Faculty & Staff Updates from A&S

 

News from the Dean

Jeffrey Shoulson has short grey hair and wears a blue suit.

Dear Colleagues,

The numerous executive orders that have been issued by the current administration over the past several weeks have created concern and anxiety for many members of our campus community. Our institutional leadership has been, and continues to be, looking into the fuller implications of these executive orders and how they may impact us.

I am writing now to assure you that we are committed to remaining true to the founding principles and mission of Brandeis University. It’s helpful to quote directly from our mission statement, since it captures so effectively the values that must continue to inform everything we do. We are a research university dedicated to the advancement of the humanities, arts, and social, natural, and physical sciences. And we are a liberal arts college, committed to the importance of a broad and critical education in enriching the lives of students and preparing them for full participation in a changing society, capable of promoting their own welfare, yet remaining deeply concerned about the welfare of others…. We strive to reflect the heterogeneity of the United States and of the world community whose ideas and concerns it shares…. We welcome students, teachers, and staff of every nationality, religion, and orientation, thereby renewing the American heritage of cultural diversity, equal access to opportunity and freedom of expression. Social justice is central to our mission and we believe that diverse backgrounds and ideas are crucial to academic excellence.

I recognize that many in our community—students, staff and faculty—are experiencing high levels of stress about the safety and security of loved ones, not to mention themselves. And I know that many are feeling deep concern about the future of the academic fields of study they are pursuing. As faculty, you are often the primary face of the institution to our students. You should feel free, to the extent that you are comfortable doing so, to give your students the space and time to express their own concerns to you. You don’t need to offer solutions, but just giving them the chance to talk about their anxieties will convey to them that we care deeply about their well-being.

I want to reaffirm my own sincere belief in the dignity and value of every person in our community. I remain fully committed to the transformative possibilities of education, and to providing those opportunities to every student, regardless of their identity, background, or status. I am proud of the broad range of academic programs we offer and dedicated to the core principles of academic freedom, which are the very bedrock of robust scholarly inquiry.

I will continue to support all members of our community during these challenging times and remind you of the many resources available to you through this website.

Sincerely,
Jeffrey

For previous messages from the Dean, please see the archive.


Upcoming Deadlines & Events
February 15 Provost to approve faculty leaves
February 18

Fall 2025 schedules due to Registrar

Deadline for Dean's Office to approve new courses

Deadline for Dean's Office to share instructional modality requests with Registrar

March 10

Norman Fund Deadline, portal closes

April 8

Registrar's Office to release Fall 2025 schedule to students

April 22

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April 24-29

Leonard Bernstein Festival of the Creative Arts

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The School of Arts and Sciences features a division each month of the school year in its newsletter. To see a full listing of recent accomplishments in the School of Arts and Sciences, please see the Faculty Achievements page.

Note: Faculty who are interested in being featured can email Kathleen McMahan. Items must fall into one of the following categories: Book or Chapter Publications, Grants, Fellowships, Performances, Compositions, Exhibitions, Other Creative Works (e.g., Director, Set Design), Interviews or Guest Appearances. Due to the volume produced by our faculty each month, published articles are not accepted at this time.

Spring 2025 to be shared soon...