President Havidán Rodríguez spoke about the public purpose of higher education during Compact25, the annual conference for Campus Compact.
Good morning! Muy buenos días!
I am Havidán Rodríguez, President of the University at Albany of the State University of New York or SUNY, and a member of the Campus Compact Board of Directors.
I am delighted to be here this morning with all of you to kick off today’s plenary session.
I’m also very pleased to see that SUNY Chancellor, Dr. John B. King Jr., is also joining us for the panel discussion this morning.
It has been inspiring to spend the past two days with higher education leaders from across the country who share Campus Compact’s vision.
Together, we are working toward an equitable, accessible, and just democracy.
For 40 years, Campus Compact’s mission has been critically important. But perhaps never more so than today.
We find ourselves leading during a time of immense uncertainty.
Every day we are confronted by skepticism about the importance of our work.
We see hostility toward bedrock principles that we hold dear, like academic freedom and freedom of speech.
We are confronting challenges to core values like diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Whether your institution is in a blue state, a red state, or a purple state, I have no doubt that you have encountered these critical challenges.
In my view, an attack on higher education, on our mission, or on our values is a direct attack on our democracy.
Our mission, our work, and our roles are imperative for an equitable and just society.
In challenging times like these, the public mission of higher education is not just more important, it is the light by which we will find the path forward that is critical to our democracy.
Our colleges and universities do so much more than educate students.
We are the standard-bearers of civil discourse and civic engagement.
We provide resources and support to our communities on campus and beyond.
We make discoveries and create knowledge that improves lives.
We are the architects of a just, equitable, and prosperous future.
Our students – both local and international – look to us to guide them through these tumultuous times.
Our communities count on us for support and partnership.
Consequently, we cannot despair, and we cannot stop our work. We must strive, with great resolve, to continue to improve our societies and to educate engaged global citizens who will transform the world for the better.
For 180 years, the University at Albany, has been a transformative force in the City of Albany, in the Capital Region, and in the great state of New York, and beyond.
As one of the most diverse research universities in the country, we are developing the leaders, the knowledge, and the innovations that will create a better world.
Our commitment to our mission, our values, and our core goals is resolute.
This is why our and your engagement with Campus Compact is vital.
By harnessing the wealth of knowledge and energy in this room, we will empower each other and our institutions to build strong communities where democracy can flourish.
I hope that throughout the course of this conference you have learned something or made a connection that inspires you to move forward in your work. We have clearly heard the clarion call for action and transformative leadership.
What should we then, as institutional leaders, be communicating to our campus communities?
Just yesterday, I sent an email to my faculty and staff at UAlbany in which:
- I thank them for their ongoing work and strong commitment to our students and our institution. Appreciation for their work is always important, especially in these uncertain and challenging times.
I acknowledged their concerns and emphasized that we are:
- Monitoring federal developments closely
- Communicating with our campus community as necessary
- Coordinating with the State University of New York (SUNY) and elected officials
- Planning across divisions
- Advocating for higher education broadly—and UAlbany specifically
- And we are taking timely action to protect our community and uphold our values
I also emphasized four key points, which I would also like to share with you as members of Campus Compact:
- First, we are not retreating from our mission and our commitment to our values is unwavering.
- Second, we are not standing idly by. We are fully engaged in understanding how federal policies could impact us and we are doing everything possible to mitigate their adverse effects.
- Third, we are not facing this moment alone. We are working closely with SUNY and our state and federal elected officials. We are also leveraging our relationships with national higher education organizations, such as Campus Compact, to stay informed and shape our response.
- Finally, we are responding proactively to the shifting landscape.
We need to keep our communities informed during these uncertain times.
Don’t get me wrong, we understand the critical circumstances, challenges, and issues that we are confronting. But we also need to open a path forward and must strive to emerge triumphant.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that.”
Within each of you is the capacity to be that light.
So wherever you see darkness, shine a light.
Wherever you see racism or discrimination, demand acceptance.
Wherever you see fear, seek understanding.
Wherever you see loneliness, provide connection or a word of encouragement.
Whenever you see anxiety and despair, provide hope.
Let me now conclude as I did in my letter to my campus community.
I understand the concern many of you are feeling today, but I take strength from the knowledge that higher education has weathered many storms since our inception.
But even in times of upheaval, we have persevered, we have grown, and we have emerged stronger and more resilient.
Our work is vital, and your contributions are essential to our individual and collective success.
We are a force for good—locally and globally.
Let us continue moving forward together with purpose, clarity, and commitment.
Thank you to the Campus Compact team for their leadership and for this excellent conference.
And thank you all for your being here today.