News
One thing has become abundantly clear to me since I stepped into the role of Acting President last month: To navigate this moment successfully, we need to activate and mobilize the remarkable wisdom and talent of the entire Columbia community.
Over the past few weeks, days, indeed over the past few hours, you have no doubt seen and heard much about Columbia and the future of higher education.
It’s been just under a week since I stepped into this new role.
Today, I write to you in my new capacity as Acting President. I do so with awe for the role, reverence for this institution, and clarity about our challenges.
The past week has been unlike any other in Columbia's history.
As I have shared with you, we have been working this year on critical priorities for our University, which you can find on our “Fulfilling Our Commitments” website.
Many of you have seen the March 13th letter we received from U.S. Department of Education, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the General Services Administration outlining preconditions for “continued financial relationships with the United States government.”
Over the last months, components of the federal government have announced investigations into our University, creating great concern across our community and the nation.
Like most colleges and universities in the United States, Columbia University is home to faculty, staff, and students from all over the world.
I am writing heartbroken to inform you that we had federal agents from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in two University residences tonight.
I want to reiterate the principles that have guided me over my thirty years as a faculty member and are guiding me today.
Engaging with our Columbia community, especially our students, is one of the great pleasures of being in the role of Interim President – whether that’s in person at events or via email.
Columbia’s mission is to teach, create, and advance knowledge. For over 270 years, that mission has been grounded in an enduring and essential commitment to freedom of expression, open inquiry, and generous, respectful debate.
Tomorrow, across all three of our northern Manhattan campuses, we will be hosting an AI Summit.