Virginia Wesleyan President Joins Higher Education Leaders to Oppose Travel Ban (02-09-2017)
In a letter to Secretary of Homeland Security John Kelly Friday, Virginia Wesleyan College joined with nearly 600 universities and colleges from across the nation to voice concerns about President Donald Trump's recent executive actions banning travel from seven Muslim-majority countries.
The letter, sent by the American Council on Education, was signed by 598 university and college presidents and also represented the American Association of Community Colleges, the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, the Association of American Universities, the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities and the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities.
"We take seriously the need to safeguard our nation and also the need for the United States to remain the destination of choice for the world’s best and brightest students, faculty and scholars," the letter read. "...We are confident that our nation can craft policies that secure us from those who wish to harm us, while welcoming those who seek to study, conduct research and scholarship, and contribute their knowledge and talents to our country."
The letter also called the U.S. the "greatest magnet for talented people from around the world" and said international collaboration is a "core value and strength of American higher education."