Navigating Challenges Together

Dear Emersonians,

As we continue to navigate an ever-changing landscape, I want to take a moment to acknowledge the resilience and compassion that define our community. Your commitment to supporting one another and staying focused on our shared values and priorities truly makes a difference. This era of uncertainty has accelerated and intensified since my last campus-wide update, causing anxiety and stress among many. In the face of these challenges, the College leadership remains vigilant in monitoring the evolving actions from the federal government that directly affect Emerson and higher education more broadly. 

We are especially focused on supporting our international students during this time of significant pressure and risk. We recently learned that one of our international students had their student status revoked by DHS in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). We are working closely with the affected student, who has requested that our community respect their privacy, to provide support during this difficult time. It is important to note that we have no reason to believe that this student was targeted for protest-related activity. We ask for your patience and understanding in the days ahead as we actively manage these challenges while maintaining our unwavering commitment to remaining an inclusive and caring community.

As we enter this final month of the academic year, I encourage everyone in our community to do their best to remain focused on what matters most: academics, enrollment, and supporting one another. I also urge our community to resist the external and internal pressures that seek to inflame and divide us. Emersonians are creative, compassionate, and committed, and our collective strengths and shared values will help us through even the most challenging times. If you need assistance, please remember that support is always available through the Healing and Advocacy Collective, the Emerson Wellness Center and Student Care and Support for students, and the Employee Assistance Program for faculty and staff.

Our community has made much progress over the past year, planning for the future and fostering an inclusive environment that respects and welcomes diverse backgrounds and perspectives. I am inspired by our momentum and look forward to continuing our collective journey. Together, we can navigate this era of uncertainty and remain on a steady path toward Emerson’s extraordinary future. 

Sincerely,

Jay Bernhardt
President