President Paula Johnson joined more than 500 higher education leaders in a letter released condemning the Trump administration’s recent attacks against higher education institutions.
The statement focuses on concerns that the government’s “political interference” and “overreach” is endangering academic freedom and more than 500 presidents and other officials have signed it, as of Tuesday afternoon.
“We must oppose undue government intrusion into the lives of those who learn, live and work on our campuses,” said the statement, released by the American Association of Colleges and Universities.
The statement is signed by officials or presidents, including institutions which have seen federal funding freeze and peer liberal arts colleges such as Williams and Amherst.
The statement comes a day after Harvard University sued the Trump administration over its threats to rescind billions in federal funding and contracts.
Wellesley has yet to have any large-scale funding cuts or federal-level reviews conducted on campus.
However, Wellesley is among the 60 colleges to receive a letter from the U.S. Department of Education Office of Civil Rights (OCR), warning of potential enforcement actions, including funding cuts, if it fails to protect Jewish students on campus.
As the News previously reported, Wellesley received $12.8 million in federal grants in FY23, including nine million in student financial assistance and nearly three million in research grants from the National Science Foundation and the Department of Health and Human Services.
Wellesley has already announced a six-month hiring freeze, citing budget deficit and ongoing uncertainty around economic risks.
In a statement to the News, President Johnson stated American colleges and universities have long partnered with the government and organizations to promote American leadership.
“At this moment, it is important for leaders in higher education to speak together against undue government intrusion into the lives of those who learn, live and work on our campuses, and in support of open inquiry and the ongoing free exchange of ideas and opinions,” said President Johnson.
Contact the editor responsible for this story: Sazma Sarwar
