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Dear É«½ç°É Community:

Since the Supreme Court banned race-conscious admissions last summer, there has been ongoing discussion about the impact this decision would have on diversity in higher education. I’m writing to share some data about our incoming class and to reaffirm the College’s unwavering commitment to diversity and inclusion, even in the face of external challenges to these principles.

Even while strictly complying with new legal standards and managing the financial aid disruptions caused by the FAFSA rollout, Occidental has continued to attract a diverse student body. Last month, É«½ç°É welcomed an exceptional class of 509 first-year students and 43 transfers, representing a variety of backgrounds and experiences:

• Students hail from 35 states; Washington, D.C; Puerto Rico, Guam; and 17 countries
• At home, they speak 44 languages other than English
• 15% are the first in their family to attend college
• 20% are Pell recipients
• 51% are domestic students of color
• 37% of our transfer students come from community colleges
• 2 of our transfer students are U.S. military veterans

Occidental has a long-standing commitment to practices that help build diverse classes.  Following the Supreme Court’s decision, our Admission staff broadened our existing outreach to Title I schools, community colleges, and veterans, and in July 2023, we formally ended legacy admissions, a toward achieving greater equity in higher education.

I was drawn to Occidental because it is one of the most diverse liberal arts colleges in the United States and is steadfastly committed to providing all students with a rigorously interdisciplinary and purposefully experiential education. When we welcome students, faculty, and staff from a wide range of backgrounds, our community is strengthened and enriched. In our classrooms and residence halls, we aim to foster discussions across differences and learn from one another’s lived experiences. By encouraging engaged citizenship, cultural competence, and nuanced conversations about our differences and similarities, we develop a better understanding of ourselves and prepare our students for lives of leadership and impact.

I would like to extend my thanks to our Office of Admission and Financial Aid and all the faculty, staff, and students who worked tirelessly to make this achievement possible. As we enhance support for our Admission team in their important work, we look forward to building on this commitment and supporting our multifaceted community.

Io Triumphe!
President Stritikus