President Sian Beilock and members of her administration joined a virtual town hall for Dartmouth alumni. Throughout the presentation—which was shaped by questions from alums—they reiterated Dartmouth’s commitments to academic freedom, embracing diversity as a key component to academic excellence, forming and joining coalitions to defend higher education, protecting vulnerable students, and safeguarding the college’s financial aid and research programs, which depend on the endowment for much of their funding.

President Sian Beilock met with Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) — a member of the Ways & Means Committee — during his visit to campus to discuss the potential impact of the endowment tax bill introduced in Congress.

Vice Provost for Research Dean Madden and Office of Sponsored Projects Director Jill Mortali shared a message with faculty and staff regarding the ways in which Dartmouth is challenging indirect cost cuts by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and award cancellations by National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). Provost David Kotz also submitted a declaration on May 14 to support a lawsuit challenging the termination of NEH grants.

The National Science Foundation announced a uniform 15% facilities and administrative rate (also known as indirect costs) applicable to all institutions. In response, Dartmouth submitted a declaration under oath outlining the harm this would cause the institution, which was included in a lawsuit filed by the Association of American Universities, the American Council on Education, the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities, and other plaintiffs.

Dartmouth President Sian Beilock attended the American Association of Universities Presidents and Chancellors Spring Meeting, engaging with peers from across the nation and participating in sessions featuring key leaders from the federal administration and Congress, including National Institutes of Health Director Jay Bhattacharya. President Beilock also met with Harmeet Dhillon ’89, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division at the Department of Justice, and Leo Terrell, senior counsel to Dhillon, to discuss combating antisemitism and encouraging free speech on college campuses.