Update on National Events
Dear Middlebury Community,
As we return to campus for the second half of the spring semester, we want to welcome you back and provide an update on issues of concern to our community.
In the weeks since the U.S. presidential transition, we—along with all of higher education—have been closely monitoring national events to guide how we respond in this time of uncertainty, confusion, and swift change. We have been doing substantial outreach and giving support to our community members who are most directly affected by the various administrative orders. And we have been in discussion with organizations, including at the national level, that are working through the same disruptive environment.
We want to make this clear from the start: We know our entire community is affected by current events. We will continue to support all our students, faculty, and staff based in our core and shared values. We remain fully committed to our educational mission.
The Three Pillars
That mission declares the right of academic freedom, the responsibility of personal and professional integrity, and the value of respect. These are our three pillars, and they signify that, in our pursuit of knowledge and understanding of a complex world, all community members have the essential right to freely speak, listen, write, challenge, and argue—and that we as an institution will defend and protect this right, even when doing so may offend some.
These pillars are foundational to the wider enterprise of higher education and to our specific commitment to immersive learning; to preparing our students to lead engaged, consequential, and creative lives and contribute to their communities; and to addressing the world’s most challenging problems.
Grounded in these values, we will continue to closely monitor developments and support members of our community. In our outreach since the presidential transition we have consulted with or addressed numerous individuals and groups throughout Middlebury, including Faculty Council, Staff Council, Leadership Alliance, International Student and Scholar Services, and the Middlebury Institute to share what we know now about the rapidly shifting political and legal landscapes. We have said in those meetings that we are tracking several executive orders that have direct implications for higher education and assessing how they might affect our operations, activities, research efforts, and funding as a whole. We remain focused on fulfilling our mission while abiding by the law.
With all of this in mind, we have these updates on specific issues of the moment:
Open Expression
Middlebury’s commitment to open expression has not changed. We continue to uphold robust dialogue on issues and concerns of the day, even among those with whom we might disagree. Middlebury’s policy does not, however, limit or constrain the U.S. government and its control over immigration status. Therefore, individuals’ actions may have implications for their immigration status and ability to remain in the United States. We are closely monitoring any changes in policy or the law and will continue to share information as it becomes available.
Endowment
While Middlebury has a considerable endowment and a supportive alumni and donor base, we rely on federal funding for research and student financial aid. We also continue to operate with a budget deficit. We are, therefore, closely monitoring any guidelines and laws to be sure we are in compliance with the latest regulations. We also will monitor any potential changes to the way our endowment is taxed.
Federal Funds for Academic and Nonacademic Programs
The executive orders on diversity, equity, and inclusion; foreign aid; and environmental justice tasked all federal agencies with analyzing their funding portfolios. At the conclusion of those analyses, we expect to receive further notice about how any of our awarded grants will be impacted. For now, we are proceeding with our teaching and research mission as usual. Although numerous executive orders have been challenged in the courts by impacted groups, it will be some time before these legal proceedings are resolved. For now, we must abide by existing laws and follow federal guidelines as we receive them.
International Students and Scholars
The Office of International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) has been in regular communication with our international community in response to executive orders and other government guidance as it becomes available. At this time, we are advising foreign nationals/international students and scholars to carry their personal identification documents and immigration/travel documents with them when in the United States, especially when in the 100-mile border zone, due to expectations of increased screening and document checking. Middlebury’s campuses are all within the 100-mile border zone, as coastal areas are also considered borders.The website of NAFSA Association of International Educators provides contextual information on travel bans and restrictions. Other information is posted on our Travel Updates webpage.
Office of Civil Rights List of Investigations
Middlebury received communication from the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) in March 2024 when a complaint about antisemitism was made, and we have been cooperating with its investigation. Earlier this month, we were among 60 schools that received a follow-up letter saying the investigation would be revisited. We will continue to cooperate with OCR. Again, we are committed to our educational mission, and that includes supporting all students with no tolerance for discriminatory behavior on our campuses.
Equity and Inclusion
Finally, we promised to provide an update on the Office of Institutional Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (OIDEI), following our announcement three weeks ago that Vice President Khuram Hussain has chosen for personal reasons to step down from his administrative role at the end of June to become a full-time member of the faculty. Since we announced this change, we have been in discussions about how to best fulfill the functions of the office and sustain our commitment to maintaining an inclusive and welcoming community at Middlebury.
We will transition oversight of several groups from OIDEI to Student Affairs in the coming months: the Anderson Freeman Resource Center, Scott Center for Spiritual and Religious Life, Prism Center for Queer and Trans Life, and the Education for Equity teams. The Civil Rights/Title IX Office and the Disability Resource Center are reporting to the Office of General Counsel for oversight of these crucial compliance functions, for at least the next 18 months. We will share more information about the Middlebury Institute of International Studies Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Office and the assistant vice president for equity and inclusion role at a later date. They will continue to report to Khuram in the interim.
Thank You
We understand how difficult it is to be living and working in this environment. We know that this is a lot to process and that many of you are concerned about how you and your colleagues and families will be affected. We are mindful of how broad the impacts can be of actions taken by the federal government, and we remain steadfast in our commitment to Middlebury’s mission and vision, and our foundational values of academic freedom, integrity, and respect. We will keep working with offices across Middlebury as well as national organizations supporting higher education to monitor federal actions and all subsequent legal challenges with diligence. We will share further information as and when it becomes available.
In the meantime, international students, faculty, and staff should reach out to ISSS with questions; students with questions about programs or the centers should reach out to the vice president for Student Affairs, and those needing legal advice on behalf of the institution should contact the Office of General Counsel.
Sincerely,
Steve Snyder
Interim President
Michelle McCauley
Executive Vice President and Provost
Hannah Ross
General Counsel and Chief Risk Officer