US College Leaders Express Growing Concern Over Trump Administration
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Nearly three-quarters of US college leaders have expressed extreme concern over the Trump administration’s impact on higher education, according to a new survey by the American Council on Education (ACE).
The survey, conducted between 28 July and 8 August, captured responses from over 500 college presidents and senior administrators. Findings revealed that 77% of respondents feared federal policy interference could threaten academic and institutional freedom, while 65% were worried about immigration restrictions and visa revocations.
“These survey findings make clear that many of the most pressing concerns for senior leaders stem from actions taken or proposed by the current administration,” said report authors Julia Napier and Danielle Melidona. Policies affecting research funding, global engagement, and international student access were highlighted as major areas of disruption.
Gerardo Blanco, associate professor and academic director at Boston College, noted that the survey provided a confidential platform for leaders to voice concerns they might otherwise avoid. “The perceived arbitrariness of student detentions and visa cancellations has generated a very different perspective of the US as an educational destination,” he told The PIE News.
Early predictions suggest international student enrolments could decline by up to 40% this semester, with potential economic losses of $7 billion. The Trump administration’s revocation of thousands of student visas this spring – later reversed – shook campuses nationwide and reduced interest in the US as a study destination to its lowest level since mid-pandemic.
ACE’s data also highlighted that 24% of leaders expressed moderate concern over visa restrictions, while 43% signalled extreme concern. Other impacts included reductions in research output and institutional revenue, with nearly a third of respondents reporting financial losses linked to federal funding cuts.
Blanco emphasised that while short-term disruptions may be managed, the long-term effects could weaken the US’s standing in global higher education. “Scientific collaboration across borders is becoming very difficult to pursue, and the negative impacts of funding cuts and visa restrictions will likely linger for years,” he said.
With overall undergraduate enrolment in the US having declined by more than two million between 2010 and 2022, the survey indicates that policy uncertainty is compounding challenges for the country’s higher education sector.
Source: THE PIE NEWS
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