Message from Executive Leadership Regarding National Events

With the results of the election recorded as history and our leaders moving toward the important and essential work of governing, we now move forward as a country and community.

Since our founding 120 years ago in 1896, Adelphi University has actively engaged in national and international issues. Given recent events, we want to send a clear signal about the type of community we are and, most important, want to be.

Adelphi is guided by core values of academic excellence, creativity and innovation, community and collaboration, global awareness and diversity, respect for the individual, truth and integrity. Over the last week, many of you have reached out to ask what the presidential election means for the Adelphi community and your place in it.

We write to reassure you that we are committed to being a University where students, faculty and staff, regardless of their faith, country of origin, race, gender or sexual, political, ideological or intellectual orientation feel safe and respected.

Our campus community comprises thousands of individuals with a wide range of opinions and beliefs. Free and open speech is a fundamental pillar of our country and University. It is also a value we as teachers, scholars, employees and students proudly uphold.

We believe that an atmosphere of mutual trust, respect and responsibility is vital to ensuring the university community and environment we cherish. When individuals or groups choose to exercise their rights to assemble or otherwise express opinions, they should feel comfortable to do so freely. You can find a guide to common questions and answers around campus protest and free speech here.

We invite you to join us in over a dozen programs offered as part of International Education Week or join in a new program developed by the Division of Student Affairs to foster productive dialogue, “The Common Ground Series.” With the guidance of a facilitator, students will meet in small groups to have an opportunity to share their views and learn from each other.

If you can’t join us for one of these programs, be a champion for free, open and considerate speech by respecting others’ rights to have opinions different from your own. Strive to learn from one another, especially when you view an issue differently. Listen to points of view that are different from your own. Be okay with agreeing to disagree. Be there for each other and do not turn a blind eye to injustice or hurtful language.

While the national discourse will continue to be influenced by recent events, we will remain focused on our mission–to be a university that seeks to transform the lives of all students by creating a distinctive environment of intellectual rigor, signature student experiences and deep community engagement. We are fortunate to have the resources and programs to enhance, enrich and support our campus community.

As always, feel free to reach out to the Office of Student Affairs at divisionofstudentaffairs@adelphi.edu, Office of Diversity and Inclusion at greene@adelphi.edu, Office of the President at president@adelphi.edu, or Office of the Provost at sgrogg@adelphi.edu.

With your help and support, we will model what it means to be an inclusive community where all people, and all points of view, are valued.

All the best, Christine M. Riordan, Ph.D., president

Sam L Grogg, Ph.D., interim provost and executive vice president

Perry Greene, Ph.D., vice president for diversity and inclusion