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On Wednesday, President Trump enacted an executive order aimed at reforming the college accreditation process to prioritize measurable outcomes. During the announcement, he raised concerns regarding the mathematical skills of students admitted to prestigious institutions such as Harvard and Yale, suggesting that a deeper examination of their capabilities is warranted.
In conjunction with this order, the president mandated stricter enforcement of existing laws that require universities to publicly disclose large foreign gifts. Trump’s administration specifically named Harvard as a university suspected of non-compliance with these regulations. Under federal law, institutions of higher education receiving federal funds must report foreign gifts or contracts worth $250,000 or more within a calendar year; there’s ongoing legislative consideration to reduce that reporting threshold to $50,000.
This latest initiative from the Trump administration comes amidst a broader campaign against Harvard University. The administration has suspended billions in federal funding to the school, made demands for extensive policy changes, and even suggested that it should forfeit its tax-exempt status.
Accreditation for colleges and universities is usually conferred by independent third-party organizations rather than the federal government, though the Department of Education has the authority to recognize these accrediting bodies. This accreditation is vital as it determines a college’s eligibility for federal student aid programs, which collectively distribute significant financial resources to students nationwide. The new executive order directs the Department of Education to ensure accountability among accreditors, emphasizing the need to terminate or suspend those that do not meet federal standards. The directive particularly critiques accrediting bodies that engage in what the administration describes as “unlawful discrimination” under the guise of diversity and inclusion initiatives.
According to White House staff secretary Will Scharf, the administration’s stance is that accreditors have become overly preoccupied with “woke ideology,” detracting from their commitment to genuine educational outcomes. The changes proposed in this executive order will potentially extend to law schools and other graduate programs as well.
The underlying objective, as articulated by Scharf, is to shift the accreditation focus towards merit and tangible results, rather than ideological conformity. This effort is intended to create new accreditation pathways and assess the current accreditation landscape to improve its efficacy.
Moreover, President Trump expressed a desire for the executive order to investigate the admissions history of individuals attending elite schools like Harvard or Princeton, especially concerning their proficiency in fundamental subjects such as mathematics. He questioned whether these institutions adequately prepare students academically, citing concerns that some graduates may struggle with basic math skills.
Scharf agreed, stating that the performance of universities in admissions and instruction should be scrutinized by accreditors, as they currently appear to be lacking in this regard. Additionally, the executive order commands federal agencies to ensure compliance with disclosure laws regarding the acceptance of significant foreign contributions by universities.
Scharf accused certain universities, particularly Harvard, of routinely neglecting foreign gift disclosure requirements and asserted that the existing laws have not been effectively enforced. Despite these claims, specific evidence regarding Harvard’s alleged violations has not been disclosed, and CBS News has reached out to the university for further clarification.
In a counteraction, Harvard recently announced it is suing the Trump administration over the alleged unlawful freezing of its federal funding. This ongoing feud has escalated tensions between the institution and the administration, especially following Harvard’s refusal to comply with various policy changes demanded by Trump. Other colleges, including Columbia University, have also faced funding freezes amid complaints about inadequate responses to antisemitic incidents.
On the same day, President Trump signed executive actions aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), ensuring that schoolchildren receive adequate training in artificial intelligence, increasing apprenticeship opportunities, and empowering educators to uphold school discipline standards.
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