Relationship, Federal Government, Presidents, Educational Change, Constitutional Law, Freedom of Speech, Religion, School Policy, Institutional Autonomy
Laws, Policies and Program Identifiers: First Amendment
Abstract: The Trump administration's October 2025 Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education sparked an overdue conversation about the relationship between universities and the federal government. The administration identified issues that deserve to be addressed. But its approach provoked serious objections, even from sympathetic observers. That has created an opening for alternatives that are more workable and rooted in legislative authority. To that end, AEI's Conservative Education Reform Network commissioned contributions from several right-of-center higher education thinkers. Each tackles one of the compact's eight priorities, seeking to offer Congress, state lawmakers, and campus leaders a path forward. In this report, Kyle Beltramini and Steven McGuire take on institutional neutrality. A policy of institutional neutrality strengthens freedom of expression and intellectual diversity on campus by allowing students and faculty the broadest possible latitude to develop and express their own ideas. Some institutions have adopted policies of institutional neutrality, but progress has stalled. Many more schools should do so. The Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education is correct to identify the value of institutional neutrality, but as currently constructed, it raises concerns surrounding institutional autonomy and First Amendment jurisprudence. Legislative efforts to address this issue must go beyond compelling silence on specific topics and should instead focus on empowering governing boards to adopt policies that focus on their institutions' missions and the free exchange of ideas.
Abstractor: ERIC
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: ED677982
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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  – Url: https://eric.ed.gov/contentdelivery/servlet/ERICServlet?accno=ED677982
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  Data: Institutional Neutrality in the Higher Education Compact
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Kyle+Beltramini%22">Kyle Beltramini</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Steven+McGuire%22">Steven McGuire</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22American+Enterprise+Institute+%28AEI%29%2C+Conservative+Education+Reform+Network+%28CERN%29%22">American Enterprise Institute (AEI), Conservative Education Reform Network (CERN)</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22American+Enterprise+Institute%22"><i>American Enterprise Institute</i></searchLink>. 2025.
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  Data: American Enterprise Institute. 1150 Seventeenth Street NW, Washington, DC 20036. Tel: 202-862-5800; Fax: 202-862-7177; Web site: http://www.aei.org
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  Data: 6
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  Data: 2025
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  Data: Reports - Descriptive
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Higher+Education%22">Higher Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Postsecondary+Education%22">Postsecondary Education</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Higher+Education%22">Higher Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Educational+Policy%22">Educational Policy</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22College+Administration%22">College Administration</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Politics+of+Education%22">Politics of Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Social+Problems%22">Social Problems</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Institutional+Characteristics%22">Institutional Characteristics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Political+Attitudes%22">Political Attitudes</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Government+Role%22">Government Role</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Government+School+Relationship%22">Government School Relationship</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Federal+Government%22">Federal Government</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Presidents%22">Presidents</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Educational+Change%22">Educational Change</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Constitutional+Law%22">Constitutional Law</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Freedom+of+Speech%22">Freedom of Speech</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Religion%22">Religion</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22School+Policy%22">School Policy</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Institutional+Autonomy%22">Institutional Autonomy</searchLink>
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  Label: Abstract
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  Data: The Trump administration's October 2025 Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education sparked an overdue conversation about the relationship between universities and the federal government. The administration identified issues that deserve to be addressed. But its approach provoked serious objections, even from sympathetic observers. That has created an opening for alternatives that are more workable and rooted in legislative authority. To that end, AEI's Conservative Education Reform Network commissioned contributions from several right-of-center higher education thinkers. Each tackles one of the compact's eight priorities, seeking to offer Congress, state lawmakers, and campus leaders a path forward. In this report, Kyle Beltramini and Steven McGuire take on institutional neutrality. A policy of institutional neutrality strengthens freedom of expression and intellectual diversity on campus by allowing students and faculty the broadest possible latitude to develop and express their own ideas. Some institutions have adopted policies of institutional neutrality, but progress has stalled. Many more schools should do so. The Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education is correct to identify the value of institutional neutrality, but as currently constructed, it raises concerns surrounding institutional autonomy and First Amendment jurisprudence. Legislative efforts to address this issue must go beyond compelling silence on specific topics and should instead focus on empowering governing boards to adopt policies that focus on their institutions' missions and the free exchange of ideas.
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  Data: 2026
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  Data: ED677982
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=eric&AN=ED677982
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      – Text: English
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      Pagination:
        PageCount: 6
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Higher Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Educational Policy
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      – SubjectFull: College Administration
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      – SubjectFull: Politics of Education
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      – SubjectFull: Institutional Characteristics
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      – SubjectFull: Political Attitudes
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      – SubjectFull: Presidents
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      – SubjectFull: Educational Change
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      – SubjectFull: Institutional Autonomy
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      – TitleFull: Institutional Neutrality in the Higher Education Compact
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