Spring Term Welcome and Historic Gift Announcement

Dear members of the Dartmouth community,

As we welcome our undergraduates back for a productive and engaging spring term, I want to share some extraordinary news: Starting next academic year, to better support middle-income families, we are nearly doubling our current "zero parent contribution" annual income threshold for undergraduate families from $65,000 to $125,000. I am proud that Dartmouth's new threshold is the highest in the nation.

A truly transformative gift of more than $150 million from Barbara and Glenn Britt '71, Tuck '72, makes this renewed focus on middle-income families possible. It will also substantially increase financial aid for Tuck students. The Britts' remarkably generous gift contributes to the heart of Dartmouth's mission of academic excellence and our focus on recruiting, admitting, and enrolling students from the broadest swath of society who will thrive at Dartmouth, create impact in the world, and become the next generation of leaders across fields, ideologies, and disciplines.

Starting next academic year, qualifying AB undergraduate students from families making less than $125,000 with typical assets will now pay only what is required through their leave-term and expected work earnings, which is less than $5,000 a year. This policy change will benefit qualified undergraduates from middle-income families who will be second-, third-, and fourth-year students, as well as incoming members of the Class of 2028.

Dartmouth has dramatically increased its financial aid resources in recent years, fueled by more than $500 million in gifts for endowed scholarships from the successful Call to Lead campaign. These resources have been directed primarily toward students with the greatest need. As a result, the cost to attend Dartmouth for undergraduates from low-income families is significantly less than it was a decade ago. Many middle-income families, however, have felt a financial squeeze that has at times put a Dartmouth education out of reach. Just as the recent decision to reinstate standardized test scores will help us identify talented applicants from less-resourced environments whom we might have unintentionally overlooked, this policy change helps Dartmouth to restore the talented missing middle to our student body.

With increased socioeconomic diversity comes an even greater variety of student experiences, from every part of the U.S. and around the world. A more robust mix of voices and perspectives adds to richness of dialogue across campus that is a hallmark of a Dartmouth education. As you have often heard me say, research shows a clear link between enhanced learning and discovery and environments where people with different life experiences, backgrounds, and viewpoints readily exchange ideas.

While Dartmouth's financial aid covers 100% of the demonstrated need for the cost of attendance, we realize that other aspects of a Dartmouth education carry expenses that may be a burden to some students, such as studying off campus, learning to ski, needing warm winter clothing, or finding the right attire for a job interview. To help alleviate these expenses, today we are also launching the Dartmouth 4E Fund, which increases funds to cover costs associated with essentials, enrichment, experiences, and emergencies.

I look forward to sharing more good news this spring—from academic opportunities and achievements, to events such as the Dartmouth Dialogues launch of its partnership with StoryCorps' One Small Step initiative, and upcoming workshops that will help community members better understand and address Islamophobia and antisemitism. For now, I am gratified to begin the last quarter of what has been a rewarding and meaningful first year as Dartmouth's president.

I wish you much joy and success this term,

Sian Leah Beilock

President