An Open Letter to Presidents Now Invited to Sign the Compact

A few days ago, I wrote that the White House's Compact for Academic Excellence wouldn't stop with a handful of universities. I said it was likely to expand — and now it has.

Earlier this week, President Trump announced that any college or university can sign the Compact, inviting all of higher education to align with his administration's agenda.

This pronouncement turns a limited negotiation into a national leadership test.

As I researched this, I found myself thinking about universities like Wisconsin and Penn State — institutions that live daily with competing political, financial, and cultural pressures. Every campus, from Cal and UCLA to Texas and Florida, is unique, but most now face a similar reality: pressure from all sides — federal, state, faculty, donors, and the public.

I've been running scenarios through CrisisCommand EDU to explore how presidents and systems can respond. One takeaway: process is the safest form of principle.

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Before Reacting Publicly, Build Structure First

Here's what that looks like:

• Form a Compact Review Task Force. Include not just General Counsel, Government Relations, and faculty leadership, but also student and donor voices. Alignment across stakeholders matters as much as legal due diligence.

• Know what to protect — and what you are prepared to lose. Before external pressure hits, align internally around three things: Non-negotiables, Negotiables, and Trade-offs. This matrix keeps you from deciding under fire.

• Lead with transparency, not advocacy. Announce a review, not a position.

• Frame communications around mission, not politics. Anchor language in teaching, discovery, and service.

• Coordinate quietly with peers. Shared timing reduces isolation and limits partisan crossfire. (I really hope this is going on behind the scenes.)

• Turn up the volume on research news. Highlight work with real-world impact — proof of how universities serve the nation best when free to pursue truth.

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The Goal Isn't Delay — It's Discipline

In this moment, presidents have the chance to model something rare: leadership that is principled, calm, and transparent — even when the pressure is anything but.

I'll share additional leadership ideas in the coming days.

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Paul Walker is co-founder of CrisisCommand. Connect with him on LinkedIn or request a demo to learn more.