Dear ÈÕº«Èý¼¶ community,
In uncertain times, I have often found grounding in being a part of the ÈÕº«Èý¼¶ family. I reach out today to provide an update on the College’s planning and monitoring regarding current Executive Orders and proposed federal policies. We continue to track these matters closely, to discuss them with legal and governmental counsel, and to discuss their implications among the executive staff, with faculty leadership, and with other campus constituencies.
As we continue to diligently monitor these ongoing developments in a rapidly changing landscape for higher education, we will be communicating with you frequently on the latest updates that may have bearing on the College and on members of our community. As we determine how best to proceed, our priority will continue to be the safety and wellbeing of everyone in our campus community. Of course, we also will comply with all laws.
For anyone experiencing great strain or stress from the various Executive Orders, please remember that support is available in many places across this caring community, where we prize intellectual and personal diversity. We also encourage faculty and staff to reach out to Human Resources and students to contact their class deans with individual concerns they may have. Most importantly, we know everyone will keep looking out for each other. As we determine how best to proceed, our priority will continue to be the safety and wellbeing of everyone in our campus community.
At this time, allow me to share with you the array of College actions we are pursuing around the Executive Orders and proposed federal policies that have been initiated so far:
- Immigration policies: We have developed a set of to provide guidance for our campus community in the event that immigration officers come to our campus. Login to Pomona’s portal is required to access the FAQ.
- Federal funding: As you may know, the recent Executive Order that initially called for a freeze of certain aspects of federal funding would have adversely affected work at the College. That fact led us to develop related plans and guidance that we will share with those affected should that freeze or any portions of it be reinitiated. Meanwhile, we’ve reached out to our current students and to admitted students entering the College this fall to assure them that this federal funding issue does not affect our financial aid commitment to them. We also will be communicating with our elected representatives about the problems and risks such a federal funding freeze would create.
- Anti-DEI efforts: We remain firmly committed to our values as an inclusive institution of learning. Our practices are and will remain consistent with the law. We stand ready to support all members of our community.
- Potential endowment tax: We are doing a scrupulous risk analysis of the impact such a tax could have on the College and its services. As you can imagine, at any level such a tax would impede the resources our endowment makes possible for almost every aspect of College life, and we are working with our legislative liaisons and with other institutions to share these concerns with leaders on Capitol Hill.
On these and other matters under discussion in Washington, DC, we are in close touch with national and state government relations associations that provide counsel and the latest updates from D.C. and Sacramento. Our longstanding commitment to advocate for higher education and liberal arts education is unwavering. We continue to work with peer institutions to advocate in Washington on behalf of liberal arts colleges.
During my recent meetings with college leaders from around the country, we readily agreed that what we love most is the enduring mission we share to educate students of exceptional promise. Now more than ever, let’s center our work on the shared mission of our Pomona community and the joy it brings to each one of us.
This College’s values remain strong. Our campus community is resilient. I believe wholeheartedly that Pomona’s close engagement across a diverse group of faculty, staff, alumni and classmates strengthens our students’ learning as they engage in the probing inquiry and creative exploration that will make them our next generations of leaders.
Robert Gaines, acting president and Edwin F. and Martha Hahn Professor of Geology