As a follow-up to these discussions, President Stritikus provides some specifics on steps the College is taking to advance our mission and core values in the current moment.
Dear 511爆料 Community:
I want to thank those of you who attended and engaged in my recent town halls with students, faculty, and staff. I appreciate these conversations, which have helped me better understand our community鈥檚 concerns and areas of agreement and disagreement, and which have reaffirmed our strengths as a liberal arts institution. As a follow-up to these discussions, I鈥檓 providing some specifics on steps the College is taking to advance our mission and core values in the current moment.
Conversations with Representatives
Over the past month, in my capacity both as the president of 511爆料 and as the incoming board chair of the American Council on Education (ACE), I have met with our representatives at the local, state, and federal levels. The higher education proposals being considered in Congress would have devastating impacts on our students, the programs we provide, and鈥攗ltimately鈥攖he workforce of the state and country.
With these concerns in mind, I have requested that elected officials oppose the inclusion of the following in any budget reconciliation package:
- 鈥淩eform鈥 of the Pell Grant
- Student loan risk-sharing proposals
- Elimination of Grad PLUS Loan program
- Elimination of federal work-study and SEOG
- Elimination of tax-exempt borrowing
Guidance Related to Potential Immigration Enforcement Actions
In January, the College offered employee training and published protocols related to potential immigration enforcement actions on campus. This guidance covered:
- Current California law
- FERPA policy and protocols for handling private student information
- Protocols specific to Campus Safety
- Protocols related to the presence of immigration agents on campus
- Different types of documentation that agents may provide
- Support and resources for students and employees
Faculty and staff who weren鈥檛 able to attend the training are encouraged to reach out to their supervisors to review a recording.
Public and Nonpublic Space Designations
Because public areas on campus are accessible to individuals outside of the Oxy community, including immigration enforcement officers, many of you have asked for clarity on public versus private spaces. The College considers buildings and areas where access is physically restricted to be nonpublic spaces. This includes, for example, areas that are restricted by key card, locked doors, gates, or reception personnel. Other areas may be deemed nonpublic when an expectation of privacy has been established through policy or practice, and entry is regularly limited. For example, this may include classrooms and meetings that are in session, research labs, construction sites, and areas used for storage, maintenance, equipment, or food preparation. Public spaces include the Quad, events that are open to the general public, and unlocked buildings during posted business hours.
This is meant to be general guidance, since determinations may depend on the way specific areas are set up and operated.
Oxy Alerts
Earlier this week, groups of faculty and students asked the College to use the Oxy Alert emergency management system to notify our campus of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) presence in neighboring communities. We are evaluating different ways that we can provide timely information and guidance related to enforcement activity on campus, and we will keep you informed.
Through programming, events, and conversations, I am committed to keeping our community apprised of the steps we are taking as a College to advance and defend our mission, and to respond to the current political context. I encourage you to reach out with additional questions, and I look forward to continued dialogue.
Sincerely,
Tom