Dear Colleague Letter

Dear Faculty, Staff, and Students,

On Friday, February 14, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights released a Dear Colleague Letter addressing discrimination by colleges and universities on the basis of race, color or national origin following the Supreme Court’s 2023 decision in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard. The letter also has implications with respect to gender-based policies and discrimination.  We are engaging internal and external resources and national organizations to help assess the letter and its potential implications for our campus and gain further clarity and insights on the best ways to proceed.

University leadership is actively working to understand the necessary steps to align with these legal requirements, while remaining steadfast in our commitment to the university’s mission and strategic goals. We will continue to prioritize our core values and community as we undertake any modifications required by this new federal guidance. Updates and resources on this matter, along with others, will be posted on our External Updates webpages.

Our strength lies in the sense of community we share, grounded in our Holy Cross values and heritage.

In Community,

Montse Fuentes, Phd

President