Pomona, Scripps, Pitzer Presidents Join Over 200 College Leaders in Denouncing ‘Government Overreach’ in Higher Education

Photos via the Claremont Colleges.

The American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) published a statement on April 22 condemning “unprecedented government overreach and political interference” in higher education. The statement, titled “A Call for Constructive Engagement,” was signed by the presidents of Scripps College, Pitzer College, and the president and acting president of Pomona College, along with over 200 other higher education leaders.

“We are open to constructive reform and do not oppose legitimate government oversight. However, we must oppose undue government intrusion in the lives of those who learn, live, and work on our campuses… American institutions of higher learning have in common the essential freedom to determine, on academic grounds, whom to admit and what is taught, how, and by whom.”

The Trump administration has taken sweeping measures to restrict funding for and investigate universities, citing racial discrimination in the form of diversity, equity, and inclusion programs and concerns over antisemitism. Broadly, Trump and his allies have long lambasted higher education for leaning too heavily to the left. Vice President J.D. Vance gave a speech in 2021 titled “The Universities are the Enemy,” urging conservatives to “honestly and aggressively attack the universities in this country.”

The administration has used the threat of funding cuts as leverage against universities, which often rely on federal funds for research. It has also revoked the visas of international students for reasons ranging from alleged support of terrorism to misdemeanor offenses. The visas of several Claremont Graduate University students and one Claremont McKenna College student were revoked in recent weeks.

While the federal government's efforts have so far focused on well-known universities like Harvard, Columbia, and Princeton, Pomona was included on a list of 60 schools warned by the Department of Education (ED) of possible consequences from non-compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, or national origin, including antisemitism. Both Pomona and Scripps are currently under investigation by the ED, and Pomona faces an additional probe by the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

The day before the AAC&U released its statement, Harvard sued the Trump administration over the freezing of federal funds and grants. Last month, Columbia agreed to wide-reaching demands from the administration as a precondition to restoring federal funding. The presidents of both universities signed the AAC&U statement.

“The widespread support this statement has garnered demonstrates that despite differences in our respective missions, there is a willingness to speak collectively and act in solidarity to defend the core principles of academic freedom, shared governance, and institutional autonomy foundational to America’s distinctive tradition of liberal education and to our nation’s historic mission of educating for democracy,” said AAC&U President Lynn Pasquerella.

The AAC&U was founded in 1915 and has over 1000 member institutions, including all five Claremont undergraduate colleges. However, the presidents of CMC and Harvey Mudd College did not sign the letter. CMC adopted an institutional neutrality policy in 2018 and does not issue institutional statements, though the policy makes exceptions when circumstances “threaten the very mission of the university and its values of free inquiry.” CMC and HMC did not respond to requests for comment.