July 2, 2025
Dear Class of 2029,
Dean Lewis writes this week to introduce the Perspectives training program, which will help you build skills for engaging in meaningful conversations across differences when you arrive in August and long afterward. The course, which has six modules that you can complete before August 17 at your own pace, is part of a broader initiative to promote the free exchange of ideas and strengthens Yale's longstanding commitment to supporting freedom of expression. While you will not receive academic credit for the course, all new students are completing the course together as a group in preparation for joining the Yale College community.
With best wishes from campus,
Hannah Peck
Associate Dean of Student Affairs
Yale College Dean's Office
July 2, 2025
To the Yale College Class of 2029,
Welcome to Yale! I am delighted to congratulate you on your admission, and I look forward to greeting you when you arrive. As you prepare to join us this fall, I want to introduce you to an important initiative that reflects Yale’s commitment to fostering a culture of thoughtful dialogue, mutual respect, and intellectual openness.
This summer, before you arrive on campus, I ask that you complete an online training program developed by the Constructive Dialogue Institute. The program is designed to help you build the skills necessary for engaging in meaningful conversations across differences—skills that are essential not only for your time at Yale but also for your life beyond college.
The program, which you can complete at your own pace, introduces practical tools for navigating complex topics with empathy, curiosity, and intellectual humility. It is part of a broader effort to ensure that every student at Yale feels confident to speak, listen, and
learn in a community that values both free expression and mutual understanding. You can start the program as early as today; just be sure to complete it before move-in day, August 17. It is made up of six 30-minute modules, ideally paced at two a week, to give you time to reflect on the materials. When you log in, using the link below, please opt to sign in with your Yale account.
This effort is grounded in Yale’s long-standing principles, articulated most clearly in the 1974 Woodward Report, which affirms that “the history of intellectual growth and discovery clearly demonstrates the need for unfettered freedom, the right to think the unthinkable, discuss the unmentionable, and challenge the unchallengeable.” These ideals remain central to our mission today. The Yale community values freedom of expression as not only a right but also a responsibility—one that requires us to engage with one another in good faith, especially when we disagree.
Over the past year, I have hosted a series of events known as the Dean’s Dialogues, which bring together students and faculty to model civil discourse on some of the most challenging issues of our time. These conversations have demonstrated that it is possible—even vital—to engage deeply with ideas and perspectives that differ from our own. I encourage you to learn more about them, and to consider how you might contribute to this tradition of open, respectful exchange.
This spring, we also launched the Yale Center for Civic Thought, a new hub for programming, research, and student engagement focused on the principles of democratic citizenship and the responsibilities of living in a pluralistic society. The Center will offer courses, public events, and opportunities for students to explore the philosophical and historical foundations of civic life. I hope you will take advantage of its offerings during your time here.
Together, these initiatives reflect Yale’s enduring mission: to educate leaders who are prepared not only to excel in their chosen fields, but also to contribute thoughtfully and constructively to the world around them. As a member of the Class of 2029, you are now part of that mission. Your voice matters, and your willingness to engage with others—especially when it is difficult—will help shape the intellectual and moral character of our community.
I ask that you approach the Perspectives program with seriousness and openness. It is the first step in what I hope will be a transformative and enriching experience at Yale.
Once again, congratulations on your admission. I look forward to the many conversations we will share in the years ahead.
Warm regards,
Pericles Lewis
Dean of Yale College
Coming dates and deadlines
July 1 - Summer online placement exams begin
July 31 - Complete Math & Science Survey
August 1 - Last day to complete health requirements
Complete the Writing Survey
August 15 - Last day to complete Yale 101: Mapping Your Academic Journey
Last Day to schedule a peer advising session, required of all first-year students
August 17 - Last day to complete Perspectives training
August 20 - Registration
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