Dear Rice community,
As we approach the end of the week and in light of the recent Dear Colleague letter issued by the Department of Education on Feb. 14, I am writing to reassure you of Rice University’s steadfast, unwavering commitment to diversity, academic freedom and excellence while remaining in compliance with all federal and state laws.
As I explained in my 2022 investiture speech, our programs can and should strive to include people with an “array and depth of interests, talent, athletic abilities [and] leadership skills,” and multifaceted personal experiences that arise from, but don’t depend on, “race, gender, ideology, ability, geography and special talents.”
In addition, we want to build a community where every single student, faculty and staff member at Rice — regardless of their background, ethnicity, religious beliefs, political views or any other characteristic and belief — feels safe, respected and protected.
One particular note: especially in times of scrutiny, the wide-ranging research and scholarship that universities like Rice perform becomes even more important. When our faculty, postdocs and students ask incisive questions, perform rigorous research and sharpen the world’s understanding on matters within their expertise, they benefit not only themselves and academia, but indeed all of humanity. The intellectual habit of inquiry across all areas is fundamental to the excellence of research universities and fundamental to our excellence at Rice. Rice continues — and will continue — to encourage the pursuit of knowledge and discoveries that improve humankind.
We will also remain aware of the context around us. Therefore, through our Office of General Counsel and governmental relations professionals, we are closely monitoring legal and regulatory developments, including court orders that could impact our policies. Should there be any changes in the law that affect Rice, we will inform you immediately.
We are also working alongside our colleagues in the Association of American Universities, the American Council on Education and other higher education organizations to stay informed about federal investigations and legal challenges that may arise from this guidance and continue to advocate for the important role that Rice plays in preparing the next generation of leaders and advancing critical research, innovation and discovery. Our priority is to preserve Rice’s commitment to our mission, while safeguarding academic freedom and minimizing the risk of misinterpretation of the critical work conducted at our university.
As we navigate these developments, please know that our commitment to upholding Rice’s mission and values remains resolute. We will continue to advocate for an academic environment that supports excellence in all areas at Rice.
Sincerely,
President Reginald DesRoches