Sean Corcoran
@seanpcorcoran.org
2.3K followers 500 following 290 posts

Professor of Public Policy and Education at Vanderbilt University, lover of opera and ice cream. Views expressed are my own.

Education 80%
Political science 5%
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seanpcorcoran.org
Vanderbilt would not be rejecting some "preferential" funding status. The first paragraph of the compact says universities can accept these terms or forego all of the traditional supports the federal government provides universities (student loans, grants, visa, nonprofit status).

Reposted by Sean P. Corcoran

jgilligan.org
Vanderbilt AAUP press release about the Vanderbilt Faculty Senate voting overwhelmingly to adopt a resolution opposing the President's proposed Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education as an unconstitutional & illegal infringement on rights & freedoms.

vanderbiltaaup.org/2025/10/09/v...
Vanderbilt Faculty Senate Votes Overwhelmingly to Oppose Trump Loyalty Oath
The Vanderbilt Faculty Senate overwhelmingly passed a resolution opposing President Trump’s proposed “Compact for Excellence in Higher Education.” The resolution, citing concerns …
vanderbiltaaup.org

seanpcorcoran.org
Dear media: *please* stop referring to this as "priority access" or "preferential funding." It is *not* like a TSA precheck or VIP line. If you read the *first paragraph* it clearly threatens all traditional federal supports for higher education (student loans, grants, visa, nonprofit status).
washingtonpost.com
Breaking news: MIT’s president turned down the Trump administration’s offer of priority access for federal funding, publicly releasing a letter that emphasized the elite university’s values.
MIT rejects Trump administration deal for priority federal funding
MIT is one of the nine schools that were asked to agree to adopt conservative priorities and policies in exchange for funding perks.
wapo.st

seanpcorcoran.org
Tennessee lawmakers want to *double* the number of taxpayer funded private school vouchers next year due to "overwhelming response" this year. There are more than 165,000 private school students statewide--OF COURSE they would all like a $7300 tuition discount! www.chalkbeat.org/tennessee/20...
Tennessee House speaker wants to double private school voucher program next year
Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton wants to double the state’s new voucher program from 20,000 seats to 40,000. One state Democrat called the plan “fiscally reckless” as the program is already cur...
www.chalkbeat.org
washingtonpost.com
Breaking news: MIT’s president turned down the Trump administration’s offer of priority access for federal funding, publicly releasing a letter that emphasized the elite university’s values.
MIT rejects Trump administration deal for priority federal funding
MIT is one of the nine schools that were asked to agree to adopt conservative priorities and policies in exchange for funding perks.
wapo.st
lkfazio.bsky.social
Now this is a clear rejection! Thank you MIT
byjoshmoody.bsky.social
MIT rejects "compact" proposed by the Trump administration.
MIT prez wrote: it "would restrict freedom of expression and our independence as an institution" and "is inconsistent with our core belief that scientific funding should be based on scientific merit alone."
orgchart.mit.edu/letters/rega...
Regarding the Compact | MIT Organization Chart
orgchart.mit.edu

Reposted by Sean P. Corcoran

seanpcorcoran.org
Go Aftyn!
thetnholler.bsky.social
⚡️ NEW: State Rep. Aftyn Behn has won the Democratic Primary in Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District Special Election

@aftynbehn.bsky.social
thetnholler.bsky.social
⚡️ NEW: State Rep. Aftyn Behn has won the Democratic Primary in Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District Special Election

@aftynbehn.bsky.social

Reposted by Sean P. Corcoran

aftynbehn.bsky.social
I AM HUMBLY ASKING FOR YOUR VOTE TOMORROW

15 seconds explaining why you should vote for me tomorrow in the TN-7 Democratic Primary. I'm the only candidate who is not bankrolled or backed by corporate special interests, the only woman, and the only progressive. #LetsDoThis

Reposted by Sean P. Corcoran

brsoucek.bsky.social
Strong statement today from UC's Academic Senate:

seanpcorcoran.org
Bizarre #apple #ios26 discovery: apparently as some kind of security feature, iOS 26 adds YOU to its blocked contact list! I noticed any email sent to myself went immediately to my deleted messages in Outlook. Thought this was an Outlook problem until (1hr+ later) found this glitch!
gregggonsalves.bsky.social
Here's the assignment folks. Write op-eds for your local papers and campus newspapers too. Just. Say. No. This is a classic authoritarian move and risks the future of higher education and science and innovation in the US. Speak out today. No time to lose. www.nytimes.com/2025/10/02/o...
Opinion | Trump’s ‘Compact’ With Universities Is Just Extortion
www.nytimes.com

seanpcorcoran.org
I don't get why the media is framing the "compact" as some kind of "preferential" treatment. The compact reads as if everything the fed gov routinely does for universities (student aid, grants, visas, etc) is at risk if universities *don't* sign on. What am I missing? www.nytimes.com/2025/10/02/u...
Trump Offered Universities an Invitation for a Deal. Some See a Trap.
www.nytimes.com
gregggonsalves.bsky.social
This is extortion. Faculty, students, staff, alumni across the country need to get to their Presidents & Trustees today. Just say no. This blackmail only works if most everyone folds. Capitulation now means the end of American higher education for a generation. www.nytimes.com/2025/10/02/u...
Trump Administration Asks Colleges to Sign ‘Compact’ to Get Funding Preference
www.nytimes.com
peerresearch.bsky.social
🚨The PEER Center is hiring! We currently have two positions posted (details below). We're a #highered research center (led by @srcellini.bsky.social @jdmatsudaira.bsky.social) focused on generating actionable research for state, federal policy. Put your data skills to work for an important purpose!
chrislhayes.bsky.social
What I would give for a completely honest, anonymous assessment of this appalling and ludicrous spectacle from the commanders in the room.

seanpcorcoran.org
If you have opinions about ABC's recent programming decisions, you can share them here: support.abc.com/hc/en-us/req...
Submit a request – ABC
support.abc.com

seanpcorcoran.org
Please join me in boycotting Nexstar Media, a gigantic company that I just learned existed yesterday
kwcollins.bsky.social
A good time to remember that a whole bunch of us are getting together to speak out against this authoritarianism -- I used to say creeping, but it's really now just a full gallop -- on October 18. Join us

www.nokings.org
No Kings
As the president escalates his authoritarian power grab, the NO KINGS non-violent movement continues to rise stronger. We are united once again to remind the world: America has No Kings and the power ...
www.nokings.org
indivisible.org
We need your help to make October 18 the biggest peaceful protest of the year. Please spread the word, register your local event as soon as you can, and start RSVPing for the local protests to help build momentum: www.nokings.org?SQF_SOURCE=i...

seanpcorcoran.org
Opposite pages of the NYTimes on the same day (9/6)
Headline that reads "PBS to Cut 15% of Its Staff After Losing Funding" Headline that reads: "Musk Could Become First Trillionaire Under New Tesla Compensation Package"
shannonrwatts.bsky.social
The problem with allowing guns everywhere is that no one is safe anywhere.
aefpweb.bsky.social
Join the Doctoral Student Community Group tomorrow at 2 PM ET for a panel discussion on navigating the academic job market. Gain valuable insights and practical strategies from experienced panelists. Register here: upenn.zoom.us/meetin...

esqueer.net
The Wall Street Journal just published the photo of the birthday letter from Trump to Epstein.

www.wsj.com/us-news/law/...
A stylized letter in the shape of a woman’s torso with dialogue printed inside. The text is a back-and-forth exchange labeled “Voice Over,” “Donald,” and “Jeffrey,” discussing life, enigmas, and friendship. At the bottom, it ends with “A pal is a wonderful thing. Happy Birthday—and may every day be another wonderful secret.” Signed “Donald J. Trump” with his signature. A caption below reads: “A photo of the letter, which has been turned over to Congress by the Epstein estate.”
govpritzker.illinois.gov
The President of the United States is threatening to go to war with an American city.

This is not a joke. This is not normal.

Donald Trump isn't a strongman, he's a scared man. Illinois won’t be intimidated by a wannabe dictator.