Dear Torero Community,

Welcome back for the Spring 2025 semester. I hope you found joy and fulfillment in the holiday season and wherever your Intersession adventures took you.

As we embark on this next chapter, I found myself coming back to an essay I read on the eve of Dr. Martin Luther King Day written by Dr. Heather Cox Richardson, a professor of history at Boston College, about “everyday heroes.”

In her essay, Professor Richardson spoke about how “heroism is neither being perfect, nor doing something spectacular. In fact, it’s just the opposite: it’s regular, flawed human beings choosing to put others before themselves, even at great cost, even if no one will ever know.”

I was particularly moved by this idea, and was struck by how closely it aligns with USD’s mission, which calls on each member of our community to live not only for ourselves, but in service to others.

These are challenging times for many – around the world, within our country, and here in our own state. Yet I remain hopeful, and I hope you do, too – for, as Dr. King said, “I know, somehow, that only when it is dark enough, can you see the stars.”

As a contemporary Catholic university, grounded in the liberal arts and anchored on an international border, we are closely monitoring changes to policies at the Federal level and are working with elected officials and national organizations to understand any impacts on our community. The situation remains fluid and may change from day-to-day, but we are committed to supporting our mission of teaching and research and will do everything we can to advocate for the funding and support that our scholars, students and families rely on.

Regarding changes to immigration policies, our protocols remain the same and are in accordance with California law and FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act). USD will not disclose any student or employee information, including immigration status, except in response to a judicial warrant, subpoena, or other legal mandate. The Department of Public Safety (DPS) will also not assist law enforcement agencies in immigration enforcement activities on campus unless required by a valid legal mandate. If you hear about, witness or are approached by officials from outside law enforcement agencies seeking access to university facilities, students or records, immediately contact DPS at (619) 260-7777.

On the USD News Center you will find a page that further outlines our general university response to changes in Federal policy and protocols - we will update this information as new details emerge.

As we begin this new semester, let us commit ourselves anew to the work of being everyday heroes - an ethos we see every day on our campus.

We see it in the way we support our colleagues and neighbors, especially the most vulnerable among us. As I said in my message before the holiday break, we are in alignment with Church leadership and remain committed to and reaffirm our principles and Culture of Care that supports the privacy and safety of international students and scholars and immigrants who study and work on our campus. Over the years, we have worked diligently to develop programs and resources that support the needs of these members of our community, and that work continues undaunted.

We see it in the support given to members of our community impacted by the California wildfires and the comfort, flexibility, and resources provided.

We see it in the development of our strategic plan, Lighting the Way to 2030, which was passed by the Board of Trustees in December. This is a blueprint for our university and our commitment to foster inspired and meaningful lives, cultivate innovation to serve humanity, expand our global vision while firmly rooted in our city and region, and care for our community.

We see it in the generosity of our friends and donors, including the recent $75M pledge from Mrs. Darlene Marcos Shiley and the $2M pledge from alumni Mike Persall ‘02 and Joe Kudla ‘00 for entrepreneurship programs. These are investments not just in our buildings and programs, but in our people - and especially our students - who will be better prepared than ever to meet humanity’s most urgent challenges.

Here’s to all of us doing our part to light the way forward together.

Peace,

James T. Harris III, DEd
President