# The Ethics Exchange - Rethinking Higher Education: A Conversation with Danielle Allen on the White House Compact ![The Ethics Exchange](/sites/g/files/omnuum9911/files/styles/hwp_5_4__480x385/public/2025-10/The%20Ethics%20Exchange%20-%20Nov%2025%20%28website%20event%20thumbnail%29%20%281920%20x%201080%20px%29.png?itok=gqHzXwZN) #### calendar\_today Date and Time **October 27, 2025** 12:00PM - 01:00PM EDT #### pin\_drop Location **Dennis F. Thompson Seminar Room, Edmond & Lily Safra Center for Ethics** [ 124 Mount Auburn Street Cambridge, MA 02138 United States ]() [ Register Here arrow\_circle\_right ](https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/9n6m8ch?source_id=57496815-5e49-4e4c-b002-11c73d4cae8d&source_type=em&c=omtGw6X3qPFA1evpGEN5eFLr-IDyLWPF0WgrW0P7zgw2WDMztNMs0g==) The Edmond & Lily Safra Center for Ethics invites you to join us for the next session of **The Ethics Exchange** with **Danielle Allen**, James Bryant Conant University Professor at Harvard University and former Director of the Edmond & Lily Safra Center. The event will take place on **Monday, October 27** at **12:00 PM** in the Edmond & Lily Safra Center and will focus on Professor Allen's recent Substack posting, "Why I'm Excited About the White House's Proposal for a Higher Ed Compact." The U.S. Department of Education recently sent a letter to nine leading universities proposing a new “Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education” between America and its universities. James Bryant Conant University Professor at Harvard University and former Edmond & Lily Safra Center for Ethics Director [**Danielle Allen**](https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__xf5bt9nab.cc.rs6.net_tn.jsp-3Ff-3D001X8c0-5FcZQMDRr1kmoG5duf2OceIKwWi3S-5FS4SCdbMxHnQWElh6Vp88IR-2Dmi82xPOFHEg6pSjoKJTSWqApX7pHMOLXIjVx5mK4m0aKzm9b3-2DBPKGhCh0XTIYCIUZw-5F5X-5FSbB0le5sgbQj0d3FnrmH-2DdKJjjTgdmiVOkxZJsZ-5F1STApqWwuIY7qmw-3D-3D-26c-3DomtGw6X3qPFA1evpGEN5eFLr-2DIDyLWPF0WgrW0P7zgw2WDMztNMs0g-3D-3D-26ch-3DUgdAHfa5EKJO0n-2DAKDPRz044n9Bmd8-2D7W3IVST6jJPDEPT4gH39OKw-3D-3D&d=DwMFaQ&c=WO-RGvefibhHBZq3fL85hQ&r=AxbYLljXUA_5nldYkvuQFT3dkJ11gW9SlHwaMxzB5Bg&m=1GxFpWbazwx4zv23TgoL-Wrk91g7hVTREjfvcCmVlQuGzpIDi3rpUmF5X8DboIT1&s=ZC8VGE35xIFkWJvOnfEYQZG2EXBEG9NcFGQ9IFCGlK0&e=) will discuss why, despite weaknesses in the proposal itself, there is cause for excitement. This event will ask why a compact is desirable in the first place—what purpose would it serve, and what benefits might it bring? What kind of process could be used to develop such a compact, and what conditions would need to be met for it to be considered legitimate and effective? Finally, Allen will evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the Department of Education’s current proposal, and explore how leaders of the recipient organizations might play a constructive role in guiding both the whole sector and the government toward stronger solutions. This Ethics Exchange invites Professor Allen into an informal group discussion across roles - students, staff, fellows, faculty, and community members alike - to think through these ideas and encourage discussion about them. ***Please Note! *** We request that you [read Professor Allen's posting](https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__xf5bt9nab.cc.rs6.net_tn.jsp-3Ff-3D001X8c0-5FcZQMDRr1kmoG5duf2OceIKwWi3S-5FS4SCdbMxHnQWElh6Vp88IR-2Dmi82xPOFeVdJmQn5lg-2DQZWPoPN4Ok7Q7PUYV-5FEKgj6hyAOya7aK2W9OQFkLsbIqwCh-5FaGJdYVD9ZzylALfxDABMqZCSqlO55Qt4ck7x-2DSdfJ2CyVicVFQOopQNuSn8K-2D3oPSbtY7JR4i3sifZVB28i2wAbwUiCiEImirA9Lm-26c-3DomtGw6X3qPFA1evpGEN5eFLr-2DIDyLWPF0WgrW0P7zgw2WDMztNMs0g-3D-3D-26ch-3DUgdAHfa5EKJO0n-2DAKDPRz044n9Bmd8-2D7W3IVST6jJPDEPT4gH39OKw-3D-3D&d=DwMFaQ&c=WO-RGvefibhHBZq3fL85hQ&r=AxbYLljXUA_5nldYkvuQFT3dkJ11gW9SlHwaMxzB5Bg&m=1GxFpWbazwx4zv23TgoL-Wrk91g7hVTREjfvcCmVlQuGzpIDi3rpUmF5X8DboIT1&s=SR1LeeWjLCLztrE8HWpknfjzpTp1Z5M_RigbqHFQOqE&e=) prior to the event to ground the discussion. If you would prefer, you may [listen to her speak on this topic](https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__xf5bt9nab.cc.rs6.net_tn.jsp-3Ff-3D001X8c0-5FcZQMDRr1kmoG5duf2OceIKwWi3S-5FS4SCdbMxHnQWElh6Vp88IR-2Dmi82xPOFPNo91D9M4F7OAI595Q0Qzav27tkqADev1JW60dt2d7dNhY7ADcNRS0HuoOSqSJJ9gvd1Uall9kUmrYF-2Db1Ps4mvRLn3QLmLYGVYj10-2DbHwF-2DCOCDog2U89xTFQt2hO1-5FXF0xHrCx1UtVKZzSQJPI3yHQa6L71y5Wu4Gw0Wc9ciS10DIjFniYhQ3mThHdNTXl-26c-3DomtGw6X3qPFA1evpGEN5eFLr-2DIDyLWPF0WgrW0P7zgw2WDMztNMs0g-3D-3D-26ch-3DUgdAHfa5EKJO0n-2DAKDPRz044n9Bmd8-2D7W3IVST6jJPDEPT4gH39OKw-3D-3D&d=DwMFaQ&c=WO-RGvefibhHBZq3fL85hQ&r=AxbYLljXUA_5nldYkvuQFT3dkJ11gW9SlHwaMxzB5Bg&m=1GxFpWbazwx4zv23TgoL-Wrk91g7hVTREjfvcCmVlQuGzpIDi3rpUmF5X8DboIT1&s=PgSiT2dtMBm1Jk94pS9mbeMc1m5iXn1clGBJHyhA5oQ&e=) with Professors Archon Fung and Steve Richer on their podcast Terms of Engagement. **Registration is required for this event**, and attendance will be in-person only. All attendees must agree to the Chatham House Rule: participants are free to use information received, but neither the identity nor the affiliation of the speakers may be revealed. Lunch will be served. Share on:- [ Facebook ](#) - [ Twitter ](#) - [ Linkedin ](#) Save: [ Add to calendar calendar\_today ](https://www.ethics.harvard.edu/node/1636531/event-feed.ics) Copy link link