Community Update – August 2024

Dear Harvey Mudd Community,

As I walk around campus, especially in the early morning or late evening, I often reflect on our shared story. One of my favorite spots is the Koi pond, with its surrounding plaques recognizing our first class of students and the faculty, staff and administrators who have dedicated decades of their careers to the College. Standing there, I’m reminded that we, who are here now, are actively shaping the future of Harvey Mudd.

In this spirit, my team has been considering who we are as a Cabinet and our aspirations for this beloved community. We are mindful of the intense challenges that lie ahead. Over the summer, we continued to see the ongoing tragedy of the Israel-Hamas war, the early signs of a contentious U.S. election season, and many other pressing issues that will undoubtedly impact our College community this year. 

Historically, higher education institutions in this country have held a unique space in our society as places where dissenting and controversial views can be expressed and debated. Freedom of expression, academic freedom, and pluralism are ideals that are vital to who we are as a College. Today, it’s clearer than ever that the world needs the kind of ethically-minded, socially responsible problem-solvers we are educating at this College. 

In short, the world needs Harvey Mudd. 

I’m confident that we can come together as a community to meet this moment. We need to manage our campus collaboratively, share information, and reaffirm our values and standards. We must be able to live out the mission of our College while rebuilding our sense of community. Throughout the summer, the Cabinet along with faculty, staff, and student leaders have been working to prepare our College for the fall in numerous ways. 

Community Connections

We’ve explored ways to create a sustainable commitment to improving the learning, living and working environment for all members of the community and improving the quality of our relationships with each other. A new Community Connections campus calendar is filled with opportunities to foster open conversations and share important information with our community.

For students, we will be incorporating Living Room conversations, Constructive Conversation Training Sessions and Unify America into the work of the Division of Student Affairs. VP/DOF Tom Donnelly, VP/DOS Cindy Martinez and I will each hold regular office hours. We will continue our Coffee with the Cabinet sessions in the Green Room with table topics as recommended by the community. VP/CFO/COO Andrew Dorantes and AVP Dana Nagengast will host a lunch and learn series. Monthly community-wide sessions will provide opportunities for Q&A. Additionally, we will begin a new bi-weekly faculty and staff newsletter—tentatively named Mudd on the Ground—to communicate campus information in a regular manner. 

Clinic and Corporate Partnerships

The Task Force on Clinic and Corporate Partnerships has been very active this summer. You can review their work on the TFCCP website. The task force has sent a survey to faculty, staff, students, and alumni, and they plan to hold a series of meetings starting in mid-September to share preliminary results and gather feedback.

Meanwhile, information on this year’s Clinic projects has been distributed. We encourage students to approach these opportunities with purpose, thoughtfully expressing their preferences and professional interests. We also ask that students help us build an inclusive community—one that respects the dedication of peers who are critically engaging and exploring how to become leaders with a clear understanding of the societal impact of their work.

Demonstration Policy and Honor Code

We have been actively discussing and developing ways to enhance community consultation regarding the 7C Demonstration Policy and the Honor Code. Tom, Cindy, and Faculty Chair Susan Martonosi have been working to draft a document currently entitled “Implementation of the 7C Demonstration Policy at Harvey Mudd College.” This document does not propose changes or updates to the demonstration policy. Instead, it aims to provide a clearer institutional perspective on how the policy aligns with and supports Harvey Mudd College, including its relation to our Honor Code. 

They have gathered a preliminary round of feedback from faculty and student leaders. Currently, they are refining the document based on this feedback and will soon share it, along with a plan for engaging in community-wide discussions around it. The document will also serve as a learning tool to further clarify and strengthen our community standards.

Succeeding Together

In the coming weeks, you’ll hear more about these and other ongoing initiatives. We hope this year will present opportunities to listen courageously, learn deeply, and emerge with greater discernment from the challenges we face. 

Your input and engagement are essential to our efforts, so please continue to share your feedback and insights with the Cabinet. At Harvey Mudd, we excel because of our dedication to inclusive excellence, honor, and shared governance. We thrive when we engage with diverse perspectives, grounded in mutual respect, and an openness to inquiry. As we seek common ground, let us channel our shared love for this remarkable college–one that is truly worthy of special endeavors and our committed, careful work of helping everyone flourish. 

Thank you for your ongoing support and dedication to Harvey Mudd College. I look forward to another year filled with growth, collaboration, and success.

Kind regards,

Harriet B. Nembhard

President, Harvey Mudd College