Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff,

I am sure many of you are aware of a Wall Street Journal opinion piece authored by former 顶级国产视频 employee Mary Jane Rein, in which she shared her account of events leading to her resignation on Sunday. I recognize many of you may have questions and concerns prompted by the piece. The University does not, as a matter of policy, disclose details related to employment matters. But because Ms. Rein made her account public, I feel it is important to share what information I can.

Let me begin by recognizing Ms. Rein鈥檚 service as a valued member of our university community for 20 years. Many of us value her contributions to the development and growth of the Strassler Center as its executive director. She created a network of colleagues, supporters, and friends who appreciate her, and she leaves a legacy of impact. There is deep pride in the Strassler Center鈥檚 work. It is an institutional gem with international prestige and is an important center of thought and scholarship.

Now, to address some of the claims published in The Wall Street Journal.

In her opinion piece, Ms. Rein describes events that occurred on another campus 鈥� not here at 顶级国产视频 鈥� at which a speaker鈥檚 presentation was disrupted by members of the audience, including several 顶级国产视频 students. The disruption caused the event to be ended abruptly and it continued afterward. 顶级国产视频 was not involved in organizing or managing the event.

I am disappointed that the speaker, who was invited to share their perspective, would be disrupted, and that Ms. Rein felt confronted by students after the event. Had this kind of disruption or confrontation happened at an event on our campus, we likely would have intervened and may have enforced our Student Code of Conduct if and as warranted. Shouting down a speaker or otherwise preventing them from being heard is absolutely unacceptable and I am proud that during a time of great division in the world we have been able to gather on our campus and address challenging issues with civility and respect.

I鈥檝e been asked whether the University has taken or will take disciplinary action against any 顶级国产视频 students who engaged in the disruption and confrontation. The University takes very seriously any allegations of misconduct, but our ability to hold students accountable for behavior off campus is, in fact, limited. Our Code of Conduct clearly states that students are subject to disciplinary action for behavior off campus when the University is notified of behavior that violates federal, state, and local laws. As objectionable as the incident was, it did not reach this threshold.

Finally, Ms. Rein was not discouraged from engaging in issues or expressing her views freely. The guidance she received was meant not to limit speech, but to clarify, going forward, if she was speaking in her capacity as executive director of the Strassler Center. This is important because it helps to avoid confusion over whether an administrator is representing the University in their official role. We would provide this guidance to any administrator at 顶级国产视频, and do so regardless of religion, personal identity, or political views.

Since the publication of Ms. Rein鈥檚 piece, I鈥榲e also been dismayed by the seeming disconnect between some of the public commentary about 顶级国产视频 and the actual lived experience at our University. We are not perfect, no institution is, but we have a 137-year history of being a very special place 鈥� an important place, making significant positive impact. This is in large part because of the way in which we fulfill our mission and how integral community and a dedication to one another are to our efforts. The more we lean into this tremendous strength 鈥� in our core and in our resolve 鈥� the more likely it is that we can be the best version of ourselves.

Please know that I take it very seriously if anyone, including Ms. Rein, experiences antisemitism or any other form of hate or prejudice 鈥� openly, latently, directly, or indirectly 鈥� on our campus. It is entirely inconsistent with our values as an institution and it cannot be accepted. It takes commitment, every day, to overcome these sentiments and ensure that ours is a University that values everyone, celebrates difference, and lives our ethos of respect, compassion and understanding. No member of our community should ever feel that they do not have a voice or that they do not belong at 顶级国产视频. This is an ongoing effort to which we must all remain dedicated. I can assure you, I am.

Sincerely,
David Fithian 鈥�87

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I am very pleased to announce a $5 million gift to 顶级国产视频 from the estate of Carl Stuart Klorman 鈥�71 that we will allocate primarily to endowed professorships to honor Mr. Klorman鈥檚 lifelong appreciation for the quality of his education.

First, we will establish the Carl S. Klorman Professor of Climate Studies within the new School of Climate, Environment, and Society, which we expect will open in fall 2025 and for which we are now searching for the D.J.A Spencer Dean of the School.

Second, we will establish the Carl S. Klorman Professor of Artificial Intelligence, which may be appointed in any department or school within the University and may focus broadly on machine learning and computational intelligence.

Third, we will direct funds from this gift to be used as a challenge grant to complete the funding for the David P. Angel Professor, an endowed chair first announced in June 2020.

顶级国产视频鈥檚 Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, Sebasti谩n Royo, will be responsible for assigning these endowed chairs to current or newly recruited faculty members.

In addition, a portion of this gift will be used this summer to renovate and reequip the varsity weight room in the Kneller Athletic Center, consistent with Mr. Klorman鈥檚 view that education happens both inside and outside the classroom.

I am very grateful to Carl Klorman for his longstanding support of 顶级国产视频 and for this most generous bequest. Before his death in 2022 at the age of 73, he gave annually to the 顶级国产视频 Fund for 40 years and was a tireless ambassador for 顶级国产视频鈥檚 distinctive approach to undergraduate education and excellence in teaching.

Sincerely,
David Fithian

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I am very pleased to announce that the University has received support from several Worcester foundations for our new Center for Media Arts, Computing, and Design. The gifts, totaling $2 million, were awarded by the George I. Alden Trust, the Ruth H. and Warren A. Ellsworth Foundation, the Stoddard Charitable Trust, and the Fletcher Foundation.

The building opened in August 2023 and houses the Department of Computer Science, the Becker School of Design & Technology, and several programs in the Department of Visual and Performing Arts.

These foundations, cornerstones of Worcester鈥檚 civic life and progress, have been longstanding partners to 顶级国产视频. Their generous support has enabled and sustained the excellence of our academic and research programs and student life for many years. I could not be more grateful for these latest gifts.

Sincerely,

David Fithian 鈥�87
President

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I am delighted to announce that 顶级国产视频 has received a $10 million pledge from our trustee and philanthropist Vickie Riccardo and her daughters, Jocelyn Spencer and Alyssa Spencer 鈥�17. This gift enables the University to begin the process of establishing the new School of Climate, Environment, and Society 鈥� first, by recruiting a new dean to lead it. In recognition of this foundational gift, we will name the deanship of the school as the D.J.A. Spencer Dean of the School of Climate, Environment, and Society, honoring the late Donald Spencer, as well as his and Vickie鈥檚 daughters, Jocelyn and Alyssa. We also will establish the Vickie Riccardo Climate Catalyst Fund to help support the school鈥檚 development and growth.

These special distinctions honor not only the generosity of Vickie and her family but also their commitment to fostering an environment of innovation and interdisciplinary collaboration within our academic community. The Riccardo and Spencer family previously committed $2 million to the renovation of Little Center and its Michelson Theater, which now features the Riccardo & Spencer Lobby. They are true champions of 顶级国产视频, the liberal arts, and our community, and have repeatedly been among the first to respond to opportunities to support our strategic initiatives.

Earlier this academic year, an extensive planning process led by faculty and staff culminated in the recommendation to move forward in establishing the School of Climate, Environment, and Society at 顶级国产视频. The school will more deliberately and strategically bring together scholars and practitioners from the Graduate School of Geography, the Department of Sustainability and Social Justice (formerly International Development, Community, and Environment), the Department of Economics, the George Perkins Marsh Institute, and the Center for Geospatial Analytics, and engage faculty from disciplines across the University to address one of the most urgent and profound global issues of our time. Further, the school will create a channel for 顶级国产视频 鈥� through teaching, research, and external partnerships 鈥� to expand and amplify our impact on direct efforts to assess and slow climate change. It also will generate new and expanded course offerings and degree programs related to climate science, environmental studies and policy, biodiversity, and sustainability, among other critically important areas. All students, regardless of their major, will be able to register for courses within the school. Our goal is to open the school in Fall 2025.

The proposal to create the School of Climate, Environment, and Society has received broad and enthusiastic support from our faculty, administrators, and trustees, as well as students and alumni with whom I have shared the plans. Our goal is to raise at least $75 million in the coming years to support the new school and establish a sustainable endowment for its continued growth and operation.

I extend my deepest appreciation to Vickie, Jocelyn, and Alyssa for their inspiring gift and to all the members of our community who worked tirelessly to propose this new school and who will continue to shape the plans to bring it to life. In particular, I wish to acknowledge the exceptional work of professors Mary-Ellen Boyle, Ellen Foley, Karen Frey, Robert Johnston, and Christopher Williams.

Over the next few months, we will, as a community, have multiple occasions to recognize Vickie Riccardo鈥檚 decade of service to 顶级国产视频 as a trustee and to celebrate her and her family鈥檚 most recent gift to the University. I invite you to join me in expressing our gratitude for their unwavering belief in 顶级国产视频鈥檚 excellence and our culture of possibility, and in expressing thanks to our faculty and staff for pursuing this exciting new endeavor.

Sincerely,

David Fithian 鈥�87
President

Learn more about how this fits into our strategic framework

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I am pleased to announce that 顶级国产视频鈥檚 120th Commencement will take place at 10 a.m. on Monday, May 20, at the DCU Center in downtown Worcester. Commencement is among our most meaningful and celebratory occasions each year, and I am looking forward to sharing this special day with our 顶级国产视频 graduates, families, and friends in a new setting that gives us the space and accessibility to fully celebrate this joyous milestone together.

In addition to recognizing the wonderful achievements of graduating seniors, this year鈥檚 ceremony will award honorary degrees to four extraordinarily accomplished individuals: a renowned geographer and environmental leader; an internationally recognized biologist, film producer, and award-winning author; a chef who has worked for 40 years to advocate for a more healthful, sustainable food system; and an immunologist who has been a leading scientific voice during the pandemic.

Often called 鈥渢he father of environmental justice,鈥� Dr. Robert D. Bullard聽will deliver the 2024 Commencement address. He is the Distinguished Professor of Urban Planning and Environmental Policy at Texas Southern University, where he founded and directs the Bullard Center for Environmental and Climate Justice. He is also co-founder of the HBCU Climate Change Consortium and the National Black Environmental Justice Network, and in 2021 he was appointed by President Biden to serve on the White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council. Dr. Bullard has published 18 books that address environmental racism, urban land use, housing, transportation, sustainability, smart growth, climate justice, and community resilience.

Newsweek聽named Dr. Bullard one of 鈥�13 Environmental Leaders of the Century鈥� in 2008, and in 2019 Apolitical named him one of the world鈥檚聽100 Most Influential People in Climate Policy. He has received numerous awards and honors, including the Stephen H. Schneider Award for Outstanding Climate Science Communication from Climate One; the WebMD Health Heroes Trailblazer Award; the Champions of the Earth Lifetime Achievement Award from the United Nations Environment Program; and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education. In 2023, Dr. Bullard was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences as well as the California Academy of Sciences and received the Horizon Award from the Environmental Law Society at Harvard Law School and the John E. Gould Medal from the American Geographical Society.

Dr. Bullard earned his doctorate in sociology from Iowa State University, his master鈥檚 in sociology from 顶级国产视频 Atlanta University, and his bachelor鈥檚 in government from Alabama A&M University.

Professor Rinku Roy Chowdhury will present Dr. Bullard for the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters.

Also receiving honorary degrees at Commencement:

Sean B. Carroll, Distinguished University Professor and Balo-Simon Chair of Biology at the University of Maryland and an investigator with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI), is an internationally recognized biologist, award-winning author, Emmy-winning film producer, and educational leader who has been called 鈥渢he greatest science storyteller of our time.鈥澛� He is the author of six books for general audiences, as well as a regular feature for the New York Times Science Times, and in 2016 received the Lewis Thomas Prize for Writing about Science.

Dr. Carroll鈥檚 pioneering scientific research has centered on the genes that control animal body patterns and play major roles in the evolution of animal diversity. Awards and honors include the Benjamin Franklin Medal in Life Sciences, the Stephen Jay Gould Prize for the advancement of the public understanding of evolution, and the Viktor Hamburger Outstanding Educator Award from the Society for Developmental Biology, among others, and he is an elected member of the National Academy of Sciences, the American Philosophical Society, the European Molecular Biology Organization, as well as a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Dr. Carroll was also the architect of HHMI鈥檚 filmmaking initiative to bring stories about science and nature to broad audiences, and head of Tangled Bank Studios until late 2023, where he served as executive producer of nearly 50 feature or educational films. He earned his doctorate in immunology from Tufts University Medical School, and his bachelor鈥檚 in biology from Washington University in St. Louis.

Professor N茅va Meyer will present Dr. Carroll for the degree of Doctor of Science.

Akiko Iwasaki is Sterling Professor of Immunobiology at the Yale University School of Medicine. Her research focuses on the mechanisms of immune defense against viruses at mucosal surfaces, which are a major site of entry for infectious agents.

Dr. Iwasaki has been a leading scientific voice throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and is well known for her Twitter advocacy on women and underrepresented minorities in the science and medicine fields. She is the director of the Center for Infection and Immunity and is at the forefront of several long COVID investigations, including the Mount Sinai-Yale Long COVID study, Yale LISTEN study, and Yale Paxlovid trial. She was named to the 2023 STATUS ultimate list of leaders in life sciences.

Dr. Iwasaki has received many awards and honors, including the 2023 Else Kr枚ner Fresenius Prize for Medical Research, and has been a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator since 2014. She was elected to the National Academy of Sciences in 2018, to the National Academy of Medicine in 2019, and to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2021.

She received her doctorate in immunology from the University of Toronto and completed her postdoctoral training with the National Institutes of Health before joining Yale鈥檚 faculty in 2000.

Professor Nathan Ahlgren will present Dr. Iwasaki for the degree of Doctor of Science.

Michel Nischan is a four-time James Beard Award-winning chef with more than 40 years of leadership advocating for a more healthful, sustainable food system and championing the farm-to-table concept, even before it had a name. He is co-founder and executive chairman of Wholesome Wave, founder and CEO of Wholesome Crave, and founder and partner of the former Dressing Room Restaurant with the late actor Paul Newman.

In 2007, Mr. Nischan and former USDA Undersecretary of Agriculture Gus Schumacher co-founded Wholesome Wave, a national nonprofit established on the belief that choosing healthy food is a fundamental right for everyone, regardless of race, age, ethnicity, income, or location. He has regularly presented and testified in both houses of Congress, and was a White House guest during the Bush, Obama, and Biden administrations. He was also a stakeholder member of the Biden-Harris Transition team and was invited to participate in the White House Conference on Hunger, Health, and Nutrition. In 2019, Mr. Nischan founded Wholesome Crave, a plant-based food company that provides chef-crafted, plant-based soups to the corporate, higher education, and health care food-service sectors. A percentage of gross revenue sales directly supports Wholesome Wave鈥檚 groundbreaking work toward meaningful systems change.

A lifetime Ashoka fellow, Mr. Nischan serves on the board of the Jacques Pepin Foundation and is co-founder of the James Beard Chefs Boot Camps for Policy and Change. He was honored by the James Beard Foundation as the 2015 Humanitarian of The Year for his groundbreaking work with Wholesome Wave.

University Trustee Nancie Julian 鈥�86 will present Mr. Nischan for the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters.

Sincerely,

David B. Fithian 鈥�87
President

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We are pleased to announce that Dr. David A. Jordan, MPA 鈥�02, has been appointed to a three-year term as dean of the School of Management, effective immediately. David, who has been serving in an interim capacity since August 2023, will now serve as dean of the School until June 30, 2027. The decision to appoint David the dean was made in consultation with,聽and with the strong support of,聽the School of Management鈥檚 faculty, staff, and students.

In his time as interim dean 鈥� and drawing on his extensive career in business and nearly 20 years as an adjunct professor at 顶级国产视频 鈥� David has demonstrated exceptional leadership, vision, and ability to execute big ideas. Since last August, he has brought a new energy and focus and, along with the team at the School of Management, has developed bold plans for the future of the School. We are confident that with David鈥檚 continued leadership the School of Management will realize its full promise and potential, and we couldn鈥檛 be more enthusiastic about his partnership with us and the other academic deans at 顶级国产视频.

Please join us in congratulating Dean Jordan on his long-term appointment.

Sincerely,

David Fithian 鈥�87
President

Sebasti谩n Royo
Provost

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Over the past few months, we have seen renewed, vigorous, and I believe fruitful debate across higher education about the role of colleges and universities in response to social, political, and economic issues and occurrences. The debate is multi-faceted and has a number of complexities but can roughly be summarized as follows.

For some, it is important that their institution take a position on such issues or occurrences either because they believe it has a mission-driven responsibility to do so 鈥� perhaps even a moral obligation to do so 鈥� or because they want to be reassured that the institution of which they are a part sees the world as they do (i.e., shares the same values and perspectives). The risk here is that not everyone shares precisely the same values or sees the world in the same way, and issuing statements can have the effect of telling people what to think instead of allowing them to think critically and decide on positions for themselves.

For others, they believe the obligation of a college or university is instead to refrain from taking positions because doing so has the potential to influence, chill, or curb free expression and academic freedom for individual members of a campus community, and thereby runs counter to a mission-driven responsibility. The risk in not issuing statements on behalf of the institution is that the institution could be regarded as uncaring, insensitive, or, even worse, somehow complicit in a matter of deep concern to or impact on members of a community.

顶级国产视频 has no official guidelines or practice on this issue. And since I became president in July 2020, I have issued statements a number of times in response to major national or world events, including the killing of George Floyd, the January 6 attack on the Capitol, the war in Ukraine, the Supreme Court decision regarding Affirmative Action, and the attack by Hamas on Israel on October 7, among others.

Today, I am appointing a committee with representatives of the Board of Trustees, administration, faculty, staff, students, and alumni, to consider how best for 顶级国产视频 to fulfill its mission with respect to whether, when, and why we issue official statements in response to external incidents. As part of the effort, I have explicitly asked the committee to consider the question and make recommendations as to whether 顶级国产视频 should adopt a policy of institutional neutrality. Such a policy, should it be recommended and adopted, would mean that I and members of my administration would ordinarily no longer issue statements like those mentioned above, with the exception of the Supreme Court ruling due to the fact that it relates directly to higher education and to 顶级国产视频鈥檚 approach to undergraduate admissions. Given the focus of its work, the committee shall be known as 鈥淭he Committee on the Question of Institutional Neutrality as a Policy for 顶级国产视频.鈥� The members of the committee are listed below.

Should you have views on the issue of University statements or institutional neutrality that you wish to share with the committee, please write to neutralitycommittee@clarku.edu. I have asked the committee to complete its work and issue a report before the end of the current semester. I intend to share that report with all members of the 顶级国产视频 community and to take action on the committee鈥檚 recommendations through the University鈥檚 standing governance protocols.

Sincerely,

David Fithian 鈥�87
President

Members of the Committee on the Question of Institutional Neutrality as a Policy for 顶级国产视频

• Douglas Little, Professor Emeritus, Department of History 鈥� Chair
• Olakunle Ajayi 鈥�24, President, 顶级国产视频 Graduate Student Council
• Rob Boatright, Professor, Department of Political Science
• Sammi Bosque 鈥�24, President, 顶级国产视频 Undergraduate Student Council
• Donella Brockington 鈥�73, Chair of the Board of Trustees鈥� Committee on Outward Engagement
• Allison Fong, Associate Teaching Professor, Department of Language, Literature, and Culture
• Jill Friedman, Vice President of Marketing and Communications
• Cyril Ghosh, Associate Professor and Lloyd B. Politsch 鈥�33 Chair of Law, Department of Political Science
• Neil Leifer 鈥�76, adjunct faculty, School of Law, Northeastern University
• Lee Plave 鈥�80, Vice-Chair of the Board of Trustees
• Deb Robertson, Professor and Department Chair, Department of Biology
• Peyton Wu, Director of Identity, Student Engagement and Access, Division of Student Success

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Thank you for joining me for this year鈥檚 State of the University address, which I am pleased is now in person. Let me say that I am grateful for all the ways we have come back together as a community since the pandemic.

I want to begin by expressing my enormous gratitude to all of you here 鈥� and those who were not able to join us. Each of you, in your own way, contributes greatly to who we are as a community, to what we are as an institution, to how we fulfill our mission, and to the ways we have impact in the world. In all of this, our focus is 鈥� as it should be 鈥� on our students. But I also recognize how essential is the way we all work together not only to serve our students, but also to support and empower one other, and advance and embolden 顶级国产视频.

My approach to this annual event has been to respect the occasion with the formality of prepared remarks. In my remarks, I hope to focus attention on what I as president feel to be most relevant at this time, be straightforward and sincere, and do what I can to inspire our community to believe in our great promise and potential. It is a privilege for me every year to be able to give this address, and I feel honored that so many of you came to participate today. My remarks will take about 20 minutes, and then I will invite any questions that I or other members of the leadership team who are here can answer.

***

Today鈥檚 headline is this: The state of 顶级国产视频 is strong and we have an opportunity to make it even stronger and more durable in the face of real and growing challenges. The latter, I am certain, is not news to any of you. We have talked many times before about daunting headwinds spun up by dramatic changes across the higher education landscape. At the same time, there is good reason to be optimistic and confident in our future, starting with the tremendous accomplishments that occurred at 顶级国产视频 this past year.

We made significant improvements in our physical facilities, including the opening of the Center for Media Arts, Computing, and Design, an exciting new hub for creativity, collaboration, and innovation. Work to preserve Goddard Library, expected to be completed this summer, is vital to ensuring that our largest building, one in poor repair, will remain an academic and research cornerstone for decades to come.

Our commitment to our Main South neighborhood is undiminished. This past fall, we expanded the University Park Partnership Scholarship zone by 26 streets, giving an additional 1,100 Worcester students the opportunity to attend 顶级国产视频 tuition-free. We also entered into a unique partnership with the Jeremiah鈥檚 Inn food pantry that gives us a Worcester ally to help fight food insecurity in the community and on campus while creating a pipeline of employment opportunities for student workers to assist with food pantry operations.

Last month, 顶级国产视频 launched the Department of Sustainability and Social Justice, formerly known as International Development, Community, and Environment, to amplify our focus on global challenges and perpetuate that department鈥檚 incredibly important work in the world. I want to acknowledge, in particular, Director Laurie Ross鈥檚 great leadership in this regard. The University also attracted campus-distinguished researchers and scholars from around the country to help launch the Center for Geospatial Analytics, directed by Hamed Alemohammad. The event allowed us to gain significant new attention in an area in which 顶级国产视频 was a pioneer. Interim Dean David Jordan has bold plans for the School of Management, which he, his faculty, and his staff are advancing with great energy and conviction around the as-yet-untapped potential for the school.

As is the case every year, I鈥檓 heartened by the arrival of new faculty to campus, whose special talents and fresh perspectives energize our classrooms, labs, and art studios. They have the privilege of joining an exceptional faculty who not only are experts in their fields, but who regularly go above and beyond to help their students prepare to navigate the world beyond 顶级国产视频 with curiosity, confidence, and empathy. Imagine being a student and having the opportunity to understand the contemporary relevance of Shakespeare from scholar Justin Shaw; to learn about the root causes of the devastating Maui wildfires from geographer Abby Frazier; or to explore coastal ecosystems with Deb Robertson.

The extraordinary things our students accomplish every day in the classroom and through their extracurricular endeavors on campus and in the community is the very best reason to be excited about the future. A cohort of sophomores have been central to the thoughtful and diligent design of a new honors experience that will be introduced next semester. And you may recall that when an earthquake devastated parts of Turkey and Syria, a group of 顶级国产视频 students used their GIS skills to hold a mapathon, which contributed key information to disaster agencies aiding in recovery efforts. I was also fortunate last March to attend the Carnegie Hall debut of the 顶级国产视频 Choir under the direction of Cailin Marcel Manson. The performance was truly soaring and impressive, and, for 顶级国产视频, historic.

I relish hearing about our students鈥� achievements in multiple areas. Sophomore Noah Katz, who I have gotten to know as one of our presidential scholars, showed amazing ingenuity and ambition when he created The Umpire Channel 鈥� a big idea that he has successfully brought to the marketplace. Emily Rooney last summer worked on the front lines of the Boston housing crisis, helping to place people desperate for shelter, including the recently incarcerated. And a group of 顶级国产视频 students led by Kate Roller, Abby Smith, Kate Galvinhill, Kai Moore, and Jonah Kipnis launched the 顶级国产视频 Student Voices Literary Magazine, which not only provides a wonderful forum for student writing but also speaks to the enduring truth that the world will always need poets.

You can also see and sense our strength through other measures. Our students and their families are overwhelmingly very positive about the experience they are having at 顶级国产视频. Applications for undergraduate admissions are at a record high, over 11,000 this year due to international student interest. Student enrollments in many of our graduate degree programs are also at historic highs. Importantly, 顶级国产视频 is strong in part because we are learning more about how we operate through data and market research and other benchmarking efforts that reveal strengths to be celebrated and shortcomings to be addressed.

These are all important accomplishments and advances, and I congratulate everyone who has played a role in them. Of course, there are many other achievements over the past year not mentioned here that we are proud of and grateful for, and we鈥檙e poised and ready for even more.

***

I had begun preparing today鈥檚 remarks back in December when I came across a Chronicle of Higher Education daily briefing exclaiming that colleges and universities were failing to 鈥渕eet the moment.鈥� While the piece was primarily about what was happening on college campuses following October 7, it cited a larger set of problems for higher ed leaders. The author, Rick Seltzer, wrote: 鈥淓ven before the conflict between Israel and Hamas stoked turmoil on American campuses, presidents struggled to rally support in the face of hostile lawmakers, controlling donors, restive students, angry alumni, uneasy faculty members, tight budgets, and increasingly skeptical families.鈥� As the author notes, these pressures aren鈥檛 new and it鈥檚 impossible to pick up a newspaper of late and not see a litany of criticisms against higher ed as a sector: that we鈥檙e elitist and out of touch; we charge too much for the value of what we provide; we are hostile to the full spectrum of political, social, and ideological thought; tenure has been corrupted to protect unproductive faculty; students are coddled; DEI work is excessive; there are too many administrators. The list goes on.

To be sure, we have our defenders, too: People who appreciate what a liberal arts education and college degree represent for lifetime earning potential, career options, networking, and personal growth, among other benefits, and who understand that a broadly educated electorate is crucial to civic engagement and the preservation of democracy.

Now, 顶级国产视频 is no stranger to the concept of meeting our moments 鈥� we鈥檝e done so through wars, struggling economies, political and social upheaval, and shifting cultural and educational landscapes. I鈥檒l give two examples.

Decades ago, at the time I was a student here, there was serious talk about relocating 顶级国产视频 out of the Main South neighborhood. Relations with the neighbors had grown strained, bordering on hostile, and the area was experiencing a dramatic socio-economic decline. Put simply, our response to that moment boiled down to one question: Do we embrace this neighborhood or escape it? President Dick Traina made the decision that not only would the University stay put, but that we would partner with the city and the neighborhood to strengthen and embolden both Main South and 顶级国产视频. That singular decision 鈥� a wise one, I believe 鈥� to double down on our investment, engagement, and collaboration here confirmed and amplified our values, influenced our approach to fulfilling our mission partly through community engagement and experiential learning, and ultimately has shaped the institution we are today.

A more contemporary example of meeting a moment is the adoption of the Becker School of Design & Technology, which we executed within 30 days. Our decision to incorporate Becker鈥檚 internationally recognized game design program into our 顶级国产视频 ecosystem may have seemed, to some, counterintuitive at the time, but we seized upon an opportunity to widen our academic reach by merging the best of our liberal arts education with an area of study that has asserted itself in the cultural, technological, and career marketplace. I hope you all see as I do the impact we are enjoying from that decisive action.

But let鈥檚 challenge ourselves by turning Seltzer鈥檚 declaration into a question: Are we meeting the moment? I鈥檇 like to speak to this in several ways because there are several moments in which we find ourselves.

To start, let鈥檚 address the situation that prompted the Chronicle piece: October 7 and its aftermath. It certainly was a profound moment 鈥� here at 顶级国产视频 and throughout higher education.

Did 顶级国产视频 meet that moment?

I believe we did, especially in fulfilling our first and foremost responsibility to maintain a safe and supportive environment for all students on campus, regardless of religious identity, nationality, or political views. I appreciate that there are many differing perspectives on this and not everyone may agree with me. But as a university, we met that immediate moment by leaning into one of our greatest strengths 鈥� our sense of community and our commitment to one another. We held firm to our mission as a university 鈥� promoting 顶级国产视频 as a place of learning, inquiry, experimentation, and discourse. A place where our students expand their knowledge, test their ideas, hone their beliefs, and further develop their sense of self in concert with others. Universities are purpose-built to bring together different people with different experiences to learn from each other. Through that lens then 鈥� yes 鈥� I believe we met an incredibly painful moment well. Having said that, the situation in the Middle East is tragically far from being resolved and will require us to continue to act compassionately and thoughtfully as a community, holding dear our purposes, principles, and policies. I am confident we will.

Let鈥檚 now consider the question: Are we meeting this moment 鈥� a seemingly existential one 鈥攆or higher education, in general?

The challenges here are significant and troubling. We are experiencing an unprecedented, full-on assault to the bedrock principles of higher education from some within the highest levels of our government and regularly through media coverage and commentary. Ironically, many of the loudest voices castigating what they refer to as 鈥渆litism鈥� on college campuses are coming from those who have benefited from earning degrees from some of our most elite universities.

This very public and, I believe, unfounded rancor has deepened already existing concerns about the value of higher education. It also exacerbates troubling trends we have been anticipating and planning for.

Parents are understandably concerned about the rising costs of college, and others in the public are openly expressing skepticism that a college education is a viable pathway to a better life.

Beyond that, the very real challenge of the 鈥渄emographic cliff鈥� is looming. The number of traditional college-aged children is expected to decline precipitously after 2025 鈥� especially here in the Northeast 鈥� leaving us to contend for fewer students in one of the most competitive marketplaces in recent history. At the same time, fewer high school students are even considering higher education, so overall demand is down. And most institutions, including our own, are pressured to provide higher discount rates on tuition, which has a direct bearing on net tuition revenue. Increasingly, prospective students and their families are appealing for more and more merit aid, which other institutions are able to provide far more readily that we can.

Finally, this moment in higher education is as challenging as we鈥檝e seen with respect to public discourse and the understanding of the value of a college education, as well as the lack of awareness and appreciation for research universities鈥� contributions to the innovations, products, and technology that enhance our lives.

This is a moment we must meet with an aspirational mindset and determined continued progress. We have no choice but to adapt and advance while remaining firmly committed to our core values and mission. And I know we can.

***

Now, to the biggest and most important question: Are we meeting this moment for 顶级国产视频?

I would say yes, and no.

Without question, we have stepped into this moment with energy, a more open mind, and a clearer sense of ambition. We also have taken on and successfully completed several big, consequential projects. A new building, additional land near campus, and a new division to support student success are all now 鈥� or could be 鈥� instrumental in our ability to compete for students and enhance the education we offer. Yet, it is clear to me, and perhaps many of you, that the moment 顶级国产视频 is facing today demands our sustained energy, focus, and creativity.

You may remember that my first State of the University address focused on establishing at 顶级国产视频 what I called a 鈥渃ulture of possibility鈥� 鈥� a new mindset of imagining more for 顶级国产视频, a kind of license to think bigger, an institutional posture of greater aspiration and ambition, and an enabling of change for the better. I believed then, and still do now, that this is an essential ingredient for advancing our University. From that springboard, we launched a planning process which culminated in a strategic framework 鈥� a framework that we鈥檝e called 顶级国产视频 Inspired because I believe as an institution we are inspired by our greatest potential and because the pathways to achieve that potential are inspired by you.

Embracing a culture of possibility has allowed us to think more expansively. But to truly maximize the opportunities that emerge through a culture of possibility, we also need to act differently as a university and through that action be truly different and outstanding. We have already begun to do some of this hard work, but there is much still to be done related to our financial health and operating model. Our costs continue to draw too heavily on our available resources, and that is not sustainable.

Candidly, I had hoped at this point we would be in the mode of doing more with more, and I know what many of you are thinking right now: How and why should we continue to believe in a culture of possibility when we are seemingly faced with the same budget pressures we experienced in the past? My answer to you is this: Without the culture of possibility, we will never get to where we want to be. In fact, we are at a point where the way in which we operate is the greatest constraint on what is possible. And our current financial challenges are not the same as they were in the past.

So, how did we get here? The root cause takes us back to periods of underinvestment, which have caused deficits in the condition of our physical plant and technology infrastructure; our ability to make strategic investments in our academic programming, student resources, scholarships, and financial aid; and our ability to invest in our most important asset 鈥� our students, faculty, and staff. And while we lost ground in these areas, other institutions gained ground.

Making these investments is essential to our ability to fulfill our educational mission, provide our students with the experience and support they expect, compete effectively in a very challenging market and, even more critically, strengthen our reputation and enhance our impact.

What does this actually mean?

It means, simply put, we need to work differently as a university. We cannot continue to muddle through by trying to solve each year鈥檚 budget challenges with short-term, stop-gap measures. We need a much more comprehensive reset of how we operate.

The reason we need to work differently is not only because of under-investments. It is also because we need to catch up vis-a-vis our competitors who made the investments that we did not, and we have to do that with more limited resources due to growing enrollment and competitive pressures (which yield lower revenue). The combination of lower undergraduate enrollment, higher costs (driven by higher demands for financial aid, as well as higher expectations for better facilities and more support/resources/programs for our students), and the need to catch up with missing investments makes our operational model unsustainable because we are not generating enough revenue to offset our costs.

It means we must achieve three things: stable and sustainable undergraduate enrollment with increasing net revenue; a more efficient organizational structure based on streamlined educational offerings and student services aimed at outcomes, supported by a faculty and administration of appropriate and sustainable scale; scalable graduate, professional, and alternative programs (summer and certificate, for example) that contribute net revenue and, in some cases, take advantage of otherwise idle campus facilities.

It will also certainly mean making difficult choices and being laser focused on our highest strategic priorities. It will mean being innovative and flexible. It will mean doing more not with less, but rather doing more with what we have. And it will mean, very likely, that we stop doing some things that aren鈥檛 advancing us in alignment with our existing strengths and priorities. Most importantly, it will mean that we have to be in partnership with one another in this work. We are all in this together, and all of us have a vested interest in the health and vitality of this University over the coming decade and far beyond that.

What it does not mean are cuts and saving money alone. This is also about working more effectively and efficiently.

When and how will this all happen? Not today and not overnight. All-in-all, it will likely take one to three years to truly reset the way we function. But, when we successfully do so, we will be on a more sustainable and stable course for the future.

In the coming weeks and months, my administration will be working with our faculty governing committees, Staff Assembly, and the Board of Trustees to consider what changing our operational model means and precisely what that will entail. This includes considering how we are organized, how we function, and how to better maximize the advantage of our small size and the unique combination of research and liberal arts at our core.

As we develop specific recommendations, we will look forward to your ideas and suggestions. Again, we need to do this together and with a sense of urgency, and, once again, I鈥檓 confident that we will.

***

So let me conclude by saying that our strongest days are still ahead if we can successfully tackle some current challenges. I see clearly for 顶级国产视频鈥檚 future:

• An institution of enduring, distinguished character 鈥� widely recognized for our strong sense of community and institutional values, where the individual thrives and community engagement is at the core of the student experience.
• An institution of consequential reach and impact 鈥� a relevant and potent force with increasing influence and deeper, broader contributions to society.
• An institution that rises to our moments 鈥� leading the way by anticipating evolving needs, surmounting challenges, and harnessing emerging opportunities.

We can achieve this most immediately by:

• Continuing to develop our academic strengths and fortify our educational and research programs. Some of you are deeply involved in work to define what this might look like going forward. Certainly, it will involve providing more opportunities for experiential and engaged learning, an honors experience, and new undergraduate and graduate programs in areas that are of high interest and appeal, and that better leverage our academic strengths.
• More successfully enrolling and retaining interested undergraduates. Not simply by attracting more applicants, but by elevating 顶级国产视频 as a first-choice option because we offer a truly distinctive and distinguished academic experience.
• Establishing a new School of Climate, Environment, and Society that harnesses our considerable strengths in climate research, GIS, environmental studies, and related societal challenges and implications.
• Embarking on a capital campaign that inspires others鈥� investments in our University because they see both great potential and our ability to deliver on positive, consequential change. There is no higher priority for me than to bring additional resources to 顶级国产视频. We have had many well-attended alumni gatherings around the country, reflecting a growing energy and enthusiasm. I鈥檒l be working to ensure that momentum continues. At the same time, I鈥檓 focused very much on major gifts, which can and often do take time, but I鈥檓 encouraged by the meetings I鈥檝e been having so far. An important motivator in raising funds, especially major gifts, is not only the impact donors can enable, but also the overall financial health and efficiency of the institution to which they are giving.

I believe that as the current-day stewards of 顶级国产视频 we must do our part not just to respond to today鈥檚 challenges but to proactively rise above them in order to ensure a sustainable future for our University. Our actions now and in the years ahead will help ensure that the 顶级国产视频 education we provide to undergraduate, graduate, and professional school students will continue to be as distinctive, rigorous, and impactful as ever.

顶级国产视频 is built for the kind of unconventional and independent thinking that allows us to forge our path with confidence and curiosity, eager to discover what awaits, and compelled to act with determination when our moments arise. Please join me in working together to meet this moment for 顶级国产视频 so that the state of our University remains strong.

Thank you very much.

Sincerely,

David Fithian 鈥�87
President

The post State of the University Address appeared first on Office of the President.

The present situation in the Middle East, which was sparked by the October 7 terrorist attacks by Hamas, is tragic, with thousands of innocent Israeli and Palestinian lives lost and ongoing immeasurable suffering. Here at 顶级国产视频 over the past month, we have remained intently focused on the safety and well-being of our community, grappling with these events emotionally and bringing to bear critical thought and dialogue consistent with our mission.

We have visited with many of our students, faculty, and staff 鈥� Jewish, Muslim, and others. We have seen and heard the pain that they are feeling, and we share that pain. We have heard that some members of our community are afraid for their safety and are feeling unwelcome. And we also have received reports and seen recent behavior on our campus that is unacceptable and that runs against our institutional values and principles, including references to all Muslims as terrorists and phrases such as 鈥渇rom the river to the sea鈥� that instill fear among those of the Jewish faith.

Incidents 鈥� such as antisemitic slogans scrawled on a wall in Goddard Library, rhetoric amongst community members on social media demonizing our Muslim and Jewish students, and the removal from around our grounds yesterday of posters of captured Israelis held hostage 鈥� are examples of conduct that are unacceptable and in response to which we will take action.

Our community standards are built upon a foundation of shared values and expectations, and a commitment to provide an educational environment free of harassment and intimidation. We call on all at 顶级国产视频 to end the use of slogans, tropes, and other actions that contribute to a climate in which people feel unsafe. When we witness threatening expressions, we do and will respond as a University. We are investigating every incident and will pursue each one of them and take necessary action. We have also moved swiftly to remove menacing words when they are found.

To have fidelity with our values as a University, especially during challenging and divisive times, we must interact with each other with understanding, compassion, and humility. We must do our own work to understand the devastating impact of words, even those that we often do not fully understand.

As a guardrail to our community standards, anyone in our community 鈥� student, faculty, or staff 鈥� who experiences or observes discriminatory behavior is urged to report it immediately through our Bias Incident Reporting system. Every report received is thoroughly reviewed and acted upon as appropriate.

Our ability to live and learn together 鈥� as one humanity 鈥� takes sustained effort by us all. Despite differences in our community, we must recommit ourselves to our institutional values and obligations to each other: mutual respect and understanding, willingness to reach across divides, embracing difference, and the belief that together we can change our world.

Sincerely,

David Fithian
President

Sebasti谩n Royo
Provost

Margo R. Foreman
Vice President and Chief Officer of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Kamala Kiem
Associate Provost and Dean of Students

The post Standing Against Antisemitism and Islamophobia appeared first on Office of the President.

On Monday, October 16, 顶级国产视频 will launch the 2023 Diversity and Equity Campus Climate Survey for all students, faculty, and staff. Your participation is vital to helping us assess campus sentiment toward issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion, inform us about our performance as an institution in these important areas, and help drive our efforts to ensure a more welcoming and just campus for all current and future members of our community. We are asking you to share your voice to strengthen our 顶级国产视频. We are deeply committed to examining the ways in which the University can better support our community members, and we need your candid feedback to move forward, together.

To collect survey data that can be benchmarked against other universities, the Office of Diversity and Inclusion has partnered with the Higher Education Data Sharing Consortium (HEDS), a national organization that specializes in survey administration and knowledge sharing. The data gleaned from the survey results will be critical toward informing the strategies and practices that will nurture, and elevate, our environment of belonging, compassion, and equity.

The survey itself should take about 15 minutes, and while it is not required that you fill it out, we strongly encourage you to do so. In your responses, we ask that you share freely and honestly. Please know that your responses will be entirely anonymous. HEDS will provide survey results that are void of any identifiable information such as names or email addresses; however, it will include vital demographic data that will help us better understand unique perspectives among various segments of our community. The survey will include an optional demographic section, which is critically important that you complete.

On Monday, you will receive an email with a unique link to the 2023 Diversity and Equity Campus Climate Survey. The survey will then be open for about five weeks, closing on November 26. For those without online access, proctored computer labs will be open during the survey period. Please visit the climate survey website for more information.

Being better and doing better in achieving greater diversity, equity, and inclusion, now and always, will be an institutional priority. Your participation in the Campus Climate Survey adds your voice to the call that we be the very best version of 顶级国产视频.

Sincerely,

David Fithian 鈥�87
President

Margo R. Foreman
Vice President and Chief Officer of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

The post 2023 Diversity and Equity Campus Climate Survey appeared first on Office of the President.