"More than 220 presidents and chancellors from colleges, universities and scholarly societies across the United States signed a joint statement April 22 condemning what they describe as 'unprecedented government overreach and political interference ... endangering American higher education.'

Among the signatories are leaders from two Virginia institutions: the University of Virginia and Virginia Wesleyan University. The statement also drew support from leaders of several prominent institutions, including Princeton, Harvard, Yale, Cornell, Wellesley, Brown, Columbia, MIT and others.

Tuesday’s statement, titled 'A Call for Constructive Engagement,' criticizes the Trump administration’s recent use of federal funding to influence university policies. It asserts that while academic leaders are open to legitimate oversight and reform, they oppose coercive tactics that threaten institutional autonomy and academic freedom," reports MSN and The Project-Index. 

Photo: The University of Virginia campus is seen on October 12, 2022, in Charlottesville, Virginia.© DAXIA ROJAS, AFP via Getty Images.