TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Stacey Shrader Joslin on Oct 21, 2025

Vanderbilt University Chancellor Daniel Diermeier this week made his first comments about a proposed “compact” with the Trump administration that would provide preferred access to federal grants in exchange for the school implementing a series of government mandates. "Our North Star has always been that academic freedom, free expression and independence are essential for universities to make their vital and singular contributions to society," Diermeier wrote in a campus-wide message according to the Nashville Business Journal. "We also believe that research awards should be made based on merit alone." He went on to explain that the university was not asked to accept or reject the compact but rather to provide feedback on it. A number of campus groups had called for an outright rejection of the proposal. The campus paper has more on the story. The leaders of seven of the nine schools to receive similar offers have rejected it so far.