December 13, 2016

Dear members of Southern Vermont College:

As the holidays approach, many in our community are feeling uncertain. The uncertainty is, in large part, from the extraordinarily divisive political election that has exposed deep separations in our national communities. The faculty of Southern Vermont College would like to address this uncertainty by affirming the core ethical values inherent in our mission and which guide our teaching.

All individuals have an intrinsic worth and dignity. In their lives, all individuals take different paths in a search for truth. This is the foundation of the liberal arts – a quest to see what truths we can in this existence. To learn.

We want all of our students and members of our community to know we value your worth and will treat you with dignity and respect in all our interactions. This respect comes from recognizing you as an individual and an understanding of the different paths you have tread.  We particularly want to affirm each human being’s dignity in differences of race, gender, sexual orientation, disability, religion, national origin, citizenship status, political affiliation, service to one’s country and socioeconomic status.

We ask you to approach the debates, the discussions, and the learning we will engage in as a community with this foundation in mind. Recognize and respect that this quality that makes you worthy exists in every individual, though their path is different than yours.

We ask you to honor and respect the differences in yourself and others that leads to building bigger and deeper communities.

We as a faculty will condemn any attempt to strip or belittle any person of their worth and dignity, in all the forms that these attacks may take. You are too important to our community to allow anything less.

We as a faculty will defend any student who feels threatened, persecuted or attacked by any individual or institution.

We as a faculty will help guide our community to the best of our abilities through these uncertainties, sharing our collective knowledge, experiences, and ideas.

Our Mission States: Southern Vermont College affirms a deep belief in the potential of every individual. We embrace diversity in all its forms, fostering excellence and personal responsibility in each member of our community. Grounded in the liberal arts, our programs prepare students to look beyond boundaries, to engage their communities, and to excel in their professional endeavors.

Sincerely,

Your Faculty at SVC