August 6, 2021

Dear Class of 2025, 
 
In less than a month, you will be here with us on campus, done with orientation, and attending class. As you prepare for this transition, we want to share with you some of the values and standards at the heart of our community. Yale is a place where you will be introduced to many new ideas, new people, and new opportunities. We ask that you approach your Yale years with openness and an eagerness to learn, not only in the classroom, but also from those around you.
 
Yale is place where people from different backgrounds and with different understandings of the world all belong. Even before you set foot on campus for the fall semester, it is vital for you to know that you belong at Yale. There are no admissions mistakes – you will be a valuable and vital member of our community.
 
We have high standards at Yale, both in and out of the classroom. We expect that when you arrive you will treat everyone at Yale, and in the New Haven community with the utmost respect and thoughtfulness. Since we are a large community, we find that it is important for everyone to have a shared understanding of our expectations for community interactions. The Belonging at Yale website provides information about Yale’s approach to building an inclusive community.
 
There are a few pieces of information that are so important we would like to highlight them separately for you. The first is a video that introduces Yale’s policies and definitions of sexual misconduct. Our community works hard to create a positive culture on campus and your class will be part of continuing that positive culture in the future.
 
The second is the website highlighting resources for discrimination and harassment concerns. We take these concerns very seriously and have a robust support system set up to support students during their time here. Please take a moment to familiarize yourself with the information.
 
Creating a space where we can all thrive requires participation from everyone involved. Your actions will contribute to building this space and creating the Yale of tomorrow.
 
Warmly, 
Dean Peck