March 25, 2025
Dear Students and Colleagues,
Last week, the President of the United States signed an (EO) on to “facilitate the closure of the Department of Education.” While the language of the order focuses on decentralization and parental rights, we are closely watching how its implementation may reshape federal support for public education, especially K-12 and postsecondary outreach and access programs. The order states that the Secretary of Education, shall:
to the maximum extent appropriate and permitted by law, take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Department of Education and return authority over education to the states and local communities while ensuring the effective and uninterrupted delivery of services, programs, and benefits on which Americans rely. (Sec. 2a)
It is important to note that while an executive order may initiate the process, entirely abolishing the US Department of Education requires congressional approval. That said, we are deeply concerned about the potential redirection or loss of federal funding for programs that are foundational to our mission. As the courts and Congress wrestle with the legality of this action, we remain focused on supporting our students and as new information becomes available, we will provide updates to the campus community. Federal aid, including the Pell grant, and state aid, including the Cal Grant and Middle Class Scholarship remain available.
The 2025-26 FAFSA is still available at , and the California Dream Act Application (CADAA) is still available at . Students can continue to apply for financial aid for the 2025-26 academic year.
Acknowledging the compounding fear of budget cuts/workforce reductions at the same time as targets on higher education and education in general, I want to encourage everyone - our faculty, staff, administrators, and students - to stay steady and focused on the good work you are doing here and now in the classroom and throughout our campus.
We want to thank our faculty, staff, and campus partners who continue to work amid uncertainty and for your continued dedication to our students and their success.
Sincerely,
Richard Yao, Ph.D.
President