By Michael C. Bender

Copyright nytimes

Colleges that agree would get priority access to federal funds and looser restraints on overhead costs. Signed compacts would also serve as assurance to the government that schools are complying with civil rights laws. Federal civil rights investigations have been used to halt much of the research funding that the administration has blocked so far this year.

Letters on Wednesday were sent to the University of Arizona, Brown University, Dartmouth College, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Southern California, the University of Texas, Vanderbilt University and the University of Virginia.

The nine schools declined to comment or did not immediately respond to messages late on Wednesday.

Ms. Mailman, who has orchestrated much of the administration’s higher education strategy, said the compact could ultimately be extended to all colleges and universities. She said the administration was open to hearing feedback about the compact from college leaders.

“We hope all universities ultimately are able to have a conversation with us,” she said.

The letters were sent as the White House was aiming to close a settlement with Harvard University, the only university to sue the administration over its pressure campaign. Mr. Trump on Tuesday said that a deal, which had been elusive as talks stalled, was close to being finalized. The Wall Street Journal first reported that the compact has been sent to schools.

The administration has secured individual deals with schools to restore funding, requiring the universities to pay steep fines and effectively adopt new policies. And while there is some overlap in the agreements, the first round of deals has all stood on their own.