Advocating for WashU and higher education

Dear WashU Community,

On Monday, WashU received a letter from U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon asking us to respond by the end of the calendar year to a series of questions about higher education. The letter focuses on rebuilding public trust in American higher education – work that has been important to WashU – and invites each institution to respond in its own way. I was not involved in drafting this letter, though I have participated in broader conversations with White House officials and other policymakers over the last several months about trust-building, federal research funding, the endowment tax, and other issues affecting higher education. We remain committed to participating in constructive national conversations that will shape the future of higher education.

Over the next few weeks, I will work with Tonya Edmond, chair of the Faculty Senate Council, and Mark West, provost and executive vice chancellor for academic affairs, to establish a faculty-led process for reviewing the letter and developing WashU’s response. We will share more details about the process in the weeks ahead, including how members of our community can participate.

Thank you for your continued engagement and for all you do to advance WashU’s mission.

Sincerely,

Andrew D. Martin

Chancellor