The compact states that institutions that develop "models and value" other than those outlined by the federal government are free to do so, "if the institution elects to forego federal benefits," which the compact says includes research funding, access to student loans and approval of student visas. The Department of Justice would be in charge of deciding if schools comply with the compact's requirements.

Bloomberg reported Monday that the federal government would be offering all colleges the opportunity to join the compact, after first offering it to only nine selective institutions. 

That could leave MSU in a precarious position: ignore the compact and risk losing out on its federal funding, or enter into the federal government’s good grace, so long as it adheres to the President’s political dogma.

The Faculty Senate’s resolution laid out its perspective clearly. It states that the compact’s tenets violate basic free speech principles, limit academic freedom and essentially coerces universities using the threat of federal funds.

Senate Vice Chair John Aerni-Flessner said in a statement to The State News that the compact poses a threat to academic freedom and would undermine faculty members’ ability to research and teach.

"Chilling the ability of faculty and administrators to carry out the core mission of the institution threatens its future," Aerni-Flessner said.

The resolution, while non-binding, also calls on MSU President Kevin Guskiewicz and the Board of Trustees to reject the compact, "or any similar compact that compromises the mission, values and independence" of the university.

University Spokesperson Amber McCann said in a statement that MSU is "aware of the compact and is monitoring developments on the issue" adding that the university has not been contacted by the federal government regarding the compact.

No MSU Trustee responded to requests for comment before publication.

The Faculty Senate joins a plethora of universities and academic governance groups across the country that have outright opposed the offer or remained mute on the topic.

None of the nine institutions that the Trump administration first offered the deal to have accepted. The President of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology publicly rejected the offer, saying it goes against the institution's "core belief that scientific funding should be based on scientific merit alone." On the other hand, the Chairman of The University of Texas System Board of Regents said that it would review the compact which it was "honored" to receive. 

After MIT rejected the agreement last week, a White House spokesperson said in a statement that "any university that refuses this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to transform higher education isn’t serving its students or their parents — they’re bowing to radical, left-wing bureaucrats."