The Academic Senate voted to endorse a statement outlining a list of shared values of higher education amid the Trump administration policies at its meeting Wednesday. The resolution passed by a vote of 31-1, with three abstentions. 

Faculty leaders in the Big Ten Academic Alliance — which USC joined in 2024 when it joined the Big Ten Conference — wrote the statement. USC joins 11 other faculty-led advisory bodies in passing it. The resolution is advisory to USC and is not an official stance from the University.

The statement makes nine affirmations criticizing federal funding cuts to research, promoting initiatives to reduce discrimination and opposing “targeted harassment” of faculty, among others.

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“Recent challenges to funding and programming threaten to dismantle the core values and mission of higher education, at great detriment to the public at large and the [United States’] international reputation,” the statement read. 

The University did not immediately respond to the Daily Trojan’s request to comment on the resolution.

A report read during the meeting showed that 143 of 158 faculty respondents from the Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences expressed support for the resolution. According to the report, faculty who were opposed to the resolution were concerned it would put an “unnecessary spotlight on USC” and would “not be a wise move to ensure the values are protected.” 

The resolution follows faculty advisory groups at other Big Ten schools proposing and supporting a mutual academic defense compact to defend “academic freedom, institutional integrity, and the research enterprise” from the Trump administration. 

The Rutgers University senate penned the first resolution supporting the compact’s formation in March, which has been followed by similar support at the University of Indiana Bloomington and the University of Michigan. These resolutions are all advisory, meaning the leaders of Big Ten universities would need to take action for the compact to be created. 

Following the vote, Provost Andrew Guzman and Senior Vice President of University Relations Samuel Garrison discussed the University’s response to financial uncertainty amid the Trump administration’s funding cuts. 

During the discussion, Guzman said there have never been “more uncertain times in terms of financial matters in higher education,” stating that his main concerns are cuts to research funding and federal financial aid, a potential tax on University endowments, and a decline in international student enrollment from visa difficulties. 

“What’s becoming very clear is [that] the most important thing is to keep our eye on the core mission of the University: teaching our students, graduate and undergraduate; treating our patients; and doing the research,” Guzman said. 

Guzman said the University is prepared to adjust to unforeseen changes that the Trump administration may impose. 

“If there’s a negative shock, there’s always a question of how we can mitigate it,” Guzman said. “For example, if an international student is unable to arrive, we can put an American student in their seat to mitigate financial impact.”

In response to questions about whether the University would avoid cutting faculty wages, Guzman said, “The uncertainty does not allow for me to offer that assurance.”

Garrison said USC is engaged in Washington, D.C., through initiatives like the newly formed, alumni-organized Trojan Caucus. He also said the University has a “constant presence and engagement on Capitol Hill,” advocating for the importance of USC and its mission.

During the discussion, Guzman said other universities are facing similar challenges from the Trump administration. 

“I don’t subscribe to ‘misery loves company,’ but turns out it helps a little bit,” Guzman said. “Lots of our peers face the same threats.”