"President Nathan Hatch" Archive

University statement of support for those affected by anti-Asian violence

As the University Chaplain and the Dean of Wait Chapel wrote yesterday, Wake Forest University continues “to sit in sorrow and solidarity with all those affected by the horrific mass shooting in Atlanta.” The recent violent attacks have affected members of our Wake Forest community in profound and different ways.

President Nathan O. Hatch affirmed his commitment to support those who have been affected by this hate. The incident brings many issues into focus, particularly the increasing anti-Asian sentiment across the country during the pandemic, as well as the devastating impact of gender violence on our society. For Wake Foresters who call Atlanta home, this tragic event resonates in a city that is not only central to the civil rights movement, but also increasingly representative of the tapestry that is our nation.

Campus partners are working to bring awareness and provide outreach to faculty, staff, and students in this time of pain, anger, and grief. University resources that can directly provide support and spaces of affirmation to members of our community include:

Confidential resources available to faculty and staff also include the Employment Assistance Program (EAP).

President Hatch shares annual State of the University address

At the invitation of the Faculty Senate and Senate President Simone Caron, President Nathan Hatch is sharing his annual State of the University address. Instead of meeting in person this year, all are invited to view the remarks or read them at their convenience on the President’s website

“Storms Within” — A message from President Hatch

Dear faculty and staff,

This summer, for the first time in over 40 years, Julie and I did not go to Priest Lake, Idaho, and visit the land and cabin which her great grandfather began visiting in 1920 – exactly 100 years ago. Like a lot of you, this is no normal season; travel has been stopped, vacation plans disrupted, family reunions postponed and youth camps canceled.

This summer, instead of taking a deep breath, kicking back and forgetting the work-a-day world, all of us have faced anxiety and worry. Worry about the virus and potential exposure, about changing economic conditions, and about job security. Race relations nationally and here in Winston-Salem is another discomforting and painful reality. To add insult to injury, we face this time of national crisis in an election year with little steady leadership and a dysfunctional political system. In a recent column, Peggy Noonan speaks about how, in America today, the storms without are causing deep storms within. She describes our country as “a coalition of the worried.” “People who haven’t worried in years are worried, and it’s not about regular things. It’s about big essential things. It’s a whole other order of anxiety,” she wrote. Read more

A message from President Hatch on support for international students

The following message was sent this afternoon from President Nathan Hatch.

Dear Wake Forest community, 

As I shared earlier this week, Wake Forest University believes that the recent guidelines suggested by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), an office of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), are dangerous and threatening to international students and higher education. 

In response to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) guidelines released this week, Wake Forest has joined an amicus brief, prepared by the Presidents’ Alliance on Immigration and Higher Education, backing a lawsuit filed by Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology against federal restrictions that threaten the education and wellbeing of international students.  

Yesterday, Wake Forest joined more than 150 higher education institutions united in the fight to combat the new ICE restrictions. The amicus brief, written by the President’s Alliance, which is not involved in the case but has a strong interest in the subject matter, supports the litigation filed by Harvard and MIT to prohibit the enforcement of the government’s order. 

In addition to supporting the brief, Wake Forest continues to use multiple methods to advocate against these guidelines and protect students, including working with elected representatives in Washington, D.C., and with peers and professional associations. The provost, deans and faculty are collaborating to make options available for in-person learning opportunities for international students, and the Office of International Student and Scholar Services is advocating for and offering support to students affected by these directives.   

To our international students, we are grateful that you have chosen to be part of the Wake Forest community. Your presence has enriched our campus, and we will continue to fight for your opportunity to pursue your education with us. We support you and hope you know that at Wake Forest you will always have a home. 

WFU committee working to implement new Title IX regulations

Wake Forest University has established a Title IX 2020 Implementation Task Force led by Vice President for Campus Life Penny Rue and Associate Provost for Academic Initiatives Kami Chavis. 

The group, which held its first meeting on June 3, was established following changes announced in early May by the U.S. Department of Education regarding how colleges and universities must handle sexual-assault and sexual-harassment complaints. The new regulations increase protections for accused students and employees and take effect Aug. 14.

Among the most notable changes, institutions must now hold live hearings and allow cross-examination when deciding sexual-misconduct complaints. The new federal regulations are the first regulatory revisions in 45 years to the federal gender-equity law and will also limit the scope of complaints colleges and universities are required to investigate. 

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