Guidance on Federal Actions

Updated Joint Guidance re Race-Neutral School Programs

State U Presidents Statement on Access to Public Education for All_2-21-25 (2)

As elected committee members, the AUC represents the entire campus community. Recently, the committee drafted a resolution affirming its commitment to university core values, and the resolution was unanimously approved. These core values will continue to guide the committee as we navigate future decisions.

We are pleased to share the the resolution with the campus community:

The All University Committee (AUC), composed of and representing the university’s faculty, staff, and students, serves as a governance body engaged in all academic matters, including curricular and policy. The AUC hereby reaffirms its commitment to Worcester State University’s core values; in particular, Worcester State is an inclusive community that respects the dignity of all of its members. The AUC believes that the success of the university as an institution is indivisible from its adherence to its core values, and encourages all members of the university community to take this opportunity to reacquaint themselves with the statements of those values.

Worcester State Core Values:

Academic Excellence: We are committed to providing opportunities to excel in a close-knit learning environment characterized by distinguished faculty, excellent teaching, and creative linkages between classroom learning and real-world experiences.

Engaged Citizenship: We are committed to promoting community service, social justice, the democratic process, environmental sustainability, and global awareness to prepare students to be active and informed citizens.

Open Exchange of Ideas: We are committed to inviting and considering the most expansive range of perspectives in teaching and learning, in scholarly and creative work, and in the governance of a complex, diverse institution.

Diversity and Inclusiveness: We are committed to being an inclusive community in which our diversity enhances learning for all and in which people from all cultures and backgrounds have the opportunity to participate fully and succeed.

Civility and Integrity: We are committed to respecting the dignity of all members of our community and to demonstrating this commitment in our interactions, decisions, and structures.

Dear Worcester State Community,

Recent federal policy announcements have raised many concerns for members of our community who are LGBTQIA+. While there are numerous changes happening at the federal level, Worcester State’s commitment to LGBTQIA+ students, faculty, and staff has not changed. Worcester State will continue to maintain a safe, inclusive, and welcoming community for LGBTQIA+ students and employees.

Moreover, LGBTQIA+ students and employees at Worcester State are protected under the Massachusetts State Universities’ Equal Opportunity, Nondiscrimination, and Title IX Plan, and Student Code of Conduct, which prohibit acts of discrimination, bias, or harassment against LGBTQIA+ students. Worcester State’s chosen name policy remains unchanged.

In May 2022, the university established Common Ground, a space outside of the Student Center where we permanently fly the LGBTQIA+ Pride flag. This flag is an important symbol for us all, affirming the university’s support and celebration of the LGBTQIA+ community. Just this week, students, faculty, and staff gathered at Common Ground for a special event led by the Black Student Union to raise the Black Lives Matter flag alongside the Pride flag. Throughout the academic year, the student-led LGBTQ+ Alliance at Worcester State hosts numerous events, and I have particularly enjoyed Lavender Graduation held in May. 

Faculty and staff continue to be strong LGBTQIA+ advocates and allies. The university’s LGBTQIA+ Advisory Group within the Office of Inclusive Excellence and Belonging is charged with providing educational resources and programs supporting and celebrating the LGBTQIA+ community; collaborating with university offices, programs, and groups that address the needs of the LGBTQIA+ community; and making recommendations about policies, programs, and services for LGBTQIA+ students, faculty, and staff at Worcester State. 

I’m also pleased to share that we are in the midst of hiring a new assistant director for LGBTQIA+ Outreach and Title IX Resource Coordinator. This individual will lead a newly expanded LGBTQIA+ Community Center that we will open in the Student Center. Stay tuned for this good news in the near future.

You will find resources for the LGBTQIA+ community on the new MyWooState landing page, Guidance on Federal Actions, accessible with your university sign-in. This page provides students, faculty, and staff with updates, information, and resources regarding Worcester State University actions related to executive orders and policy announcements.

Sincerely,

Barry M. Maloney

Dear Worcester State Community:

The new presidential administration’s recent executive orders and policy announcements have raised many questions about how these changes will impact Worcester State University and our students. I want to begin by underscoring that student well-being and success remain our top priorities. Through the efforts of many faculty, staff, and students, we have built a strong foundation of inclusiveness and belonging on our campus that puts students first, and that will not change. In addition, Worcester State is part of a large and diverse community where the matters at hand concern us all.

It is with that lens that the university is evaluating the federal changes both internally and in collaboration with partners across the state.

I have been working with the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education, the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office, as well as other state agencies that are addressing the impact of federal changes on state universities. I am committed to keeping the campus community informed through email updates and Campus Conversations regarding the impact of these executive orders and policy changes, including, but not limited to Title IX, LGBTQIA+ rights, immigration enforcement, DEI policy and initiatives, and federal aid, as they develop and are analyzed. Recently, the university organized a very well received citywide presentation on “Know Your Rights” for faculty and students with the Mass Office for Refugees and Immigrants, and we will continue to look for opportunities to share useful information. In a separate communication today, we will provide information regarding university procedures should you be asked by immigration law enforcement about the immigration status of a student or employee.

Internally, I have charged three colleagues — Chief of Staff Carl Herrin, Vice President for Enrollment Management Ryan Forsythe, and Interim Assistant Vice President for Communications and Marketing Deborah Alvarez O’Neil — with staying abreast of the changes, gathering information, coordinating across campus divisions, and providing real-time recommendations to the university. Moving forward, we will be inviting faculty and student involvement as we navigate these changes.

On Tuesday, we began to closely monitor the pause on federal grants and loans that was issued by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), with particular attention to any implications for federal student financial aid and federal grants. The U.S. Department of Education has signaled that the pause would not affect financial aid. This rapidly evolving policy change was rescinded by the OMB on this afternoon, after a judge on the U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., temporarily blocked the implementation of the OMB directive until Feb. 3. 

We recognize that the executive orders and policy changes raise questions and uncertainty for members of our community. At the end of this email are resources and support available to students, faculty and staff. 

Sincerely,

Barry M. Maloney

President

Worcester State University Resources

• Office of Inclusive Excellence and Belonging
• Title IX Office
• Counseling Services for students
• Employee Assistance Program for employees
• International Programs Office

Dear Campus Community,

As you may have heard, on January 9, 2025, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky issued a decision vacating the 2024 Title IX regulations nationwide, declaring that the Biden Administration’s changes to Title IX regulations are unconstitutional, among other reasons. 

We are aware of this decision and are currently reviewing the ruling to assess its impact on our campus policies and practices. Our state universities are committed to non-discrimination and equal opportunity, and we remain dedicated to providing a safe and inclusive environment for all members of our campus community. Please be assured that we still have policies and regulations in place prohibiting and addressing discrimination and harassment. 

We will provide additional updates and guidance in the coming weeks as more information is available. In the meantime, if you have any questions, please contact jquinn@worcester.edu or 508-929-8243.

Sincerely,

Jennifer Quinn
Associate Dean of Student Affairs/University Title IX Coordinator

Worcester State is committed to nondiscrimination and equal opportunity. The University is dedicated to providing educational, working, and living environments that value the diverse backgrounds of all people. LGBTQ+ Resources and Information.

Student records remain protected by Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and the Massachusetts Fair Information Practices Act (“FIPA”). In accordance with FERPA and other Federal and state laws, Worcester State does not share student information or other protected data unless compelled to do so by law or a court order, and only after legal review. Similarly, employee records are confidential under protections afforded by state law.

Undocumented students

Neither federal law nor Massachusetts law prohibits the admission or enrollment of undocumented immigrants at universities, nor are there any legal restrictions on an undocumented student’s ability to fully participate in the campus community and extracurricular programs. (Mass Attorney General Advisory, Jan. 23, 2025)

• University Procedures regarding immigration activity on campus
  On January 30, 2025, the university provided guidance for Worcester State University employees responding to visits or inquiries by government or law enforcement agents
• Download University Procedures