petersuberApr 5, 2025

Kudos to the #Rutgers University Senate:
https://senate.rutgers.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Resolution-to-Establish-a-Mutual-Defense-Compact-for-the-Universities-of-the-Big-Ten-Academic-Alliance-in-Defense-of-Academic-Freedom-Institutional-Integrity-and-the-Research.pdf

"Be it resolved that, the Rutgers University Senate urges the President of Rutgers University to formally propose and help establish a Mutual Academic Defense Compact (#MADC) among all members of the Big Ten Academic Alliance [#BTAA]…Under this compact, all participating institutions shall commit meaningful funding to a shared or distributed defense fund…Participating institutions shall make available, at the request of the institution under direct political infringement, the services of their legal counsel, governance experts, and public affairs offices to coordinate a unified and vigorous response."

#Academia #Universities
@academicchatter

Show threadpetersuber

Update. #IndianaUnversity just signed on to the #Rutgers plan for a Mutual Academic Defense Compact (#MADC).
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/apr/16/trump-universities-response

PS: I can't tell how many other universities have signed on. Is anyone tracking this?

#Academia #Universities
@academicchatter

US universities’ faculty unite to defend academic freedom after Trump’s attacks

Indiana University leads the push for a pact among 18 institutions as Donald Trump targets diversity

The Guardian
Apr 17, 2025 at 1:49pmWeb
Show threadpetersuberApr 17, 2025

Update. The Chronicle of Higher Education says that the University of Nebraska at Lincoln and the University of Massachusetts at Amherst have also signed on.
https://www.chronicle.com/article/these-faculty-senates-are-trying-to-band-together-to-stand-up-to-trump
(#paywalled)

PS: But I'm still looking for a person or group tracking this progress.

#Academia #Universities
@academicchatter

Show threadpetersuberApr 22, 2025

Update. "Some Universities Are Done Playing Defense Alone—They’re Building an Army"
https://cloakinginequity.com/2025/04/14/some-universities-are-done-playing-defense-theyre-building-an-army-for-mutual-defense/

"Faculty and institutional leaders are responding with something both pragmatic and profound: Mutual Academic Defense Compacts…Faculty are…taking collective action. These mutual defense compacts are more than symbolic gestures; they represent the infrastructure of resistance. They aim to ensure that when universities are politically targeted—whether over curriculum, hiring practices, or research agendas—they can respond rapidly, forcefully, and in solidarity."

#Academia #Universities #Trump #USPol #USPolitics
@academicchatter

Some Universities Are Done Playing Defense—They’re Building an Army for Mutual Defense

A New Era of Academic Solidarity A quiet revolution is taking place in higher education—but not in classrooms or laboratories. It’s happening in Faculty Senates, university councils, and acade…

Cloaking Inequity
Show threadpetersuberApr 22, 2025

Update. Faculty at #MichiganStateUniversity signed on to the Mutual Academic Defense Compact (#MADC).
https://www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/news/local/campus/2025/04/18/big-ten-mutual-defense-compact-michigan-state-university-trump-administration/83158081007/

#Academia #Universities #Trump #USPol #USPolitics
@academicchatter

What is the Big Ten Mutual Defense Compact? MSU Faculty Senate urges university to join

Michigan State University's Faculty Senate urges leaders to join the resolution that would support defense of academic freedom and research.

Lansing State Journal
Show threadpetersuberApr 25, 2025

Update. Faculty at the #OhioStateUniversity signed on to the Mutual Academic Defense Compact (#MADC).
https://www.nbc4i.com/news/local-news/ohio-state-university/ohio-state-faculty-vote-to-join-big-ten-alliance-against-trump/

#Academia #Universities #Trump #USPol #USPolitics
@academicchatter

Show threadpetersuberMay 23, 2025

Update. Bruce Simon's slides on the Mutual Academic Defense Compact (#MADC) at #SUNY-Fredonia.
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/11wOgjRy38D88Y1ib9wPvBbnMx3PbQ0Cctxt2ezUHQwY/edit?slide=id.p#slide=id.p

#Academia #Universities #Trump #USPol #USPolitics
@academicchatter

SUNY UFS MADC Action (5/20/2025)

SUNY UFS MADC Action: Why? How? What Next? Bruce Simon SUNY University Faculty Senate President-Elect 5/20/2025

Google Docs
Show threadpetersuberMay 30, 2025

Update. See the progress toward a Mutual Academic Defense Compact (#MADC) from the 25 colleges making up the City University of New York (#CUNY).

#Academia #Universities #Trump #USPol #USPolitics
@academicchatter

Show threadpetersuberJun 9, 2025

Update. The U of Massachusetts Amherst is keeping track of which institutions have signed the Mutual Academic Defense Compact (#MADC).
https://www.umass.edu/senate/madcs-tracker

#Academia #Universities #Trump #USPol #USPolitics
@academicchatter

Show threadpetersuberJul 30, 2025

Update. @virginiaheffernan has a lengthy backgrounder and update on the Mutual Academic Defense Compact (#MADC).
https://newrepublic.com/article/198355/big-ten-conference-colleges-trump-fight

#Academia #Big10 #BigTen #Trump #Universities #USPol #USPolitics
@academicchatter

The Big Ten Rises Up Against Trump

The press acts as if “higher education” = Harvard. But a more interesting and gutsier stand is being taken in the heartland by schools that have a lot more going for them than football.

The New Republic
Show threadpetersuber1d ago

Update. "We Need a NATO for Universities."
https://www.insidehighered.com/news/government/politics-elections/2026/04/22/higher-ed-experts-want-create-nato-universities

Given its topic, this article should have covered the year-old Mutual Academic Defense Compact (#MADC). But it never mentions MADC. The author doesn't seem to know about it, and neither do the university experts and leaders in the article calling for a NATO for universities.

The only "compact" mentioned in the article is Trump's proposed compact with universities, essentially the opposite of MADC.

For more on MADC, see the present Mastodon thread and/or search for the tag #MADC.

#Academia #AcademicMastodon #Universities

Higher Ed Experts Want to Create “NATO for Universities”

Panelists at a New America forum expressed real fears of the damage Trump has done to higher ed, as well as lofty hopes for a coordinated response to the ongoing attacks.

Inside Higher Ed | Higher Education News, Events and Jobs
Show threadPamela Barroway – Biz EditorApr 17, 2025
@petersuber This is fantastic. As it happens, my kiddo will be attending Rutgers this fall. @academicchatter