Jennifer Serafyn, Christy Kiely, and Anuj Khetarpal Write on Federal Pressure Facing Higher Education in University Business

University Business featured an article by Jennifer Serafyn, Christy Kiely, and Anuj Khetarpal: “Why the softest letter is the hardest one to answer.” The piece, published on October 23, 2026, examines the legal and governance considerations facing colleges and universities as they weigh how to respond to the Department of Education’s “National Call to Action” letter.

The article highlights the risks associated with both responding and remaining silent, including potential legal, regulatory, reputational, and state-law implications. Serafyn, Kiely, and Khetarpal outline steps for institutions to develop a response through careful board oversight, counsel-led review, and coordination with institutional governance.

The authors emphasize the need for durable, carefully considered responses, noting:

“Institutions should say something true, supportable, and consistent with their authority – and be prepared to live with it years from now.”

The full article is available here.