Dear USD Community,

Over the past few weeks I have been in conversations with my presidential colleagues from across the country about the unprecedented actions taken by the federal government against American higher education. Two organizations, the American Association of Colleges and Universities and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, have been leading the efforts to organize these conversations.

On Monday, more than 100 college and university presidents from across the nation agreed to sign a public statement expressing our concerns and asking for greater cooperation and increased dialogue between the federal government and U.S. colleges and universities. This statement was published today and has been released to news organizations across the country.

I decided to add my name to the list and, therefore, the University of San Diego has been identified among those institutions behind this movement. This is not an amicus brief and we are not engaging in legal action. Rather, it is a call for more cooperative dialogue on key topics, such as academic freedom, freedom of inquiry, student aid, research grants and the important role we believe higher education plays in the promotion of our democracy.

I recognize that this could bring greater scrutiny to USD, but I am confident that we continue to make decisions and express our position in line with our mission, vision and core values.

It is my hope, through collective action and an appeal to a measured approach, that universities and our nation can navigate these unchartered waters and emerge stronger for it.

Peace,

James T. Harris III, DEd
President