Trump administration memo pushes colleges to limit foreign enrollment, control campus policies

The Trump administration has asked U.S. universities to agree to a set of rules on international enrollment, tuition, and campus policies to access federal funding.

They've been asked to sign a 10-point agreement covering foreign enrollment, diversity policies, and ideological values to access federal funding. The memo calls for capping international undergraduates at 15%, freezing tuition for five years, requiring standardised tests, and curbing grade inflation.

Some USC students say the measures unfairly target international students.

Nineteen-year-old Maya Young said she feels “sad” because international students “make up a good portion of our population here and they make up what our university is.”

Elishiya Crin-Keddie, 18, added that the policy could harm both students’ opportunities and the broader U.S. economy, particularly industries relying on foreign talent like tech.

The White House has warned that universities refusing to comply could lose federal grants. Letters were sent to several major institutions, including Vanderbilt, Dartmouth, MIT, Brown, and USC, offering “substantial and meaningful federal grants” for those who sign on.

Rights advocates have raised concerns that the policy could undermine academic freedom and align universities too closely with the administration’s political agenda.

Students at USC continue to voice opposition, emphasising the value of international students and the diversity they bring to American campuses.

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