Found 83 Results for Letters to the community

Updates

To keep you informed, find the latest news, events, and reports coming out of our office—plus the provost’s Letters to the Community.

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The Office of the Provost oversees MIT’s academic and research endeavors, enabling our faculty, staff, and Institute to thrive.

Resources

As part of the Provost Office’s mission to support MIT faculty and staff, we have curated helpful resources from across the Institute to guide all faculty, assist administrators, and enhance scholarship research.

Supporting a safe, welcoming, and respectful community at MIT

Letters · The Institute will undertake activities to prevent harassment, sexual misconduct, and discrimination.

People

Senior leaders, Institute Professors, and innovators across the Institute work with the provost and our office to shape the future of MIT’s academics, governance, and research.

Areas of Oversight

The Provost’s Office team provides advice and counsel to the senior leaders of the schools and colleges, key offices, and affiliated institutes in furthering MIT’s commitment to best-in-class academics and research.

Institute Community & Equity Office (ICEO)

Key administrative offices · Programs and resources promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion across MIT.

John Dozier named Institute Community and Equity Officer

News · After a nationwide search, MIT has named John H. Dozier, an experienced higher-education leader with significant expertise in the areas of diversity and inclusion, as its new Institute Community and Equity Officer (ICEO).

Proposed Free Expression Statement for MIT

Letters · Last fall, debate around the handling of the Carlson Lecture spurred our community to focus on important questions about freedom of expression and academic freedom.

MIT building access plan for the fall

Letters · We write with an update on our building access policy, which has spurred conversation across our community in recent days.

Upcoming changes to building access

Letters · In August, we wrote to you about our plans to engage the community as we developed MIT’s approach to building access for the spring semester and beyond.

Welcoming the MIT Values Statement

Letters · More than a year ago, 22 members of our community took up a challenging piece of work: They set out to create a values statement that could reflect MIT’s distinctive character and speak to all of us, in every role.

MIT to ease masking, testing, attestation requirements

Letters · The Omicron surge now appears to be behind us. And while almost 4,500 of our MIT colleagues, classmates, and friends have tested positive since December, we are not aware of anyone in our community who has been hospitalized during that time due to Covid.

COVID-19 precautions to finish the semester strong

Letters · As you may be aware, last week we had an increase in COVID-19 cases in our community.

Research Assistant Tuition Subsidy Increase

Letters · In March, we wrote to the community to describe how MIT is investing in strategic priorities to address longstanding Institute needs during the coming 2023 fiscal year.

In virtual town hall, MIT leadership updates community on Covid-19 responses

News · As the MIT community adjusts to this unique period of separation and disruption, the Institute’s top leaders held an online “town hall” on Tuesday to answer some of the most frequent questions being asked by students, faculty, and staff.

MIT community members who work to eradicate sexual violence recognized at 2023 Change-Maker Awards

News · Students and employees were celebrated for their efforts in combating sexual misconduct.

Thirty-four community members receive 2023 MIT Excellence Awards, Collier Medal, and Staff Award for Distinction in Service

News · Prestigious awards recognize community support of MIT’s goals, values, and mission.

3 Questions: Provost Cynthia Barnhart on MIT’s community of excellence

News · With the MIT values statement recently published and MIT’s Strategic Action Plan for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion nearly complete, Provost Cynthia Barnhart provides her thoughts on the importance of diversity within the context of MIT’s commitment to excellence.

The latest on grad student union negotiations

Letters · In a nutshell, the negotiations have been collegial and constructive. Much ground has been covered, yet there is much more to explore with the GSU.

Commencement participation from employees

Letters · Commencement week is a time when we celebrate an important academic and research milestone for our graduating students.

Update on progress of Task Force 2021 and Beyond recommendations

Letters · In May 2020, President Reif charged Task Force 2021 and Beyond with creating “blueprints for building a better MIT” in a post-pandemic world.

Exciting move for Krystyn Van Vliet

Letters · We write today to announce that Associate Provost and Associate Vice President for Research Krystyn Van Vliet will step down effective October 10, 2022, to serve as the vice president for research and innovation at Cornell University.

Graduate student union negotiations set to begin

Letters · On September 19, MIT will begin collective bargaining negotiations with the MIT Graduate Student Union and United Electrical, Radio, and Machine Workers of America (MIT GSU-UE).

Special one-time payment

Letters · Many of you have expressed concerns about the current inflationary environment and the additional stress and financial pressures it is causing.

New F&A Rates for FY2023 and FY2024

Letters · MIT recently concluded negotiations with the Office of Naval Research (ONR) for facilities and administrative (F&A) rates for fiscal years 2023 and 2024.

Thank you for your participation in Commencement

Letters · We write today to add our thanks for your work in preparing for this year’s Commencement ceremonies, welcoming our guests to campus, and creating a memorable celebration of our graduates’ accomplishments.

Upcoming Covid testing changes at MIT

Letters · More than two years have passed since Covid-19 entered our lives. During that time, we have learned just as much about our own resolve and resilience as we have about the virus.

Tim Jamison concludes appointment as Associate Provost

Letters · I write today to announce that Tim Jamison, Robert Robinson Taylor Professor of Chemistry and former Chemistry department head, will conclude his term as associate provost effective June 30.

Published guidance on faculty promotion and tenure

Letters · I write today to share an important final piece of work driven by former Faculty Chair Rick Danheiser regarding MIT’s faculty promotion and tenure processes.

Join Solve at MIT on May 5 with Yuval Harari, Shirin Ebadi & more

Letters · I write to invite you to join an exciting event on our campus: Solve at MIT's Opening Plenary session, “Ethical and Inclusive Innovation: Solving With, By, and For the Most Underserved.”

Investing in the future of MIT

Letters · Last October, President Reif shared news of the exceptional performance of MIT’s endowment, and announced that MIT would be drawing on newly available resources immediately to invest in strategic priorities.

Register to participate in Commencement 2022

Letters · With Commencement season nearly here, we write to update you on this year’s plans and invite you to participate in the festivities.

Commencement 2023 ceremony schedule

Letters · We write to share important updates about the schedule and format for MIT’s Commencement 2023 ceremonies.

Sharing report from Ad Hoc Committee on Arts, Culture, and DEI

Letters · In the summer of 2020, President Reif outlined a number of steps the Institute would take to address the lasting legacy of racism.

Update on graduate student unionization

Letters · Last week, the MIT Graduate Student Union and United Electrical, Radio, and Machine Workers of America (MIT GSU-UE) filed a new petition with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).

MindHandHeart Innovation Funds 

Funding opportunities · Funding for projects that spark community connections or strengthen the fabric of the MIT community.

Catastrophic Events

Community support · In times of crisis, MIT pulls together in support of one another and of those most deeply affected. Here you will find resources for the Institute community and guidance for engaging scholars and students beyond our campus.

Dan Hastings appointed interim ICEO & interim associate provost

Letters · Dan brings to these interim roles a remarkable depth and breadth of professional accomplishment and service to the Institute community, as well as an impressive record of national service.

Exciting move for ICEO John Dozier

Letters · John Dozier will step down as Institute Community and Equity Officer (ICEO) on June 30 to become president of Columbia College.

Nominations open for 2023 MIT Staff Award for Distinction in Service

Letters · We invite the MIT community to consider colleagues who have made remarkable contributions to the Institute for the MIT Staff Award for Distinction in Service.

Inviting you to inaugural “Dialogues Across Difference” with John Tomasi

Letters · We invite you to join us for the first in a new series of guest lectures and campus conversations called “Dialogues Across Difference: Building Community at MIT.”

MIT Awards

Community support · Awards given across the Institute to students, faculty, staff, and community members who have made outstanding contributions to the shared life of the Institute.

Proposals due Aug. 15 re. generative AI impact papers

Letters · With the August 15th deadline coming up, we write now to encourage you to submit a proposal, as an individual or as a group.

Seeking candidates: senior vice provost for research

Letters · The senior vice provost for research (SVPR) is an important new faculty role that will strengthen MIT’s research enterprise.

Call for proposals: Impact papers on generative AI

Letters · We seek to fund the work of individual PIs or groups of faculty to develop impact papers that articulate effective roadmaps, policy recommendations, and calls for action across the broad domain of generative AI.

MIT Museum director stepping down

Letters · John Durant will step down as the Mark R. Epstein (Class of 1963) Director of the MIT Museum on December 31, 2023.

The case for voting “yes”

Letters · The GSU vote on whether to accept a comprehensive offer from MIT begins this Monday and will be open through Thursday.

Seeking candidates: associate provost for faculty advancement

Letters · We’re opening an internal search to fill an important faculty role.

Why graduate students should vote “yes”

Letters · We urge the GSU and its members to act to conclude the negotiating process with a “yes” vote.

MIT urges the GSU to re-engage at the bargaining table

Letters · We remain committed to reaching the GSU’s stated goal of arriving at an agreement in May.

Attend Solve at MIT on 5/4 with President Kornbluth and Tony Elumelu

Letters · The public opening plenary of Solve at MIT 2023 will feature world-renowned artists and thought leaders tackling some of the world's most complex challenges.

The latest on negotiations with the GSU

Letters · We write to share updates on MIT’s negotiations with the Graduate Student Union (GSU).

Commencement participation from employees

Letters · We encourage all staff to take an active role in Commencement festivities.

NLRB decision on fellows

Letters · NLRB has responded to a petition by the MIT Graduate Student Union.

Paula Hammond appointed vice provost for faculty

Letters · In her new role, Paula will oversee Institute-wide strategies and programs to support faculty excellence and advancement.

Institutional Research

Key administrative offices · Analytical support to the provost, academic departments, and the broader MIT community.

De Florez Fund for Humor 

Funding opportunities · The de Florez Fund for Humor supports diverse humorous activities and initiatives. All members of the MIT community — students, instructors, and staff — are welcome to apply.

MIT Policy Lab

Funding opportunities · Support and guidance on the translation of faculty members’ existing research into policy-relevant material and related outreach.

Personal Conduct and Responsibilities

Policies & procedures · Guidelines for how members of the MIT community can promote a positive working and learning environment.

MIT to launch new Office of Research Computing and Data

News · As the computing and data needs of MIT’s research community continue to grow — both in their quantity and complexity — the Institute is launching a new effort to ensure that researchers have access to the advanced computing resources and data management services they need to do their best work.

Senior Vice Provost for Research

Overview The senior vice provost for research (SVPR) is responsible for stewarding MIT’s research enterprise and fostering an outstanding research environment for MIT’s faculty, postdocs, research staff, and graduate students. The SVPR sets a strategic vision; enables major research initiatives that cut across the Institute, including through interdisciplinary labs/centers/institutes; and maintains a research administration, policy, […]

Dan Hastings

Interim Institute Community Equity Officer

Past committees

MIT inaugurates “Dialogues Across Difference” series

News · Featuring philosopher John Tomasi, a lecture and conversation event launches a set of community gatherings.

3 Questions: John Dozier on Dialogues Across Difference

News · A new campus series intends to inspire conversation about building community across the Institute.

3 Questions: David Friedrich on graduate student housing and financial support

News · At the start of the of 2019-20 academic year, Housing and Residential Services (HRS) began to work with the Eastgate Apartments community to prepare for the building’s closure and residents’ transition to new housing.

3 Questions: Defining the Institute’s values

News · MIT’s https://valuescommittee.mit.edu/has been charged by Chancellor Cynthia Barnhart and Provost Martin Schmidt with engaging the MIT community in the foundational work of developing a statement of shared values, one that is grounded in universal ideals but also speaks to MIT’s distinctive character and culture.

MIT welcomes six new assistant deans for diversity, equity, and inclusion

News · As an important step forward in MIT’s ongoing efforts to create a more welcoming and inclusive community, the Institute has hired six new assistant deans, one in each school and in the MIT Stephen A. Schwarzman College of Computing, to serve as diversity, equity, and inclusion professionals.

Jonathan Schwarz appointed director of MIT Institutional Research

News · Former Provost Martin A. Schmidt named Jonathan D. Schwarz as the new director of MIT Institutional Research — a group within the Office of the Provost that provides high-quality data and analysis to the Institute, government entities, news organizations, and the broader community.

Environment, Health, and Safety Office

Key administrative offices · Expertise, service, support, and leadership in health, safety, environmental stewardship, and sustainability.

MIT welcomes eight MLK Visiting Professors and Scholars for 2022-23

News · From space traffic to virus evolution, community journalism to hip-hop, this year’s cohort in the Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) Visiting Professors and Scholars Program will power an unprecedented range of intellectual pursuits during their time on the MIT campus.

Research Policies and Public and Private Support

Policies & procedures · Guidelines for how the MIT community interacts with research sponsors and other sources of support, as well as human research subjects.

Institute Discrimination & Harassment Response Office

Community support · A resource to address concerns related to discrimination and discriminatory harassment, including for sexual misconduct under Title IX federal regulations.

MIT Ombuds Office

Key administrative offices · Confidential and independent resource to constructively manage concerns and conflicts at MIT.

MIT Global Support

Research & teaching · Brings together the essential administrative resources from across MIT to assist members of our community in planning and managing their global activities.

MIT Faculty Guide

Community support · Information on recognizing and responding to students in distress.

MIT DoingWell

Community support · Tools to use when working with students to help support their well-being.

MIT Spouses & Partners Connect

Community support · Dedicated network for the significant others of MIT students, postdocs, staff, and faculty who have relocated to the Boston area.

Racism Research Fund 

Funding opportunities · Funding for research that deepens our understanding of systemic racism, illuminates its deleterious impact, and devises methods to mitigate or eliminate its effects.

Human Resources

Benefits · Support, services, and programs to enhance work life at MIT.

About

In partnership with senior leaders, the provost’s team has broad involvement and impact across academics, research and finances, and governing bodies at MIT.

MIT welcomes nine MLK Visiting Professors and Scholars for 2023-24

News · Martin Luther King Jr. Visiting Professors and Scholars will enhance and enrich the MIT community through engagement with students and faculty.