A Community Update on Federal Policies

The following message was sent to the campus community January 31, 2025.

Dear WPI Community,

The new administration in Washington, D.C., is moving quickly to implement its policy agenda, and there are questions in our community about what this means for WPI.

We are carefully evaluating multiple executive orders, directives, and official statements for their potential to affect our community in such areas as immigration, DEI, federally funded research, and more.

There is much we do not yet know, and the situation continues to evolve. It is also possible that legal and procedural challenges could delay or prevent implementation of any of these actions in their current forms.

For example, a memorandum issued by the Office of Management and Budget on Monday this week sought to freeze the disbursement of trillions of dollars in federal funds, including awards for university research. A judge blocked the order on Tuesday, and on Wednesday the government rescinded it. Direct federal aid to students was unaffected throughout this time. 

I understand that you may have questions and comments on some of these issues. We will learn more as policy specifics are articulated by relevant agencies, and I ask for your patience. We will share information as soon as confirmed guidance is released.

As these events unfold, I want to emphasize two principles that will guide us:

• First and most important, WPI will continue to support and respect every member of our community. This commitment is fundamental to our values, and we will uphold it.
• Second, WPI will honor our obligation to comply with legal and regulatory requirements, as we always have.

We will remain in dialogue with our community, especially those most impacted by any specific changes that are imposed through federal policy. 

As a scholarly institution, WPI brings together people from all walks of life and with many different points of view, including political preferences. It is paramount that we maintain mutual respect—for individual dignity, for belonging, and for scholarly inquiry. We will continue to focus on our core mission as we work together, learn from one another, and pursue knowledge and discoveries that will impact the world. 

Sincerely,

Grace