Dear Dartmouth community,
As someone who loves winter sports, the arrival of spring is bittersweet. The Green is turning green again and even the nights are above freezing—not that our men's hockey team let the thaw slow them down. (An ECAC championship for the first time in program history? Go Big Green!)
Even the gray days feel special in Hanover. I am proud to be part of this community, and I want to thank you for the ways you have supported each other this academic year. It takes all of us to deliver on what matters most: teaching and research, preparing future leaders, mental health and well-being, environmental stewardship, and the exploration of different ideas, beliefs, viewpoints, and lived experiences.
Case in point, our community has recently hosted events featuring former Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg; Fox News host Laura Ingraham ’85; civil rights leader Bernice A. King, and U.S. Sen. Rand Paul. The speakers were heard and responded to challenging questions. Those who protested their politics, or even their presence on campus, were also heard.
We know that our ability to hear each other and to engage in dialogue across differences is a factor in students choosing to attend Dartmouth, a phenomenon we observed once again in our Class of 2030. One in three newly admitted studentsmentioned Dartmouth’s stance on free expression and dialogue as a motivation for their applications.
All who are admitted can also feel confident that a Dartmouth education is accessible for them and their families, no matter where they are from and no matter their means. Families with total annual income below $175,000 qualify for free tuition, including 27% of those accepted last week. With help from generous alumni and friends, we are ensuring the most promising students—whether undergraduate, graduate, or professional—can continue to find their place here.
Speaking of the campus, we are making tremendous progress on new and revitalized undergraduate housing. Fayerweather will re-open in June, the new Russo Hall is on track to open this fall, and we’ve broken ground on the Class of 1989 Hall, Shonda Rhimes Hall, and Alumnae Hall. Our progress toward adding at least 1,000 new beds also includes 21 new housing units for employees that opened last month.
The Center for Career Design is staying busy preparing students for life after Dartmouth, leveraging new tools and launching six undergraduate Career Communities, among other programming. In one of my favorite annual traditions, I also look forward to announcing our 2026 Commencement speaker next week.
These joys do not eclipse the tragic losses of Enzo and Kate from the Class of 2027 and other colleagues and friends, or polarization and division across this country and conflicts abroad. These pressures accumulate, and I know they can take a toll. But how we respond is what sustains the close-knit community that we’re known for at Dartmouth.
There are resources available for all who need them—students and employeesalike. We’ve increased access to free 24/7 counseling services for all students through Uwill, added in-person providers, and developed a partnership with Therapists of Color New England, even as faculty and students together pilot research-based efforts to enhance student wellness. Innovation does not need to come at the expense of existing resources.
Stop by my student office hours, stay tuned for this term’s employee town hall, and get ready for all the activity that spring term brings. There is much to look forward to these next 10 weeks. Welcome back!
Best,
Sian Leah Beilock
President