The Trump administration has released a controversial memo to nine leading US universities, outlining new conditions tied to federal funding. The 10-point directive, titled “A Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education”, has drawn attention for its strict cap on international students and sweeping academic reforms.

Under the new rules, international undergraduate students cannot exceed 15% of total enrollment, with no more than 5% from any single country. This effectively reshapes how universities admit foreign applicants, with a direct impact on Indian students—who represent one of the largest international student groups in the US.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• Trump memo limits international enrollment to 15% of student body
• No more than 5% allowed from one country, affecting Indian students most
• Universities must abolish departments that undermine conservative views
• Admissions and aid barred from using race or sex criteria
• Tuition fees frozen for five years and admin costs reduced
• Foreign students to be screened for American and Western values
• Non-compliant universities risk losing federal funds

According to The Wall Street Journal, the memo also directs institutions to publish detailed admissions data, including GPA and test scores broken down by race, sex, and national origin. Universities must ensure all applicants sit for standardized exams such as the SAT. Tuition is required to remain frozen for five years, and graduate earnings by program must be shared publicly.

Beyond academics, the Trump memo makes a political demand: universities must distance themselves from what it calls “dominant ideology” and eliminate departments that “punish or belittle conservative ideas.”

Impact on Indian Students

The restrictions are expected to create major hurdles for Indian students, who together with Chinese students account for nearly 70% of all international enrollments in the US. For Indian applicants, particularly those from states like Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, the 5% per-country cap could mean fewer affordable college options and a fierce race for limited spots.

A student from Warangal shared with Deccan Chronicle:

“If the university collects information and sends it to the government, and if it does not align with their political ideologies, we might face major problems with our SEVIS, visas, or even deportations.”

Vishvanath Reddy, an Indian student from Hyderabad pursuing his master’s in the US, echoed the concerns:

“This is deeply unfair to international students. Immigrant students, especially from India, are the lifeblood of universities in the US. Trump cannot just put a five per cent cap on students belonging to a particular nationality. This will bring in a first-come-first-served policy, essentially penalising talented students.”

Universities Under Pressure

The nine universities that received the Trump memo are: University of Arizona, Brown University, Dartmouth College, MIT, University of Pennsylvania, University of Southern California, University of Texas, University of Virginia, and Vanderbilt University.

Institutions with endowments exceeding $2 million per student are also required to waive tuition fees for students in hard science programs. At the same time, foreign students must undergo screening for “alignment with American and Western values,” with universities required to share such data with federal agencies.

Broader Context

The Trump administration has linked compliance with federal benefits, warning that universities refusing to adopt the new guidelines could lose access to funding, while those that comply may receive financial rewards.

This move follows earlier high-profile disputes between the federal government and elite schools. Columbia University recently settled a $200 million investigation into alleged discrimination law breaches. Harvard faced a $2 billion funding freeze over antisemitism concerns, which was later struck down by a federal judge.

For now, the Trump memo has sparked debate about the balance between academic freedom, immigration policy, and national ideology. With Indian students at the center of this policy shift, the global academic community is closely watching how these measures will reshape higher education in the United States.

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