As university administrators escalate their opposition to the Trump administration ‘s oversight, funding reductions, and executive actions related to campus diversity, equity, inclusion , and illegal immigration , they appear to be overlooking a critical precedent: it was former President Barack Obama who introduced the framework for aggressive federal intervention through more than 20 controversial Dear Colleague letters aimed at reshaping the culture and curriculum of campuses nationwide.

The Trump administration’s current strategic use of its Compact for Excellence in Higher Education to reshape campus policies by tying federal funding to compliance with specific reforms is simply taking a page from the Obama playbook. Throughout Obama’s two terms, his administration sent Dear

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