MSU assessing impact of new federal directives

Contact: Sid Salter

STARKVILLE, Miss.—Along with other U.S. universities and colleges, Mississippi State University on Feb. 14, 2025, received a “Dear Colleague” letter from the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights.

The letter indicated that broad federal funding was at risk if the Department determined that universities were not compliant with the Administration’s interpretations of civil rights laws and existing university policies regarding racial components in “admissions, hiring, financial aid, scholarships, prizes, administrative support, discipline, housing, graduation ceremonies, and all other aspects of student, academic, and campus life.”

The letter prescribes that the DOE will begin an assessment of compliance within 14 days, on Feb. 28. The assessments will evaluate the current policies and practices of all universities. The letter states: “Put simply, educational institutions may neither separate or segregate students based on race, nor distribute benefits or burdens based on race.”

MSU will be assessing our compliance in light of these new interpretations over the next few days. As we always do, we will include leadership from across our campus community throughout this process. While some changes and adjustments will be required, our people—our students, faculty and staff—will remain our top priority as we work together through any needed changes and adjustments required by these new federal directives.