Trump goes on to say that he would open applications for new accreditors to impose standards that include “defending American tradition and Western civilization, protecting freedom of expression, eliminating wasteful administrative positions that cost incredibly ramp up’ and ‘implementing university entrance and exit exams’. to prove that students actually learn and get value for their money.” — Sarah Butrymowicz

Affirmative action

Both Trump and Vance have taken a hard line against affirmative action and diversity initiatives. Trump celebrated the Supreme Court’s 2023 ruling banning affirmative action in college admissions, calling it a “great day for America.” “We’re going back to merit-based everything – and that’s how it should be,” he wrote on TruthSocial.

After that decision, Vance wrote a letter to university presidents warning: “The U.S. Senate is prepared to use its full investigative powers to uncover the secret or otherwise circumvention of the Supreme Court ruling.” Last December, he introduced a bill to create an office of inspector general to investigate discrimination in college admissions and financial aid, which would take away federal aid from colleges found in violation. – Meredith Kolodner

Community College

Trump has said people don’t understand what community colleges are and suggested they be renamed vocational or technical colleges (although they are not the same). He is not in favor of tuition-free community colleges, but last year he pitched the idea of ​​a free online college he called American Academy that would be paid for by taxes on private universities. Experts have said this plan is unlikely to hold. – Olivia Sánchez

DEI

As unrest over DEI initiatives increased in 2020, Trump issued an executive order banning “divisive” diversity training, which applied to federal agencies and federal grant recipients, including universities.

Vance has also criticized DEI initiatives, calling them “racism, plain and simple.” Last December, he wrote a letter to the president of Ohio State University, examining its hiring practices and curriculum. “If universities continue to promote racial hatred, euphemistically called DEI, we need to look at their funding,” he wrote on X. – MK

For-profit colleges and universities

Trump has long been seen as a friend of the profitable university sector. Before becoming president, he ran the profitable Trump University, which trained students for careers in real estate. He was subsequently sued by former students who claimed the university had misled them; the case was settled with a $25 million payout. During his tenure, he took several steps to make it easier for for-profit colleges to thrive, and enrollment at these institutions began to rise in 2020. His administration has rolled back the Obama-era gainful employment rule, which required for-profit colleges to meet certain criteria to ensure that a majority of graduates earned enough to repay their loans. As president, Trump vetoed a bill that would have provided debt forgiveness for veterans defrauded by for-profit colleges.– MK