{"id":876,"date":"2013-07-30T13:46:54","date_gmt":"2013-07-30T13:46:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/president\/?page_id=876"},"modified":"2025-08-14T15:12:27","modified_gmt":"2025-08-14T19:12:27","slug":"speeches-and-statements","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/president\/welcoming-garry-w-jenkins\/speeches-and-statements\/","title":{"rendered":"Speeches and Statements"},"content":{"rendered":"<ul class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__list has-dates wp-block-latest-posts\"><li><a class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/president\/2025\/10\/30\/bates-president-garry-w-jenkins-signs-aacu-statement-on-the-trump-administrations-compact-for-academic-excellence-in-higher-education\/\">Bates President Garry W. Jenkins signs AAC&amp;U statement on the Trump administration\u2019s \u2018Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education\u2019<\/a><time datetime=\"2025-10-30T15:33:49-04:00\" class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-date\">October 30, 2025<\/time><div class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-excerpt\">In early October 2025, the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&amp;U) published a statement on the Trump administration\u2019s \u201cCompact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education.\u201d This follows an April joint statement from AAC&amp;U and the American Academy of Arts&hellip;<\/div><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/president\/2025\/09\/19\/community-letter-fall-2025\/\">Community Letter Fall 2025<\/a><time datetime=\"2025-09-19T08:15:00-04:00\" class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-date\">September 19, 2025<\/time><div class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-excerpt\">As we all begin the work of a new academic year, I want to share some thoughts on Bates\u2019 plans and priorities for the months ahead.\u00a0\n<\/div><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/president\/2025\/09\/02\/welcome-remarks-at-opening-convocation-september-2-2025\/\">Welcome remarks at Opening Convocation: September 2, 2025<\/a><time datetime=\"2025-09-02T16:01:38-04:00\" class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-date\">September 2, 2025<\/time><div class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-excerpt\">Good morning, Bates College! What a genuinely great day to be a Bobcat! And what a sight for sore eyes\u2014after a relatively quiet summer, our campus is full of students, staff, and faculty once again. It\u2019s spectacular! I\u2019m Garry Jenkins,&hellip;<\/div><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/president\/2025\/07\/17\/this-year-at-bates\/\">This Year at Bates<\/a><time datetime=\"2025-07-17T09:01:00-04:00\" class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-date\">July 17, 2025<\/time><div class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-excerpt\">Dear members of the Bates community, It will come as no surprise when I say that the past year has been a challenging one for higher education. Our sector is facing profound and unprecedented threats at the federal level. Despite&hellip;<\/div><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/president\/2025\/06\/09\/bates-senior-leadership-news\/\">Bates senior leadership news<\/a><time datetime=\"2025-06-09T10:18:04-04:00\" class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-date\">June 9, 2025<\/time><div class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-excerpt\">Dear colleagues, I write to share the news of two changes to Bates\u2019 senior leadership team. First, after 13 years at the college, Mike Hussey, vice president for institutional affairs and secretary to the Board of Trustees, has decided to&hellip;<\/div><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/president\/2025\/05\/29\/welcome-commencement-2025\/\">Welcome: Commencement 2025<\/a><time datetime=\"2025-05-29T09:20:03-04:00\" class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-date\">May 29, 2025<\/time><div class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-excerpt\">&#8220;The world needs Bates graduates \u2014 always. But perhaps especially now, more than ever,&#8221; said President Garry W. Jenkins as he opened the 159th Bates Commencement on May 25, 2025.<\/div><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/president\/2025\/04\/23\/announcement-of-vice-president-for-academic-affairs-and-dean-of-the-faculty\/\">Announcement of Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculty<\/a><time datetime=\"2025-04-23T09:42:14-04:00\" class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-date\">April 23, 2025<\/time><div class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-excerpt\">Dear Members of the Bates Community, I am happy to share the news with you that Joanne Roberts will join Bates College as Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculty, effective July 1, 2025. Joanne is a&hellip;<\/div><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/president\/2025\/04\/22\/bates-president-garry-w-jenkins-signs-aacu-aaas-call-for-constructive-engagement\/\">Bates President Garry W. Jenkins signs AAC&amp;U, AAAS \u201cCall for Constructive Engagement\u201d<\/a><time datetime=\"2025-04-22T14:07:48-04:00\" class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-date\">April 22, 2025<\/time><div class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-excerpt\">On Tuesday, April 22, 2025, the American Association of Colleges and Universities and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences published \u201cA Call for Constructive Engagement.\u201d This statement \u2014 signed by more than 150 college and university presidents and leaders&hellip;<\/div><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/president\/2025\/04\/21\/an-update-on-bates-and-federal-actions\/\">An Update on Bates and Federal Actions<\/a><time datetime=\"2025-04-21T16:32:35-04:00\" class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-date\">April 21, 2025<\/time><div class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-excerpt\">Dear members of the Bates community, As we continue to navigate the rapidly changing \u2014&nbsp;and at times confusing \u2014&nbsp;higher education policy landscape, I wanted to share some updates and some thanks.&nbsp; First, I would like to acknowledge the many Bates&hellip;<\/div><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/president\/2025\/02\/10\/a-word-on-recent-federal-actions-and-bates-commitments\/\">A word on recent federal actions and Bates&#8217; commitments<\/a><time datetime=\"2025-02-10T15:53:00-05:00\" class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-date\">February 10, 2025<\/time><div class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-excerpt\">Dear Members of the Bates Community, Like many of you, I have been following the recent executive orders and policy changes from the White House and working to understand their potential impact on Bates, our students, and our employees. Many&hellip;<\/div><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/president\/2025\/01\/23\/announcing-bates-questbridge-partnership\/\">Announcing Bates\/QuestBridge partnership<\/a><time datetime=\"2025-01-23T15:52:00-05:00\" class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-date\">January 23, 2025<\/time><div class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-excerpt\">Dear Members of the Bates Community, I write to share the exciting news that Bates, along with Harvard College and the University of Richmond, has entered into a partnership with QuestBridge, a national nonprofit that connects high-achieving students from low-income&hellip;<\/div><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/president\/2025\/01\/03\/strategic-planning-update\/\">Strategic Planning Update<\/a><time datetime=\"2025-01-03T15:51:00-05:00\" class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-date\">January 3, 2025<\/time><div class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-excerpt\">Dear Members of the Bates Community, I am pleased to announce the membership of a steering committee for Bates\u2019 next major strategic planning effort, which I announced in the&nbsp;fall community letter. The committee\u2019s composition is listed below. I will chair&hellip;<\/div><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/president\/2024\/12\/16\/holiday-greetings-from-bates\/\">Holiday Greetings from Bates<\/a><time datetime=\"2024-12-16T14:14:34-05:00\" class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-date\">December 16, 2024<\/time><div class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-excerpt\">As the year comes to a close, we share a few memorable moments from 2024 as an offering of gratitude to the Bates community near and far. Wishing you a new year full of potential. Warmly,Garry<\/div><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/president\/2024\/10\/31\/community-letter-fall-2024\/\">Community Letter Fall 2024<\/a><time datetime=\"2024-10-31T12:14:22-04:00\" class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-date\">October 31, 2024<\/time><div class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-excerpt\">Dear Members of the Bates Community, Now that the fall semester is well underway, I thought I would share some thoughts on plans and priorities for our work together this year. As I wrote in August, 2023\u201324 was an extraordinary&hellip;<\/div><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/president\/2024\/10\/09\/announcement-of-vice-president-for-student-affairs\/\">Announcement of Vice President for Student Affairs<\/a><time datetime=\"2024-10-09T13:01:45-04:00\" class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-date\">October 9, 2024<\/time><div class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-excerpt\">Dear Members of the Bates Community, I write to share the news that Rosanna Ferro will join the Bates community as vice president for student affairs, effective Dec. 2, 2024. Rosanna comes to Bates after serving as chief of education&hellip;<\/div><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/president\/2024\/09\/11\/announcement-of-vice-president-for-communications-and-marketing-2\/\">Announcement of Vice President for Communications and Marketing<\/a><time datetime=\"2024-09-11T13:01:00-04:00\" class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-date\">September 11, 2024<\/time><div class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-excerpt\">Dear Members of the Bates Community, I write to share the news that Kristen A. Lainsbury will join the Bates community as vice president for communications and marketing, effective Oct. 14, 2024. Kristen comes to Bates from Earlham College, where&hellip;<\/div><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/president\/2024\/09\/10\/staff-engagement-update-institutional-areas-of-focus\/\">Staff Engagement Update: Institutional Areas of Focus<\/a><time datetime=\"2024-09-10T15:49:00-04:00\" class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-date\">September 10, 2024<\/time><div class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-excerpt\">Dear colleagues, As the HR team shared in its latest newsletter, it has been a busy summer on the staff engagement front. Human Resources staff met with divisional leaders to review their individual results from the Employee Engagement Survey; these&hellip;<\/div><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/president\/2024\/09\/04\/welcome-to-the-new-year-batesies\/\">Welcome to the new year, Batesies!<\/a><time datetime=\"2024-09-04T15:48:00-04:00\" class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-date\">September 4, 2024<\/time><div class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-excerpt\">Dear Members of the Bates Community, Welcome to the 2024\u201325 academic session! I hope that the start of classes today finds you excited for all that lies ahead\u2014for yourselves, and for our Bates community\u2014in the new academic year. I look&hellip;<\/div><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/president\/2024\/09\/03\/welcome-remarks-at-opening-convocation-september-3-2024\/\">Welcome remarks at Opening Convocation: September 3, 2024<\/a><time datetime=\"2024-09-03T14:01:35-04:00\" class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-date\">September 3, 2024<\/time><div class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-excerpt\">Good morning! Greetings, everyone, and welcome! It is terrific to see you all gathered here, in this special place, ready to launch a new academic year at Bates College. I\u2019m Garry W. Jenkins, my pronouns are he\/him, and I\u2019m the&hellip;<\/div><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/president\/2024\/08\/16\/one-big-year-at-bates-and-another-starting-soon\/\">One Big Year at Bates \u2014 and Another Starting Soon<\/a><time datetime=\"2024-08-16T10:03:00-04:00\" class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-date\">August 16, 2024<\/time><div class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-excerpt\">Dear Members of the Bates Community, All summer long, I have found myself reflecting on what an extraordinary year we had at Bates in 2023\u201324. While we had moments of challenge and tragedy, we also had abundant cause for celebration,&hellip;<\/div><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/president\/2024\/05\/26\/address-to-graduates-commencement-2024\/\">Welcome: Commencement 2024<\/a><time datetime=\"2024-05-26T11:59:00-04:00\" class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-date\">May 26, 2024<\/time><div class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-excerpt\">President Garry W. Jenkins offered this welcome at Commencement on May 26, 2024.<\/div><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/president\/2024\/05\/04\/inaugural-address-rising-together\/\">Inaugural address, &#8216;Rising Together&#8217;<\/a><time datetime=\"2024-05-04T11:30:00-04:00\" class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-date\">May 4, 2024<\/time><div class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-excerpt\">Garry W. Jenkins offered these remarks at the installation ceremony of his Inauguration on May 4, 2024.<\/div><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/president\/2024\/04\/10\/a-note-of-thanks\/\">A note of thanks<\/a><time datetime=\"2024-04-10T15:47:00-04:00\" class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-date\">April 10, 2024<\/time><div class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-excerpt\">Dear colleagues, I want to thank you for taking the time to complete the employee engagement survey. Nearly two-thirds of our core staff responded, a rate that compares quite favorably with institutions of similar size. The collected data is now&hellip;<\/div><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/president\/2024\/03\/06\/president-jenkins-laments-the-use-of-blind-tiger-op-ed-in-the-bates-student\/\">&#8216;President Jenkins laments the use of Blind Tiger&#8217;<\/a><time datetime=\"2024-03-06T12:45:00-05:00\" class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-date\">March 6, 2024<\/time><div class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-excerpt\">This op-ed by President Garry W. Jenkins appeared in The Bates Student newspaper on March 6, 2024.<\/div><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/president\/2024\/02\/06\/coming-soon-staff-climate-survey\/\">Coming Soon: Staff Climate Survey<\/a><time datetime=\"2024-02-06T15:46:00-05:00\" class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-date\">February 6, 2024<\/time><div class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-excerpt\">Dear Staff Colleagues, As you know, Bates is in the midst of a process of working to better understand the sense of well-being and engagement among the members of our staff. An Employee Engagement Working Group has been active since&hellip;<\/div><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/president\/2023\/12\/18\/a-note-of-gratitude\/\">A Note of Gratitude<\/a><time datetime=\"2023-12-18T15:44:00-05:00\" class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-date\">December 18, 2023<\/time><div class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-excerpt\">Dear Members of the Bates Community, As the fall semester concludes and we all (I hope!) look ahead to some rest and relaxation over the holiday break, I write to share a quick note of gratitude. First, Jon and I&hellip;<\/div><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/president\/2023\/10\/27\/october-27-a-word-of-care-and-thanks\/\">A word of care and thanks<\/a><time datetime=\"2023-10-27T10:55:00-04:00\" class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-date\">October 27, 2023<\/time><div class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-excerpt\">President Garry W. Jenkins offered this message to the campus community on Oct. 27, 2024, two days after the mass shooting in Lewiston.<\/div><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/president\/2023\/10\/26\/a-message-to-our-community\/\">A message to our community<\/a><time datetime=\"2023-10-26T09:13:00-04:00\" class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-date\">October 26, 2023<\/time><div class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-excerpt\">President Garry W. Jenkins offered this message to the campus community in the hours after the mass shooting in Lewiston on Oct. 25, 2024.<\/div><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/president\/2023\/09\/06\/welcome-to-the-202324-academic-session\/\">Welcome to the 2023\u201324 academic session<\/a><time datetime=\"2023-09-06T10:31:00-04:00\" class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-date\">September 6, 2023<\/time><div class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-excerpt\">Welcome to the 2023\u201324 academic session! I am thrilled to join you in kicking off what promises to be an exciting year of exploration, innovation, and engagement for Bates.<\/div><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/president\/2023\/09\/05\/welcome-remarks-at-opening-convocation\/\">Welcome remarks at Opening Convocation: Sept. 5, 2023<\/a><time datetime=\"2023-09-05T11:08:53-04:00\" class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-date\">September 5, 2023<\/time><div class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-excerpt\">Greetings, everyone, and welcome. It is terrific to see you all gathered here, in this very special place, ready to launch a new academic year at Bates.<\/div><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/president\/2023\/06\/30\/bates-responds-to-supreme-court-ruling-in-lgbtq-case\/\">Bates responds to Supreme Court ruling in LGBTQ+ case<\/a><time datetime=\"2023-06-30T10:36:27-04:00\" class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-date\">June 30, 2023<\/time><div class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-excerpt\">Dear Members of the Bates Community, We write to express our serious concern about today\u2019s Supreme Court decision in 303 Creative, LLC v. Elenis and to offer support to our LGBTQ+ community in light of this ruling. The Court invokes&hellip;<\/div><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/president\/2023\/06\/29\/bates-responds-to-supreme-courts-ruling-on-race-conscious-college-admissions\/\">Bates responds to Supreme Court\u2019s ruling on race-conscious college admissions<\/a><time datetime=\"2023-06-29T10:28:57-04:00\" class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-date\">June 29, 2023<\/time><div class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-excerpt\">Dear Members of the Bates Community: We are deeply disappointed by today\u2019s decision by the Supreme Court, a ruling that turns back the clock on 45 years of established constitutional principle and significantly restricts the admissions practices used at many&hellip;<\/div><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/president\/2023\/03\/07\/remarks-at-presidential-introduction-march-7-2023\/\">Remarks at Presidential Introduction: March 7, 2023<\/a><time datetime=\"2023-03-07T21:00:00-05:00\" class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-date\">March 7, 2023<\/time><div class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-excerpt\">Garry Jenkins delivered the following remarks to the campus community on March 7, 2023, in Alumni Gymnasium. The occasion marked his first official visit to campus as president-elect. Thank you, Andrea [Bueschel &#8217;90] , thank you John [Gillespie &#8217;80], for&hellip;<\/div><\/li>\n<\/ul>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1257,"featured_media":0,"parent":3081,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"_hide_ai_chatbot":false,"_ai_chatbot_style":"","associated_faculty":[],"_Page_Specific_Css":"","_bates_restrict_mod":false,"_dimp_site_id":"","_dimp_override_contact":false,"_table_of_contents_display":false,"_table_of_contents_location":"","_table_of_contents_disableSticky":false,"_is_featured":false,"footnotes":"","_bates_seo_meta_description":"","_bates_seo_block_robots":false,"_bates_seo_sharing_image_id":0,"_bates_seo_sharing_image_twitter_id":0,"_bates_seo_share_title":"","_bates_seo_canonical_overwrite":"","_bates_seo_twitter_template":""},"class_list":["post-876","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/president\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/876","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/president\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/president\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/president\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1257"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/president\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=876"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/president\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/876\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4611,"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/president\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/876\/revisions\/4611"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/president\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3081"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/president\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=876"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}