Dear Penn Staters,
Recent executive actions and policy proposals from Washington, D.C., have raised important questions for American higher education. Regardless of your personal perspective on recent executive orders and guidance, it is a fact that some of the changes being proposed by the federal executive branch — including those related to federal research funding and recent communications on diversity, equity and inclusion in public education — may have impacts on the current state of American higher education, and by extension, on Penn State.
These developments have sparked varied reactions within our community. While some are deeply concerned about the potential impact on research, education and inclusion, others see them as necessary adjustments. As a university that values rigorous inquiry and diverse perspectives, we recognize these viewpoints and remain focused on understanding the full implications for Penn State. I’ll share a few thoughts below, and we also continue to share information on our community updates website.
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.
How we are responding
Penn State is not alone as we work to understand the potential implications of the executive orders and guidance, and to determine next steps. Universities, including ours, have not had advance notice of new orders. When they do arrive, the directives are often open to interpretation and require careful review.
Currently, there are more questions than answers. Some actions face legal challenges and their outcomes remain uncertain. The situation continues to evolve rapidly.
My team is in constant communication with our peers across the nation, and with advocacy groups in Washington, D.C., including the Association of American Universities (AAU), the American Council on Education (ACE), the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities (APLU), and the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). Together, we are advocating for Penn State’s values and its societal impact. Additionally, we are engaging with leaders in Harrisburg and our U.S. Congressional delegation to highlight your vital work.
As you all continue in your dedicated work to advance Penn State’s mission through this period of change, please know that my administration is working around the clock to understand federal guidance and orders as they arrive. As policies continue to evolve, Penn State will remain engaged, assessing the implications and responding in a way that best serves our community.
Our mission has not changed
American universities are globally admired for their excellence, and Penn State is among the world’s leading public research institutions. Our legacy of profound public impact has been built over the better part of two centuries by our dedicated faculty, staff and students. Our public partnership starts with our elected representatives in Harrisburg and extends in significant ways to include the U.S. Congress and the federal agencies they fund. Likewise, the public benefits and advancements that Penn State provides start here at home and radiate across the nation and the globe. More than 50,000 of our students are Pennsylvanians; we also educate students from every corner of the country, and we are a destination for students and faculty from around the world.
Penn State is thriving, and we will continue to do so. We have a legacy and mission of which we all can be proud.
Together, we create new knowledge and prepare the next generation of workforce leaders. We help society to get ahead and stay ahead in countless industries, from agriculture to medicine to materials science. And we are committed to demonstrating our value to Pennsylvania’s elected leadership and to the public. Every day, the lives of many are made better by the more than $1.3 billion in research our brightest minds are entrusted with conducting every year. Penn State alone contributes more than $15 billion to Pennsylvania’s economy annually. 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.
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.
I encourage everyone in our Penn State community — faculty, staff and students — to stay informed, ask questions and engage thoughtfully as we navigate these evolving policies. Continue your great work: teaching and mentoring students, conducting impactful research, and serving our communities. Higher education has always faced external pressures, but Penn State’s strength lies in its resilience, excellence and commitment to the values that have guided us since our founding.
My leadership team remains in close contact with your dean, chancellor or unit head, to share updates as they become available. Please follow our community updates page for the latest information and for links to more in-depth material, including pages for our research and international communities.
Thank you for your dedication to Penn State’s mission. Together, we will continue to thrive.
Sincerely,
Neeli
Neeli Bendapudi, president