The following is a message President Niemi sent to the Framingham State University community on June 29th, following the release of the U.S. Supreme Court's decision on Affirmative Action:

Dear FSU Community,

Today, the United States Supreme Court ruled that Affirmative Action – or the use of racial preferences by colleges and universities in the admissions process – is unconstitutional.  

This decision, which overturns 45 years of prior judicial precedent, threatens to erase one of the primary means by which many of our nation's college campuses have tried to diversify their student populations. There are myriad reasons why our country should support efforts to increase racial and ethnic diversity at institutions of higher learning, the most notable being the need to address the fact that marginalized populations have been systematically and unjustly excluded from the college experience since before our nation's founding. Simply put, acting to redress this injustice is the right thing to do. In a vibrant democracy that stands on the principles of equity—true equity—access to learning must be available to everyone. Learning is a public good.

Earlier today, Governor Maura Healey released a statement that was joined by civil rights advocates, elected offices, and more than 130 institutions of higher education in Massachusetts, including Framingham State University, reaffirming the Commonwealth's commitment to championing access, equity, and inclusion in education.

Since our founding in 1839 as the nation's first public teachers' college, FSU has been dedicated to providing access to an outstanding education to everyone, including those who have been shut out from "elite" institutions, whether due economic status, sex, or the color of their skin.

My fear is that the Supreme Court's ruling will create a chilling effect for all BIPOC students, making them feel unwanted or unwelcome on college campuses. Nothing could be further from the truth at FSU. Not only will we continue to embrace and welcome BIPOC students, as we always have, but our future depends on our ability to enroll and retain these students in greater number than ever before for their benefit and for the betterment of society.

As I wrote prior to the announcement of the decision, there will be no practical impact on FSU - we will continue to comply with the requirements of federal law, but we do not view this decision as impacting our long-held commitment to accessibility for all.

If anything, the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Affirmative Action makes our mission of democratizing access to higher education that much more important. FSU is an institution that welcomes anyone seeking a transformative and life-changing education and that will continue to be the case moving forward.

In solidarity,

Nancy S. Niemi
President
Framingham State University