The Key with Inside Higher Ed Ep. 181: TRIO Cuts, Compact Responses and Looking for Signs of Life at ED
Nov 6, 2025
Katherine Knott, news editor at Inside Higher Ed, dives into recent higher education policies with Sara Custer. They discuss the controversial higher ed compact, revealing universities’ mixed reactions—some accept, some dodge. The conversation also covers alarming TRIO funding cuts affecting approximately 43,000 students and UVA's complicated fallout leading to their president's resignation. Finally, they explore how the Department of Education is functioning amid layoffs and the repercussions of the government shutdown on essential higher ed services.
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Merit Argument Drives Many No's
- Campus leaders emphasize 'merit' to push back on the Compact's research-funding carveouts.
- Presidents argue research funding should be awarded on quality, not on whether an institution signs the Compact.
Smaller Colleges Publicly Signal Interest
- New College of Florida and Valley Forge publicly said they'd sign if asked, and Grand Canyon expressed interest.
- These institutions are not research-intensive, so the Compact's research 'carrot' likely isn't their primary motivation.
Zero-Dollar Deal Still Carries Costs
- UVA agreed to follow DOJ guidance on discrimination without paying damages or accepting monitoring.
- The settlement still left UVA politically exposed and led to its president's resignation.