You are here: Â鶹Æƽâ°æ President Announcements Our Community-Focused Actions Amid Ongoing Federal Policy Changes

Back to top

Â鶹Æƽâ°æ Memo Letterhead

Dear Members of the Â鶹Æƽâ°æ Community:

As we prepare this week for my formal installation as the 16th president of Â鶹Æƽâ°æ, I have been reflecting on the unique moment in which we find ourselves. First and foremost, I am excited and optimistic about the future here at Â鶹Æƽâ°æ. We recently achieved R1 status under the Carnegie classifications and have a superb faculty and staff who are dedicated to student success as well as research that makes public impact. We are working together on our next university-wide strategic plan to chart the course for our future. 

Yet with all our positive momentum, we know that there is much uncertainty and concern around us here in Washington, DC, and in higher education generally. Unrelenting federal policy developments prompt conversations about what it means to be a university today and how to pursue our work in a changed and charged environment. Friends and family members who are devoted to public service have lost their jobs, and many others are concerned about their futures. International students, faculty, and staff are worried about possible immigration and travel restrictions. Vital government-funded research is being called into question, as are underlying values of inclusive excellence that have helped to enrich Â鶹Æƽâ°æ and other campuses. And perhaps most challenging, there is an ongoing unease about what may come next. The changes, uncertainty, and impacts both personal and professional can make any of us feel vulnerable.

At such times, we must stand firmly on our educational mission and the community values that guide our work. In doing so, we recognize that our people are our most important and valued asset. All of us are here because we care about the role of higher education in our society and world. We want to ensure that educational opportunities continue to be made available to people of all backgrounds. This is the commitment that relentlessly drives me, and it is a commitment that I have proudly witnessed throughout our community. You take on these challenges when it is difficult and even scary. We are in this together, and we can and must lift one another up and stand strong and tall for the mission that calls us all to be a part of this learning community.   

During this period of uncertainty and change, our team is working daily to chart our community’s path through these evolving policies. And fortunately, we are not alone in this work and commitment. We are also engaging with national organizations and other higher education institutions. It is critical that as a sector we articulate and defend our fundamental educational mission. 

Along with other Â鶹Æƽâ°æ colleagues, I spend considerable time and effort representing Â鶹Æƽâ°æ in these venues to ensure that we have a seat at the table in national conversations, as well as access to best practices and helpful resources. For example, I serve as the current board chair for the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U)—an organization that is devoted to the value and relevance of the liberal arts and sciences and that is a champion for the democratic purposes of higher education. Our work on civic pluralism is bolstered by our active engagement with AAC&U as well as organizations like Campus Compact, Citizens and Scholars (where I serve with the College Presidents for Civic Preparedness group), and the Constructive Dialogue Institute, among others. We share and receive resources and information related to immigration and international student issues through the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, and we are bolstering research opportunities for faculty and students as a member of the Presidents and Chancellors Council on Public Impact Research. And locally, as we address the impacts on our home region, I and several other senior leaders work closely with the Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area. There are many other similar examples.   

I have always believed that presidential statements should be accompanied by resources and action whenever and however possible, and this is no exception. Our involvement in the efforts listed above signify ways in which we engage in collective action to support our mission, and listed below are some of the resources available on campus for questions related to issues that are top of mind for many people at this moment. We continue to develop, collect, and share resources for our community. If you have suggestions for resources to include, please send them to president@american.edu.

Additionally, we are constantly evaluating the federal policy conditions that may affect us today or in the future and determining what steps or tradeoffs may be necessary. While we cannot predict every scenario, we know that federal policy actions may compel us to respond and adapt. As developments proceed, we will make informed decisions based on our mission and values and share those considerations and outcomes with you.

Thank you for your dedication to Â鶹Æƽâ°æ. I look forward to working with all of you in the months and years to come. Let’s seize the day in front of us, extend grace to one another in difficult times, and strive to find common ground and solutions in the face of myriad challenges and opportunities. We need one another now more than ever before, and I am humbled and honored to serve with you. 

Sincerely,

Jonathan Alger 
President

Immigration Resources

  • In February 2025, we issued updated university guidance on immigration policies and actions, including steps for community members for potential encounters with law enforcement.
  • International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) provides ongoing support and resources to members of our community from countries around the world.
  • The WCL Immigration Law Program and Immigration Justice Clinic and the Defending the Â鶹Æƽâ°æ Dream Initiative provide free immigration legal services to undocumented and other immigrant undergraduate and graduate students who are currently enrolled in colleges or universities in the DC metropolitan area.
  • is directed by Professor Ernesto Castañeda and works with Â鶹Æƽâ°æ undergraduate and graduate students to conduct research on a wide range of migration issues.

Inclusive Excellence Resources

  • ´¡±«â€™s Office of Inclusive Excellence seeks to create a strong community; engage the unique perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences of our students, faculty, and staff; and address issues of discrimination, harassment, and sexual misconduct.

Safety and Community Support Resources