In light of recent changes taking place in higher education due to executive orders and other announcements by the Trump administration, Colgate University has updated the campus community on its response to the “Dear Colleague” letter issued by Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights of the United States Department of Education Craig Trainor.
An email sent to the Colgate community on March 6 from L. Hazel Jack, vice president and chief of staff to the president, detailed what the University believes to be the current context of the letter.
“The letter acknowledges that it does not carry the force of law; it is a statement describing how the Department of Education intends to interpret the law,” Jack wrote.
In a Feb. 25 discussion with three other university presidents, Colgate President Brian W. Casey agreed that the “Dear Colleague” letter does not carry any legal weight and could be interpreted simply as a public political gesture. He further elaborated on this idea to the Maroon-News.
“A good deal of the language in the “Dear Colleague” letter appears to go beyond indications as to how the federal government will apply various federal laws and interpret Supreme Court case law, and thus seems to be as much about signaling as about guiding colleges and universities,” Casey said. “So, we have to read the letter as offering both specific guidance and public signaling.”
Jack’s March 6 email also announced that senior administrators from the University and legal council are to review University policy and practices as part of a committee dubbed the Federal Policy Working Group, which will meet weekly. The committee consists of Vice President for University Communications Dan DeVries; Dean of Academic and Curricular Affairs and Professor of Psychological and Brain Sciences Doug Johnson; Vice President for Equity and Inclusion Renee Madison; Vice President for Administration Christopher Wells; Professor of Earth and Environmental Geosciences Martin Wong as a representative of the Faculty Affairs Committee; and Jack.
In addition, Casey, members of the cabinet, legal counsel and the chairs and vice chairs of two committees of the Colgate Board of Trustees — Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) and Audit, Legal and Risk Management (ALARM) — will meet weekly.
The principles that the Federal Policy Working Group will use to guide their decision making were also outlined in the email.
“1. Access and all types of diversity, 2. Sanctity of the classroom and free inquiry and discovery, 3. Care for members of the Colgate campus,” the email read.
Casey explained the University’s reasoning for establishing the working group.
“It was clear, given the complexity of the changes we have been seeing in administrative policies and in announcements, that we needed to create a standing body to deliberately and carefully review the messages coming from Washington and to consider, with the guidance of outside counsel, any potential changes required by law to our standing policies and practices,” Casey said.
The March 6 email from Jack noted that the University’s senior administration’s believes all current policies and programs are in compliance with the law. Casey outlined steps he and the University plan to take when addressing how today’s political climate affects higher education.
“I will be meeting with the Student Government Association this week and at that meeting I will indicate that Colgate will, as we have always done, follow the law. We must,” Casey said. “But as we continue to consider new guidelines from the administration that we will be guided by our core principles, including our commitment to academic freedom and academic discourse and the care of our students, faculty and staff.”
Director of the Africana, Latin, Asian and Native American (ALANA) Cultural Center Esther Rosbrook addressed the University’s response to the “Dear Colleague” letter.
“ALANA has long been dedicated to supporting student cultural organizations and advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion, and we have always received strong institutional support for our mission,” Rosbrook said. “[Casey’s] reaffirmation of Colgate’s commitment to the Third-Century Plan, both in person and in writing, is reassuring, as it reinforces the administration’s dedication to all student success. It was heartening to see the university take a thoughtful and proactive approach in response to the ‘Dear Colleague’ letter, ensuring that students from all backgrounds continue to feel supported and valued.”
Rosbrook also spoke about the role of higher education, and Colgate in particular, during these changing times.
“I hope to see higher education institutions remain unified in their advocacy for inclusive policies, student support systems and equitable access to education,” Rosbrook said. “I am confident that Colgate University will always stay true to our values while also adapting in ways that protect and uplift our students, faculty and staff.”
