Thursday, Feb 20, 2025
Dear Rider Community,
As you may be aware, on February 14, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights issued a Dear Colleague Letter (DCL) outlining its interpretation of federal nondiscrimination laws. The DCL reflects the current administration’s position and does not carry the force of law, but rather describes how the Department intends to interpret the law.
Let me state unequivocally that Rider stands against discrimination in all its forms. We are committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful and equitable environment where all individuals are valued and supported, regardless of their background or identity. At the same time, we strongly support academic freedom in the classroom, ensuring that faculty and students can engage in open, meaningful and critical discussions on complex topics. We must also take this DCL very seriously and are actively assessing its potential implications for the University.
The DCL reaffirms the federal government’s commitment to enforcing nondiscrimination laws in education, particularly in response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2023 ruling in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard. That ruling determined that race-conscious policies in college admissions are unlawful, emphasizing that race-based decision-making must meet strict legal scrutiny. As you know, recent executive orders affecting higher education have signaled the administration's opposition to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. The DCL builds on the 2023 Supreme Court decision in carrying the review of DEI matters beyond admissions into areas such as hiring, financial aid, scholarships, student discipline, housing, graduation ceremonies and all other aspects of student, academic and campus life.
Notably, the DCL states that institutions found in violation of federal nondiscrimination laws could face serious consequences, including the potential loss of federal funding. The Department of Education has indicated that compliance assessments will begin as soon as March 1, creating an urgency to evaluate Rider’s initiatives in these areas. Legal challenges to these directives are likely, and the courts will ultimately determine how these interpretations of the law are applied.
Given the potential impact of these developments, we have convened a study group of staff, faculty and students to inventory the full range of DEI initiatives, programs and activities at Rider as a first step toward understanding the DCL. It is critical that we fully understand the scope of our existing initiatives before determining what, if any, changes may be necessary to ensure that we abide by both our institutional values and legal obligations. I appreciate the group’s service to the University in conducting this review.
As this assessment proceeds, I encourage you to read the full DCL, which I have linked above. We recognize the significant interest in this issue and the related work we are undertaking. As the scope and implications of the DCL become clearer, we will gain a better understanding of our obligations and how they may shape our next steps to share over time.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
Gregory G. Dell’Omo, Ph.D.
President