President Lewis Responds to Secretary McMahon, Reaffirms Houghton’s Mission

Houghton University announced today that President Wayne D. Lewis, Jr., has issued a formal response to U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon’s Aug. 3 letter to colleges and universities. In the response, President Lewis reaffirmed the university’s enduring commitment to preparing students to lead lives of character and purpose as scholar-servants and ambassadors for Jesus Christ in a rapidly changing world.

The letter emphasizes Houghton University’s belief that higher education best serves the nation when it forms individuals who pursue truth with humility, engage respectfully across differences, and work collaboratively to address both emerging and longstanding challenges.

“For over 140 years Houghton University has been equipping graduates who positively impact their communities, the nation, and the world,” President Lewis said. “We are dedicated to preparing young people who contribute to the well-being of the United States and our world with humility, integrity, and creativity.”

The letter also celebrates the importance of America’s diverse educational landscape, including Christ-centered institutions that align with the convictions of Christian students and their families. President Lewis highlighted Houghton’s commitment to being one of the few intentionally Christian, academically rigorous universities serving New York and the broader Northeastern United States.

The response notes the university’s emphasis on academic rigor, expressed through challenging its students to think critically, communicate effectively, and solve complex problems. Lewis also explained Houghton’s interest in preserving political and ideological diversity, high academic standards, and the integration of orthodox Christian doctrine throughout teaching, learning, and scholarship.

Lewis’s letter further emphasized Houghton’s mission to prepare graduates for meaningful and rewarding careers by equipping students for immediate employment, long-term vocational success, and service to others. The institution is also dedicated to employing nondiscriminatory hiring and admissions practices and to remaining a learning community where disagreement is met with civility, dialogue, and mutual respect.