You Belong Here
So much is in store for you at Lesley University! Now that you’ve been accepted, RSVP for our exclusive celebration for new undergraduate and Threshold students for Saturday, April 27.

A Message from President Weiss About DACA

To the Lesley University Community,

I am deeply disturbed and distressed by the announcement today from Attorney General Sessions that the president will be ending the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program (DACA), leaving a six-month window for action from Congress. I write today, amidst this uncertainty, to strongly reaffirm our commitment to educating and supporting all members of our student body, very much including those who have DACA status.

As I have communicated previously, we at Lesley are dedicated to upholding a set of core principles in support of our mission.

  • We welcome and provide access to education to all students, regardless of their background.
  • We do not discriminate on the basis of national origin, citizenship, or immigration status.
  • We maintain our students’ privacy within the bounds of the law. We do not voluntarily share information with third parties unless legally compelled to do so or in exigent circumstances. Faculty and staff should not provide student information to third parties. If anyone has questions about these obligations, they should contact the University General Counsel (legal@lesley.edu).

I additionally want to highlight expertise and sources of support available. Dean of Students Nathaniel Mays, Director of Multicultural Affairs and Student Inclusion Lilu Barbosa, and extended Lesley staff are ready to support our students, answer questions, and connect them with information. Lesley has also been maintaining a list of resources, which includes “know your rights” guides.

We are also in contact with Congresswoman Katherine Clark’s office (5th Congressional District), which has offered to serve as a resource to those impacted at Lesley.

We will carefully monitor what happens in the months ahead and plan accordingly. For now, what is most critical is that we keep our focus on providing an outstanding education to all of our students and to supporting one another across Lesley in doing so.

Sincerely,

Jeff A. Weiss
President