Where does Penn State stand on Trump policies? Bendapudi statement leaves some with questions
In a letter to the community on Sunday, Penn State President Neeli Bendapudi said the university is working to understand the potential impacts of recent executive orders and policy proposals from the Trump administration, but stressed its mission is not changing.
Since taking office in January, President Donald Trump and his administration have issued numerous orders and proposals that touch higher education, including orders about federal research funding, and diversity, equity and inclusion. Penn State created a community updates site that contains some information for research funding, DEI, international students and more, but this is the first time Bendapudi has issued a letter about it to the university community.
At least one group of scholars said her response was not enough, with a lack of specifics about where the university stands, particularly when it comes to DEIB.
University leadership has been working to understand the implications of the orders and to determine what their next steps will be, her letter says. Universities, including Penn State, have not been given advance notice of new orders that are often are open to interpretation.
“I want to emphasize that our mission has not changed. For 170 years, our teaching, research and service have been central to our purpose, and they remain so today,” Bendapudi said.
Penn State did not respond to an inquiry about if they’re holding off on making any immediate changes to university policies. The community updates site gives some insight into it but largely states things are still under review.
“Currently, there are more questions than answers. Some actions face legal challenges and their outcomes remain uncertain. The situation continues to evolve rapidly,” Bendapudi said in the letter.
Her team has been working with peers nationwide and with various advocacy groups in Washington, D.C. to advocate for Penn State’s values and impact.
Penn State is one of the leading public research institutions in the world, Bendapudi said, and its impact has been built over nearly two centuries — and is felt not only across the state, but the world. She pointed to the thousands of students who receive a Penn State education every year, the $1.3 billion in research conducted annually, and the $15 million it contributes to Pennsylvania’s economy every year.
“There are countless examples of our impacts, large and small ... and that is the point: Through the power of public partnership, Penn State attracts world-renowned researchers and the best students, and is positioned to help solve some of society’s most pressing problems — from developing therapies and cures for diseases to growing resilient crops to feed the world,” Bendapudi said.
She continued: “We will face challenges and headwinds — which, as always, we will navigate together. But our long-term commitment to the fundamentals — creating and sharing knowledge for the benefit of all — will not change. And we need the collective strength of all Penn Staters to make that happen. Please remember that WE ARE at our strongest when we are surrounded by a diversity of thought, perspective and experience — in our classrooms, our research labs, our communities. This leads to the best possible outcomes for our students and for society.”
Earlier this month the Department of Education issued a “Dear Colleague” letter that told schools they could lose federal funding if they didn’t stop using race in decisions about admissions, hiring, promotion, compensation, financial aid, scholarships, administrative support, discipline, housing and other areas.
On the FAQ about DEI-related executive orders, like the “Dear Colleague” letter, it says Penn State is still determining how that guidance could impact the university.
“While the University is still gathering information, it remains committed to its mission and to fostering a culture of inclusive excellence for our community. Everyone is welcome at Penn State, and we are at our strongest when we are surrounded by a diversity of thought, perspective and experience,” it states.
Some schools, like University of Pennsylvania, have already changed or removed some of its websites that deal with DEI language, Axios Philadelphia reported. Others are waiting for further guidance.
‘An evasion of leadership’
A “Committee of Concerned Black Scholars” — a group of more than a dozen Black faculty members, such as professors Gary King and Michael West, who have long been involved in demanding racial justice from the university — said in an open letter to the president on Monday that Bendapudi’s statement “does not meet the moment” and poses a number of questions to Bendapudi.
“Madam President, you stated the obvious: that the various actions and policy statements issued by the current administration in Washington, DC have elicited varied responses within the Penn State community. This is reportage, and an evasion of leadership. You failed to say where you stand on these issues,” the letter says.
It asked Bendapudi where she stood on various issues, including the “Dear Colleague” letter from the DOE, DEIB, student organizations, student rights and immigrant students. The letter asked the president to respond publicly.
The committee said the “Dear Colleague” letter had “dubious” legal and constitutional claims, and asked if Penn State would seek remedies, including at the judicial level to advance diversity at the school. It went on to say the university’s messaging and initiatives regarding diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging are “in peril.”
It referenced an editorial written by the board of editors at the Daily Collegian, a Penn State student-run newspaper, which said the university needs to speak on the issue and be transparent about how it will respond to the “national pressure to roll back DEI initiatives.”
“To our knowledge, a direct and public response to this important question is still pending. We therefore ask again: Will you affirm, in clear and unambiguous language, that DEIB is not only a core Penn State value but also a non-negotiable Penn State virtue that is essential to the university’s mission. In short, that DEIB is an integral part of who “We Are”?,” the letter states.
With that, the committee asked if the university will continue with its commitment to revamp its office of educational equity. The vice provost for educational equity left the role in July and an interim vice provost was named. In the letter, the committee asked if they will start a national search for a new director and will guarantee the jobs of current DEI administrators and staff.
Many Penn State students are facing a threat of deportation, the letter states, and many of those students are people of color. It asked what actions Penn State is taking to safeguard those students.
“Will you publicly affirm the right of such students to pursue an education at this institution, free from fear? Will you commit that no university resources, including campus police, will be used to support ICE or its agents in raids on university property?” the letter asks.
On Penn State’s community updates site, it states campus police doesn’t ask about people’s immigration status and it does communicate and work with “relevant law enforcement agencies.” The campus doesn’t have sanctuary spaces and the Department of Homeland Security rescinded a 2011 policy limiting enforcement in some areas, including schools.
Other areas of questioning include if Bendapudi will affirm and defend rights of student organizations created on professional interests, like Black and Latino engineering and business students, to exist, and protecting students’ freedom on speech and assembly.
During the university’s board of trustees meeting last week, Matthew Schuyler, chair of the committee on equity and human resources, said a review of Penn State’s affirmative action plan and compliance with various policies, including Title 9, Employ American Workers Act, and anti-discrimination policies, was postponed.
Schuyler said it was deferred to a future committee meeting “due to the evolving executive orders from the new administration.” He said this will allow them to incorporate any new guidance and have a more comprehensive discussion in the future.
The university did not respond to an inquiry about when that may take place.
This story was originally published February 25, 2025 at 5:40 AM.
