Dear students, faculty, and staff,

We are saddened by reports of a shooting at approximately 6:30 pm last night on Prospect Street in Burlington near UVM, injuring three out-of-state visitors. Currently, we have no indication of a connection to the university community, but the investigation is at an early stage.

Local news outlets reported the victims are men of Palestinian descent. No motive is known. While we are not aware of any specific threat to the UVM community, the circumstances of the crime are still under investigation, and an assailant has not been identified.

This morning, a group of campus leaders met to share information and determine how best to meet the concerns that may arise within our community. UVM Police Services and our campus safety teams are enhancing security operations in and around the campus as is common in the wake of any significant safety incident.

Our hearts go out to the victims and to all who are impacted by this incident. We encourage members of the UVM community to reach out for support as needed and we encourage you to support those around you. Professional support is available through the Dean of Students Office, the Vice Provost for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and through the Employee Assistance Program (for faculty and staff). Contact information for these services is included at the end of this message.

In this period of unrest in other regions of the world, we encourage you to pay close attention to the sources and authenticity of information you receive about this incident. We ask you to do your part in helping to avoid speculation as the investigation progresses. We will share more information with the campus community as it becomes available, and we encourage all to stay tuned to local news and announcements from law enforcement for updates.

As always, we thank the UVM community for your commitment to mutual care and respect.

Sincerely,

Suresh Garimella, President
Patty Prelock, Provost and Senior Vice President

Support for Students
Vice Provost and Dean of Students office: 802-656-3380
Counseling & Psychiatry Services: 802-656-3340
Vice Provost for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: 802-656-8426

Support for Faculty and Staff
Employee Assistance Program: 866-660-9533