Dear Members of the Yale Community,
On July 13, I wrote to you regarding the U.S. Department of Justice’s investigations into the admissions processes of Yale College, Yale Law School, and Yale School of Medicine. I want to update you on where matters stand.
Since then, Yale has continued to provide information to the DOJ regarding our admissions processes as required by law. In addition to demonstrating our commitment to adhering to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, we are making clear our dedication to the principles that I articulated in July. Our fidelity to academic freedom is absolute. Our faculty must retain full academic freedom in the classroom, in what they research, and in what they write. Our admissions and hiring decisions must continue to be made independently and in accordance with the law. Our commitment to freedom of expression must remain unwavering and our pursuit of knowledge unfettered. And our university must sustain a vibrant scholarly community whose members are treated with dignity and respect.
Even though the current period of uncertainty about the investigations may well continue, and we do not know for how long, we can be certain that Yale is committed to following the law and adhering to our guiding principles, from which we will not deviate.
In the meantime, we are focused on welcoming students to a new academic year and advancing research and other academic projects that serve our community and beyond. We also continue to do the work of self-assessment and improvement we began last year. We have already started implementing the recommendations of the Presidential Council on Yale College Admissions and the Committee on Trust in Higher Education, and I look forward to updating you on these and other initiatives in the new academic year.
I have heard from many of you in recent weeks about the DOJ investigations. To address some of your most common queries, we have made available a set of FAQs. In addition to asking questions, you have told me about the people and values that make Yale special. I share your love of Yale and your pride in our students, faculty, and staff, who come from all parts of the nation and the world. They bring with them an extraordinary range of talents, ideas, experiences, and aspirations that deepen our pursuit of knowledge.
I hope you will continue to offer your perspectives. Your comments inform our decision-making and help us navigate this moment.
As a proud alumna of this university, I have always admired Yale’s tradition of standing up for academic freedom and free expression. Now, as president, I have a duty to uphold this tradition. I will never shrink from that duty, and I will keep working, every day, for the best interests of our community and every person in it.
Sincerely,
Maurie McInnis
President
Professor of the History of Art