Executive Actions and Policy Changes Affecting Our Campus Community
Dear Campus Colleagues,
Over the past several weeks, you have likely seen or heard about federal agency guidance, UNC System Office guidance, or Executive Orders from President Trump that have the potential to impact Western Carolina University’s operations. We understand how unsettling it can be when policies and directions shift so quickly and how this can create, for many, feelings of uncertainty and anxiety. We, and the entire executive team, are committed to working through the changing landscape and providing direction and updates when we have substantive information to share. With that in mind, we would like to provide a few brief updates and information:
- Immigration Enforcement on Campus: To date, WCU has not been approached by any federal or state law enforcement agency regarding immigration enforcement on our campus. In the unlikely event that ICE or other outside law enforcement agents do come to campus, we have provided all departments with a set of guidelines to assist in these interactions. If you need a copy of these guidelines, please contact the Office of the Provost or the Division of Student Affairs.
- Gender Identity, Sexual Orientation, and Sex Discrimination: WCU remains committed to addressing all reports of sex discrimination, including those based on gender identity and sexual orientation, in line with university policy. We will continue to comply with all laws that recognize sex discrimination, including discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation. Anyone who witnesses or experiences discrimination or harassment of any kind should report it through the university’s online reporting tool. Our Title IX Coordinator, Ms. Deidre Hopkins, in the Office of Legal Counsel and Institutional Integrity is current on all issues related to sex discrimination and can be contacted with any questions or concerns at dshopkins@wcu.edu.
- Research Funding and Grants/Contracts: As of this writing, we have neither received any directives that curtail or rescind grant funding for WCU researchers nor have we received any official communication related to changes in our rate of finance and administrative overhead (i.e., indirect costs). At this time, WCU has no plans to freeze hiring or eliminate positions that are grant-funded. We advise researchers and research teams on campus to continue working on projects as normal. The Dean of the Graduate School and Research is closely monitoring policy instructions from federal research agencies and their implications for WCU research. All campus research teams are advised to notify the Office of Research and Administration and the Provost’s Office immediately if you receive any direct correspondence from grant agencies regarding the status of your grant/contract funding. As new information emerges, we will provide timely updates.
- The Use of Race in Admissions and Campus Programming: On February 14th, the Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights issued a “Dear Colleague” letter with instructions regarding how the Office of Civil Rights plans to interpret the Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard Supreme Court decision related to the use of race in admissions and, more broadly, in financial aid and campus programming. In consultation with our General Counsel, we feel that WCU is currently in compliance with the Supreme Court decision and will monitor developments related to application of the new expansive interpretation outlined in the Dear Colleague letter to WCU. We will continue monitoring all further guidance that may be forthcoming from the Office of Civil Rights and from the UNC System Office. If you have any legal or compliance related questions, please contact the Office of Legal Counsel and Institutional Integrity.
- DEI in the Curriculum: In a memorandum from the UNC System Office dated February 5th, all UNC campuses were directed to take action related to required courses that have a focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion in order to comply with President Trump’s January 20th Executive Order entitled Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity. Specifically, campuses were directed to immediately suspend all general education requirements and major-specific requirements mandating completion of course credits related to diversity, equity, and inclusion, or any other topic identified in Section VII of the UNC Equality Policy. In reviewing WCU’s compliance with this directive, we determined that WCU’s liberal studies program does not have a required DEI component, so no action was necessary to become compliant. For individual majors with required DEI courses, the Provost Office is working with Deans and Program Directors on a case-by-case basis to respond to the directive. We anticipate that some programs will need to submit a request for a waiver from the Chancellor, which is allowed under the process for major-specific requirements.
For many of the proposed federal policy changes and Executive Orders, we do not anticipate full resolution or, in some cases, further guidance for some time. We realize that you may have questions about the potential impact of these changes on the daily operations of the University. The answer to these questions, with the information we have now, is that we anticipate very little direct impact on our students, faculty, and staff. That does not alleviate, however, the feelings of unease that for many are created by lack of clarity. We are at a moment in time in which the posture that will serve us best is patience and a steadfast commitment to our mission as an institution that supports our students, serves our region, and positively impacts communities.
As we learn more or receive additional guidance, we will share updates. In the meantime, WCU remains committed to providing equal opportunity to all students, faculty and staff and will remain focused on the student experience and student success.
Sincerely,
Chancellor Kelli R. Brown
Provost Richard D. Starnes
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