On Feb. 21, President Ronald Liebowitz sent an email to the Brandeis community regarding the recent Board of Trustees meetings held on Jan. 29 and 30. The meeting focused on the University’s current budgetary challenges, particularly due to the significant decrease in graduate enrollment over the past two years. The Board also accepted recommendations to grant promotions to Profs. Aparna Baskaran (PHYS), Thomas Fai (MATH), Grace Han (CHEM), and Maria-Eirini Pandelia (BCHEM) to Associate Professor with tenure in their respective departments.

The Board discussed the Hamas-Israel conflict during the meeting, particularly in how it is affecting higher education. Liebowitz emphasized the University’s history as a secular institution founded on Jewish values and how those values stand for “openness to all qualified students, faculty, and staff.” He described how the trustees showed “unflinching support” for Brandeis.

Challenges to higher education discussed include “the cost of a four-year degree, the loss of public trust in the academy, and the coming ‘demographic cliff (‘decline in the number of eighteen years to apply to college’).’” The trustees focused on budgetary challenges, particularly the decline in graduate school enrollment which will require “reductions in expenses university-wide” will be further elaborated on in coming weeks. Jennifer Walker, Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid, shared that these challenges require Brandeis to dedicate more time and resources into student recruitment. 

In addition to discussing campus climate, The Student Life Committee discussed plans for a potential new residence hall. Other committee highlights include the Academy Committee on “[identifying] opportunities for enrollment growth in programs,” the Nominating and Governance Committee’s plans for nominating other trustees and the Institutional Advancement Committee on fundraising updates and regional 75th year anniversary events.