To our university community,
Please find attached a most important email message from President Ojakian providing an update on DACA students with reference to the U.S. Supreme Court ruling. He also reaffirms CSCU’s unwavering commitment to our DACA students, as well as all our students, to provide them with the support necessary to achieve their American dream.
If you have any questions or require additional information, please feel free to contact me.
Best wishes,
Dr. John B. Clark
President
Western Connecticut State University
Dear All,
On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal of a lower-court order that blocked the current White House Administration’s attempts to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program (DACA). The Supreme Court’s denial was based primarily on legal procedure and the Court provided no indication on how it would rule should it decide to review any future DACA appeals. The case will now return to a lower court for a decision. The consequence of the ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court means that the March 5 expiration of DACA is no longer and therefore any student who wishes to apply to renew their DACA status should do so immediately. In other words, the DACA program will stay in place – for now.
While this may seem encouraging, we know this status is temporary until Congress takes action. We have met with our undocumented students throughout our system, and while they all have different goals in mind and all of them express the uncertainty of what the future holds for them, they are committed to their institutions and their local communities here in Connecticut. We will continue to fight as we have for the past several years to protect our students’ ability to pursue their dreams without fear.
I want to reiterate without hesitation that our campuses will continue to welcome ALL students. Our institutions welcome students from all walks of life and support their educational goals and dreams, not only because it is the right thing to do, but because investing in all our students improves the sustainability of our communities and our state.
Sincerely,
Mark E. Ojakian, President
Connecticut State Colleges and Universities (CSCU)
Western Connecticut State University offers outstanding faculty in a range of quality academic programs. Our diverse university community provides students an enriching and supportive environment that takes advantage of the unique cultural offerings of Western Connecticut and New York. Our vision: To be an affordable public university with the characteristics of New England’s best small private universities.