An Update on Recent Federal Executive Orders

Dear Members of the Drexel Community,  

Like many colleges and universities across the nation, Drexel is carefully assessing the implications of recent federal executive orders, memoranda and directives that could significantly impact higher education, including the “Dear Colleague Letter” (DCL) that the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) sent to all educational institutions on Feb. 14, 2025, as well as the related  “Frequently Asked Questions” document that was issued on Feb. 28, 2025.

In response to the DCL, a University-wide task force of academic and administrative leaders, headed by Youngmoo Kim, Vice Provost of University & Community Partnerships, and advised by legal counsel, has spent the past two weeks reviewing Drexel’s current programs, policies and initiatives, assessing the implications of the DCL on those activities, and proceeding thoughtfully toward developing guidance tailored specifically for Drexel and its mission. To foster greater awareness and engagement, the task force has maintained open lines of communication with academic and administrative leadership.

At the same time, Drexel’s Office of Government and Community Relations (OGCR) is working with Drexel Leadership as active partners in engaging our elected officials on the impacts that proposed regulatory changes, executive orders and many other federal actions could have on higher education and Drexel in particular. We continue our work as actively engaged members of national organizations such as the American Council on Education (ACE), the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU), and the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). Notably, NAICU and AAMC, with whom Drexel is affiliated, were signatories to an ACE letter calling on the Department of Education to rescind the DCL.

OGCR Senior Vice President Brian Keech and his team have kept in regular contact with federal, state, and local officials. And just last week I joined Brian in Washington for productive meetings with members of Congress. Maintaining these lines of communication and managing our relationships and partnerships matter now more than ever.

As we navigate this rapidly changing environment, we continue to be guided by Anthony J. Drexel’s founding vision to offer students of all backgrounds and means, regardless of race, gender or religion, educational opportunities in the “practical arts and sciences” that prepare them to succeed and flourish. In alignment with our founding vision and shared values, Drexel will also continue to uphold its longstanding and unwavering commitment to inclusion, anti-discrimination and academic freedom, while maintaining compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

We also recognize there is a great deal of uncertainty. We offer this practical guidance for managing change:

• Keep informed: We have launched a dedicated website that provides updated information and FAQs on Drexel’s response to executive orders and actions. This website includes links to relevant campus resources and our central messaging related to the federal executive orders. It also furnishes updated information and answers to timely questions related to federally funded research, immigration and inclusion and access.
• Surface questions: We encourage you to raise any questions or concerns with your deans or division heads, who are fully engaged in the work of the task force.  
• Stay focused: Our faculty, students, and professional staff all play a vital part in achieving the mission of our University.

In the meantime, please rest assured that we will provide timely updates as developments warrant. Please also remember, above all: We will always prioritize the safety and well-being of all members of our Drexel community.  

Sincerely,

Denis P. O’Brien
Interim President