Dear UVM community,
As work continues across campus to adjust to the changes and challenges in higher education, we also had cause to celebrate this week. It was good to be reminded that the excellence that defines UVM continues and can give us hope and optimism going forward.
I had the pleasure Thursday of attending a celebration of our UVM Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) winning the 2023–2024 General Douglas MacArthur Award for Leadership as the best program in the Northeast. This is the third time UVM Army ROTC has won the MacArthur Award in the last 10 years, and I am so proud of the young men and women who make the wise and important decision to serve our country through ROTC. This program succeeds in creating a caring community for students, and it has been an honor and a privilege to see their growth and success during my tenure at UVM.
Also on Thursday, I was on hand when Distinguished Professor of German and Folklore, Emeritus and UVM Honorary Degree Recipient Wolfgang Mieder was awarded the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany at a ceremony on campus. The Order of Merit—German’s highest civilian honor—is a recognition of Wolfgang’s lifelong commitment to the study and teaching of Germany’s cultural, literary, linguistic, and folk traditions. I am thrilled for Wolfgang and honored to have him as a colleague and friend.
The latest forum on federal actions took place Tuesday with a discussion of academic freedom hosted by the Our Common Ground operations team. Faculty, deans, and administrators convened in Memorial Lounge to explore and ask questions about freedom in the classroom and ways to ensure we uphold our values as a university.
Our next forum will focus on how to navigate social media and carefully consider and evaluate the information we listen to and read. We are also planning a safety forum with guests from the City of Burlington. Details will be coming soon.
As we prepare for the final four weeks of classes I hope you will take some time to explore our 2,400 acres of unique natural areas, including the summit ridgeline of Mount Mansfield, Shelburne Pond, Pease Mountain, and Centennial Woods to name just a few. You can learn about new initiatives to engage with these “living laboratories” for conservation, stewardship, and UVM’s planetary health efforts. Get outside, explore, and clear your mind so you can make the most of the beauty of Vermont amidst the chaos that you may be feeling. Enjoy your weekend.
Warmly,
Patricia Prelock
Interim President