Dear WashU students, faculty and staff,

I want to share with you that WashU has been invited by the federal administration to participate in a conversation about the future of higher education, and that we have accepted the invitation.

The willingness to engage constructively, even when there are differing perspectives, is core to our role as an academic institution and essential to the pursuit of knowledge and progress. It’s important for WashU to have a seat at the table for these discussions. As one of the nation’s leading research universities, we bring a valuable perspective shaped by our commitment to academic excellence, student access, and our positive and meaningful impact on society, including as a provider of world-class patient care and groundbreaking biomedical research. 

We also recognize that many people have strong opinions on these issues and that any engagement of this kind may elicit a range of reactions within our community and beyond. We believe it is in the best interest of our university, and higher education more broadly, for us to participate constructively, share our experience and expertise, and help inform policies that strengthen the nation’s research and education ecosystem.

One of the major factors in this decision is our belief that the long-standing relationship between the federal government and higher education is one of the most vital and enduring partnerships in our nation. Together, we have fueled discovery, driven innovation, and created opportunity for students and communities across the country for generations. We believe it is imperative that this partnership continues to thrive – for the betterment of our region, our nation, and the world – and we are deeply committed to restoring public trust in our nation’s colleges and universities. We believe it is most productive for leaders of higher education to engage in these important conversations which may have a profound impact on our universities.

It’s important for you to know that our participation in this dialogue does not mean we have endorsed or signed on to the Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education presented to us for feedback by the federal administration. We have not done that. In addition, this decision was not made to advantage ourselves or gain any type of preferential benefit. We firmly believe meaningful progress will best be achieved through open, ongoing dialogue. We appreciate the invitation to participate in this critical conversation and are showing up ready to engage, listen, and work collaboratively toward positive change.

I look forward to updating you as we make progress in this work to advance higher education in service to society.

Sincerely,

Andrew D. Martin
Chancellor