President Devorah Lieberman: The University of La Verne is and will continue to be an Inclusive Campus

On January 27, 2017, the White House issued an executive order suspending entry of all refugees to the United States for 120 days and barring entry for 90 days for citizens of Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen. Initially, reports indicated that people from those countries who hold green cards would need waivers to return to the United States. Two days later, the White House appeared to reverse course, saying green-card holders will not be affected going forward.

The order is being challenged in court, and it is not yet clear what the full impact will be.

The University of La Verne is working to identify and assist students and faculty who are directly impacted by the order. We are monitoring the situation as it unfolds and will provide information and counsel to students, families, faculty, and staff.

Advisors in the university’s Office of International Services and Engagement, Student Affairs, Office of Diversity and Inclusivity, Counseling and Psychological Services, and Human Resources are available to answer questions, discuss concerns, and provide connections to additional resources.

In the meantime, we encourage campus community members who may be impacted by the executive order to consider postponing international travel.

Amid the confusion and concern, the campus community can be confident of this: The University of La Verne is and will continue to be an Inclusive Campus. We stand with the 1,400-member strong Association of American Colleges and Universities, to which we belong, in “reaffirming an abiding commitment to the values of diversity, inclusion, and equity as critical to the wellbeing of our democratic culture and as the cornerstones of excellence in liberal education.”

We support a diverse, respectful, and welcoming environment where students benefit from the life experiences and viewpoints of other students, faculty, staff, and community members.

And we will continue to provide a positive educational environment for all members of our learning community, live our core values, and welcome and champion students and scholars from around the world.

Sincerely,

Devorah A. Lieberman, Ph.D.
President