Dear Members of the Barnard Community,
Earlier this month, I shared some community expectations offering real-world examples of the College’s policies and rules in action. Many of you had asked for such examples over the past year, and the examples reflect feedback we received from students, faculty, staff, alumnae, and parents in a variety of settings.
These community expectations are not policies themselves but instead are designed to spur reflection and discussion about the application of our existing policies and rules. I’m excited that many of you have jumped right in to offer your thoughts, and I write to offer a more formal way of collecting and sharing your questions and feedback.
I invite you to share your comments, concerns, and suggestions about community expectations on this form through October 14, 2024. We will share the feedback we receive and will evolve the examples consistent with our existing policies and rules, particularly where greater clarity or additional examples may be needed.
We have already clarified the eighth set of examples — on collective College positions — to emphasize that members of the community are encouraged to speak as individuals or groups of individuals so long as they are not perceived to be speaking on behalf of the College or an office, department, or center of the College. In fact, we limit collective College positions so that all members of our community may articulate, explore, and debate the widest diversity of views, consistent with our commitment to academic freedom and freedom of expression. If you have additional suggestions for clarifying this set of examples, please use the form above.
I thank you for your engagement with these important issues, and I look forward to continuing this conversation with you.
Very truly yours,
Laura Ann Rosenbury
President, Barnard College