ENSURING ACCOUNTABILITY IN HIGHER EDUCATION:
Today, President Donald J. Trump has taken a significant step by signing a Presidential Memorandum aimed at enhancing transparency in the admissions practices of higher education institutions that benefit from Federal financial assistance.
- The Memorandum instructs the Secretary of Education to overhaul the online presentation and data collection methods of the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), ensuring that information is efficient, accessible, and presented clearly for both parents and students.
- It mandates the Secretary of Education to broaden the range of admissions data that institutions are required to report, thereby enhancing transparency in line with the Secretary’s determinations.
- Moreover, it calls for stricter accuracy checks on the data submitted by institutions via IPEDS and stipulates remedial actions if institutions delay or provide incomplete or incorrect data.
ENDING DISCRIMINATORY RACE-BASED ADMISSIONS:
President Trump is taking decisive action to eliminate discriminatory practices that not only contravene legal standards but also deprive hardworking students of opportunities and scholarships, ultimately wasting taxpayer money.
- In 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court determined that considering race in higher education admissions violates students’ civil rights.
- Despite this ruling, the lack of accessible admissions data from universities—coupled with the widespread use of “diversity statements” and various overt and covert racial proxies—raises ongoing concerns about the actual influence of race in admissions decisions.
- This Memorandum requires educational institutions to provide the necessary data to verify that their admissions processes are free from unlawful discrimination, thereby offering the public a clearer insight into the criteria considered during admissions.
- Students, parents, and taxpayers alike should be assured that our nation’s colleges and universities are committed to recruiting and training future generations with fairness and integrity.
ADVANCING REFORMS IN HIGHER EDUCATION
President Trump is holding elite universities accountable, ensuring that they emphasize fairness, merit, and core American values.
- In January 2025, President Trump signed an Executive Order to abolish discriminatory and illegal DEI preferences in higher education.
- In June 2025, he issued a Proclamation aimed at protecting national security by suspending the entry of foreign nationals wishing to study or participate in exchange programs at Harvard University.
- In July 2025, the Administration successfully negotiated an agreement with the University of Pennsylvania to ensure that men’s participation in women’s sports is curtailed, restoring the trophies and records belonging to female athletes.
- Also in July 2025, settlements were reached with Columbia University and Brown University, requiring them to provide access to all pertinent data and information to rigorously evaluate compliance with their commitments to merit-based hiring and admissions.
