A Message from Interim President Malcolm King

Dear Cooper Union,  

We are aware that members of our community are concerned with many of the communications from the federal government in the first weeks of the new administration. I am writing to affirm that we continue to adhere to the principles described in our institutional vision and mission statements: 

 VISION 

The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art is dedicated to Peter Cooper’s radical commitment to diversity and his founding vision that fair access to an inspiring free education and forums for courageous public discourse foster a just and thriving world. 

 MISSION 

Our mission is to sustain The Cooper Union as a free center of learning and civic discourse that inspires inventive, creative, and influential voices in architecture, art, and engineering to address the critical challenges and opportunities of our time. 

I am also providing an update on the steps we have taken to comply with applicable laws and to provide for the safety and protection of our community, as well as our assessment of recent announcements from the Department of Education.  

Regarding the increased actions by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE):  

  • In anticipation of these developments, we engaged legal experts in immigration, employment, and student protection. With their counsel, we reviewed and clarified our protocols for engagement. 
     
  • Cooper staff with responsibility for campus safety, student and employee records, information systems, and student care and support have updated guidance on how to engage should anyone attempt to physically access our buildings or make inquiries for information. 
     
  • If anyone outside of the Cooper community is attempting to gain access to Cooper buildings, 
    • Alert the security desks in either the Foundation Building or 41 Cooper or call security at 212-353-4270.
    • Contact Tom Tresselt, Director of Campus Safety and Security, at 212-353-4119 or thomas.tresselt@cooper.edu. 
  • FOR STUDENTS: Any student who is stopped by ICE or questioned about immigration status OR anyone who witnesses this type of scenario should immediately alert the security desks in either Foundation or 41 Cooper or call security at 212-353-4270. Please also contact Grace Kendall, Acting Dean of Students, at grace.kendall@cooper.edu or 212-353-4053.  
     
  • FOR FACULTY/STAFF: Any Cooper employee who is stopped by ICE or questioned about immigration status OR anyone who witnesses this type of scenario should immediately alert the security desks in either Foundation or 41 Cooper or call security at 212-353-4270. Please also contact Natalie Brooks, Vice President, Administration, at natalie.brooks@cooper.edu or (215) 817-1074.  

For information on your rights and/or what to do if you are stopped by officials or witness someone who is, the Student Affairs team has assembled several resource pages. See Immigration Resources, Legal Assistance, and Local and National Support Organizations.  

Additionally, please note that the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords students certain rights with respect to their education records. For additional information regarding The Cooper Union FERPA policy, please visit: Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act | The Cooper Union  

If any Cooper Union student has questions about issues related to the above, please contact Grace Kendall; faculty and staff members, please contact Natalie Brooks. We remain available to discuss these matters with you individually, and we are committed to your safety and protecting your rights.  

Regarding Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion, the U.S. Department of Education has instructed universities, colleges, and K-12 schools to end diversity initiatives, asserting that they are discriminatory. We have carefully reviewed the information and do not anticipate any significant impact on processes and activities here at Cooper. Our standard practice has been to ensure that all academic and extracurricular programming is open to all students. Affinity group programs, in addition to groups that support specific backgrounds, genders, ethnicities, or races, remain open to all and are not exclusionary. Our criteria for admissions and the admissions committee review processes are in line with the Supreme Court's Affirmative Action ruling of June 2023.   

I would like to remind everyone of the resources available to support our community’s mental health and wellness. It is essential to monitor and maintain your well-being, especially in times that feel uncertain and stressful. If any students need assistance, you can find resources available at Student Care, many of which are accessible 24/7. Faculty and staff can access resources by contacting the Employee Assistance Program at 800-252-4555.  

Malcolm King 

  • Founded by inventor, industrialist and philanthropist Peter Cooper in 1859, The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art offers education in art, architecture and engineering, as well as courses in the humanities and social sciences.

  • “My feelings, my desires, my hopes, embrace humanity throughout the world,” Peter Cooper proclaimed in a speech in 1853. He looked forward to a time when, “knowledge shall cover the earth as waters cover the great deep.”

  • From its beginnings, Cooper Union was a unique institution, dedicated to founder Peter Cooper's proposition that education is the key not only to personal prosperity but to civic virtue and harmony.

  • Peter Cooper wanted his graduates to acquire the technical mastery and entrepreneurial skills, enrich their intellects and spark their creativity, and develop a sense of social justice that would translate into action.

   

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