Message from President Laackman Regarding Friday’s Executive Orders on Immigration

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Dear Students and Colleagues:

On Friday afternoon, President Trump signed into effect Executive Orders on immigration, significantly changing the United States' actions regarding citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries and all refugees. Like many of you, I am following the news and seeking to understand both the short and long-term implications of these Orders.

I am writing today to affirm that Champlain remains steadfastly committed to our goal of fostering a diverse and inclusive community. I write to reaffirm, in the strongest terms, our commitment as Champlain College to our international students, faculty and staff.

We embrace students, faculty and staff from any and all races, religious creeds, sexual orientations, gender identities and nations of origin. While much work still remains to be done, we continue to seek ways to deepen our campus culture so that all voices are heard, respected, valued, engaged and empowered. The President's Executive Orders on immigration reinforce the importance of our unwavering commitment to this goal.

We are working to understand the immediate implications of the Executive Orders for members of our community. The situation is both fluid and uncertain, and we are working to understand how best to respond and support our community. Our teams from both the Division of Student Life and Office of International Education have connected with and offered support to our international students. In the days to come, these teams will provide opportunities for all students and other members of our community to come together and engage in dialogue and offer support. Additionally, the People Center has connected with our international faculty and staff to express our commitment to them and provide support as needed.

To respect the privacy of the individuals involved, we are not confirming whether any students, faculty or staff are affected by the Executive Orders. We are offering services and support to all foreign nationals at Champlain College. Any student, staff or faculty member who considers themselves affected by the Executive Orders should reach out to the Office of International Education or the People Center for assistance. Questions regarding travel restrictions may also be directed to these same offices.

We have also learned that a prospective faculty candidate for a position in the Information Technology and Science Division will not be visiting Champlain this week, as he has been advised that he would not be permitted entry to the U.S. under the Executive Order. We regret that talented individuals are not afforded the opportunity to join Champlain's community because of national origin -- or any other reason associated with their identity.

In addition to the work of our teams at the College, we are connecting with national higher education organizations and Vermont agencies to understand the resources available to students, faculty and staff. Champlain's mission is to help our students become skilled practitioners, effective professionals and engaged global citizens. In the days and weeks ahead, we ask all faculty and staff to model for our students what it means to be engaged global citizens.
Sincerely, 

Donald J. Laackman, President, Champlain College


Founded in 1878, Champlain College is a small, not-for-profit, private college in Burlington, Vermont, with additional campuses in Montreal, Canada, and Dublin, Ireland. Champlain offers a traditional undergraduate experience from its beautiful campus overlooking Lake Champlain and over 90 residential undergraduate and online undergraduate and graduate degree programs and certificates. Champlain's distinctive career-driven approach to higher education embodies the notion that true learning occurs when information and experience come together to create knowledge. Champlain College is included in the Princeton Review's The Best 384 Colleges: 2019 Edition. For the fourth year in a row, Champlain was named a "Most Innovative School" in the North by U.S. News & World Report's 2019 "America's Best Colleges,” and a “Best Value School” and is ranked in the top 100 “Regional Universities of the North” and in the top 25 for “Best Undergraduate Teaching.” Champlain is also featured in the Fiske Guide to Colleges for 2019 as one of the "best and most interesting schools" in the United States, Canada and Great Britain and is a 2019 College of Distinction. For more information, visit champlain.edu.