Our Mission and Values

January 29, 2025

Dear all,

As we all experience this rapidly evolving environment and the uncertainty associated with the ongoing federal policies changes, I want to take a moment to clearly and unequivocally underscore our commitment to our mission and values.

Over the past several months we have been planning and working across departments and with colleagues beyond our school to collaboratively prepare for various scenarios and areas of concern to our community. I am confident that the work we have been doing—and continue to do each day with energy and urgency—will help ensure our resilience in these ever-shifting times.

Our students, faculty, staff and administrators are at the center of all that we do. I have spoken with so many of you and invite and welcome additional engagement—with me, with the rest of the senior leadership team, and with each other. Our ability to hear and support each other is especially critical now. Deep engagement is one of the cornerstones of our approach as a college and has been since our founding. I am confident that our ability to stay in community with each other and to think critically and work through difficult problems together will serve us well in this time.

We will be flexible and nimble, but we will neither bend nor waver when it comes to upholding our educational mission, living our core values, and supporting each other and we will do all we can to keep you fully informed. Please look for communications about specific policy changes and guidance from community members over the next few days.

Thank you for all you do and please be in touch if you have any concerns or suggestions for the time ahead.

Elizabeth H. Bradley, President
Vassar College
Poughkeepsie, NY 12604
@EHBVassar