President Malekzadeh has signed a statement, released last week by the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U), joining numerous college and university presidents and leaders of scholarly societies in response to ongoing actions by the federal government affecting higher education. The educational and nonprofit leaders were convened by AAC&U and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. The statement, titled “A Call for Constructive Engagement,” marks the first time current presidents have spoken out collectively in large numbers about these issues. “We speak with one voice against the unprecedented government overreach and political interference now endangering American higher education,” the statement says.

President Malekzadeh’s decision to sign the statement reflects Roosevelt University’s founding mission to champion social justice, equal opportunity, and academic freedom. Since its establishment in 1945, Roosevelt has been committed to fostering an inclusive community where education is a catalyst for societal progress and equity. Protecting the independence and integrity of higher education is essential to fulfilling this mission.

The statement makes clear what’s at stake—for higher education and for America’s shared prosperity—in any unraveling of the longstanding, productive partnership between government and institutions of higher learning. While the presidents “are open to constructive reform and do not oppose legitimate government oversight,” they also emphasize that they will stand against attempts to restrict or undermine the freedoms fundamental to higher education. The statement calls for “constructive engagement that improves our institutions and serves our republic.”

“At Roosevelt University, we believe that education is a cornerstone of democracy and social justice,” said President Ali Malekzadeh. “Signing this statement is a reaffirmation of our commitment to preserving the freedoms that enable higher education to be a transformative force for individuals and society. We stand firmly against any efforts that threaten the ability of universities to serve the public good through independent thought, research, and teaching.”

The full statement and an up-to-date list of signatories are available online at
www.aacu.org/constructive-engagement.

Dear Students,

Welcome to a new academic year! Whether you’re returning to campus or joining us for the first time, I am thrilled to have you as part of our Roosevelt community.

As we embark on this journey together, I am excited and optimistic about the opportunities that lie ahead for you. This is a time for new friendships, to understand different perspectives and learn from your professors. The world is changing rapidly, and now more than ever, the skills, creativity and critical thinking you develop at Roosevelt will lead you to a fulfilling career.

Every fall, Roosevelt welcomes new students, faculty and staff at University Convocation, a welcome celebration recognizing the beginning of a new academic year. Join us this Thursday, August 29th, at 3:30 p.m. in the Goodman Center. New students will receive a free t-shirt!

And don’t forget to join the activities this Monday-Friday during Welcome Week!

Roosevelt University is more than just a place of learning; it’s a community that values diversity, inclusion and social justice. One way to meet new friends and get involved is by —joining a club or organization, finding a campus job and taking advantage of resources like the Learning Commons.

Here are some tips on how to navigate the start of the academic year:

• Set up your profile on ZeeMee. (Apple | Android)
• Download the Roosevelt mobile app (Apple | Android). It’s an easy place to keep track of what’s going on around campus. There is a new Career Services section that includes recently posted on-campus jobs!
• Bookmark “my.roosevelt.edu” to find all of the technology resources available to you with a single login.
• Finally, Laker Connect is your go-to place for all of our student organizations’ news and events.

This fall marks an historic chapter for Lakers Athletics. We officially begin competition as a member of NCAA Division II. Roosevelt is the only Division II school in Chicago, and our Lakers need your support as we join the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC). Go green, go white and cheer on Laker Nation!

Mark your calendars for the American Dream Reconsidered Conference from October 21-24, 2024 at our Chicago campus. This year’s theme, “Mind, Body, and the American Dream,” promises thought-provoking discussions and inspiring speakers. All events are free and open to the public, so be sure to attend and join the conversation. Learn more here.

Lastly, get out and vote! Your voice matters, and participating in the democratic process is a crucial way to make a difference in your community and beyond. Check out Illinois voter registration deadlines. On election day, Tuesday, November 6, there will be no classes so that our entire community has the opportunity to cast their vote.

Welcome back, and let’s make it a great year!

With Warm Regards,

Ali R. Malekzadeh, Ph.D.
President

Dear Roosevelt Community,

In light of the recent escalation of violence in Israel and Palestine, we, as members of the Roosevelt University community, stand united in our commitment to peace, justice, and human rights.

The events unfolding in the region are deeply concerning and we condemn all acts of violence and aggression that have led to loss of life, suffering, and displacement. Our hearts go out to all those affected by this crisis, and we extend our sympathies to their families and communities.

We firmly believe in the power of education and dialogue to foster understanding and empathy among different cultures and perspectives. As an institution dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge, inclusivity, and global citizenship, we call for an immediate cessation of hostilities and a return to meaningful negotiations towards a just and lasting resolution.

For those of our community in need of counseling support, please utilize Roosevelt’s free counseling services, available 24/7 via TimelyCare. The Dean of Students Office will be organizing talking circles facilitated by licensed mental health counselors. Dates and times will be shared with the community once finalized.

We encourage members of our community to engage in informed discussions, promote mutual understanding, and seek avenues for constructive action.

Warm Regards,

Ali R. Malekzadeh, Ph.D.
President

Dear Roosevelt Students,

Welcome back to campus! I hope you had a restful summer and enjoyed time with friends and family. While many spent time away this summer, there has been a lot of activity on campus to prepare for the return of our students. There is no doubt it’s going to be a busy fall, and I’m happy to provide you with important University updates.

I have exciting news to share that total student enrollment is running ahead by 7% from last year, which is being fueled by a dramatic increase in new students. Last year at this time, there were 1,046 new students registered, whereas this year there are 1,554 new students registered—an increase of 508 students or 49%. Preliminary new graduate international registration head count has grown from 38 to 292 (an increase of 668%), with the largest growth in the MS Computer Science program. This fall, international enrollment will be the highest in the University’s history. The preliminary new freshmen registration head count of 625 is up 46% from last year, when 429 new freshmen were registered. The largest freshman class in University history was 607 in 2014. This would not be possible without the tireless efforts of the admission, financial aid, marketing, advising, registrar, student housing and athletic departments. Every department and office contributed in a meaningful way, from helping to staff recruitment events, making phone calls to admitted students and hosting program information sessions. Thanks to everyone who supported our recruitment efforts.

Our new students hail not just from the Chicago area, but from across the country and increasingly around the world, which is a testament to Roosevelt’s increasing impact on the international community and the quality of our diverse programs. Our community has benefited from international students for many years, and you will experience a wonderful, growing reflection of these global scholars this year as we welcome hundreds of new faces from all ends of society. International students sacrifice the comforts of home and family to dedicate their academic lives to this community. They bring new, worldly perspectives to bear in the classroom. They introduce us to engaging cultural diversity, provide our teams with winning athletic prowess and can teach us life lessons unattainable without the privilege of their collegiality. Please help me welcome all of our international students. Help them understand why Roosevelt is their best home away from home. And learn from them, as we all can.

A big congratulations to our Roosevelt Honors Program, which welcomes a freshman cohort nearly triple the size of last year’s, with a 63% increase in total Honors membership from last year, including growing numbers in the transfer population. Newly introduced this year is the Eleanor Roosevelt Scholarship Fund, which provides Honors students a small scholarship recognizing their academic achievement. With increased membership comes expanded opportunities for specialized Honors courses, experiential learning on and off campus, and networking opportunities. Thank you to Professor Marjorie Jolles, Associate Provost for Faculty Development, Assessment, and Honors Executive Director, Honors Program along with Professor Sarah Maria Rutter, Director, Honors Program.

Our residence hall in the Wabash Building is at full capacity for the first time in many years. Move-in days are happening throughout the week, so be sure wear your Roosevelt green and give students a warm welcome when you see them. The Parent Lounge will be open Tuesday, August 22 and Wednesday, August 23 all day on the 14th floor of the Wabash Building. Feel free to stop by, get some coffee and get to know our new families.

We also continue to focus on needed resources for the Division of Student Affairs to ensure our students receive quality services and resources. Several initiatives will focus on mental health, including the hiring of a full-time social worker and expanded support services. Of note, this Friday, August 25, from 12:30-2:30 p.m., the Office of Career Services will host an on-campus and student employment expo for all incoming and current students to help them find gainful work. Sign-up for students is required, but stop by the Laker Union to check out the activity.

Peer reviewers from the Higher Learning Commission were on campus in April to follow up on the mid-cycle accreditation visit conducted in 2021. Specifically, the Commission representatives reviewed assessment, program review, how assessment and program review requests are formalized as part of planning and budget, and University resources. In each of these areas, the peer reviewers found that Roosevelt had made significant progress. As a result, the Higher Learning Commission determined that Roosevelt has now fully met all 18 core components of accreditation. Thanks to all those who worked on addressing these important issues.

In case you haven’t already heard, Roosevelt has been formally accepted into the NCAA Division II membership process. This provisional membership makes us Chicago’s ONLY NCAA Division II athletic program and allows our Lakers teams to join the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC), which comprises 10 institutions located in Michigan, Indiana and Wisconsin. After a transition year, student-athletes can begin to compete in tournaments and for conference championships, and this expanded athletic presence will challenge our teams with heightened competitions and expand Roosevelt’s footprint across the country. Mark your calendars for Homecoming on Saturday, October 7 at the Arlington Heights athletic campus.

Also, mark your calendars for the annual American Dream Reconsidered Conference from October 16-19. The full program can be found here. Be sure to check the website often for updates.

I invite you to join your colleagues for Green Up Clean Up Day on Friday, September 15 from 12-3 p.m. The afternoon will be dedicated to reallocating office supplies, recycling electronics and ensuring our professional spaces are clean and environmentally friendly. Wear your Roosevelt green, grab some coffee and a snack and get ready to spruce things up for the academic year! More information will be available on Inside Roosevelt.

Together, we have worked tirelessly to make our University a world-class institution. Celebrate our successes at the Welcome Party from 2-4 p.m. this Thursday on the corner of Michigan Avenue and Ida B. Wells Drive. Here you will meet students, faculty and staff while you enjoy some food, music and lawn games. Don’t forget to join me and your colleagues at 11 a.m. this Friday in the Goodman Center to formally kick off the academic year with our Convocation ceremony.

Thank you for your continued support, contributions and hard work. Together we are fulfilling our mission and educating the future leaders of the communities in which we live. I am looking forward to another academic year with you and as always, I welcome your thoughts and want to hear from you

With Warm Regards,

Ali R. Malekzadeh, Ph.D.
President

Dear Roosevelt Community,

From its earliest inception, America has been a nation of many peoples from all corners of the globe, so it is hard to imagine how diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives have become so controversial. It is tempting to dismiss this as political posturing, but the debate over DEI is part of a more foundational debate over issues such as fairness and even about what it means to be American.

Today’s Supreme Court decision on affirmative action will, without doubt, interrupt our nation’s efforts to make higher education more accessible and equitable. The decision overturns long-standing precedent and limits universities’ ability to consider race as an express factor in admissions.

Affirmative action was initially justified based on the idea that diversity was a valuable goal to seek in creating a student body. From the start, though, many resisted—sometimes violently—to that idea. In a 2003 decision that narrowly upheld affirmative action, Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, our first female Supreme Court justice, wrote, “We expect that 25 years from now, the use of racial preferences will no longer be necessary to further the interest [in student body diversity] approved today.”

Many people in our nation clearly agree with that idea. I believe her view is far too short-sighted. It is all too easy to fall back into tribalism and narrow-minded views about identity. These are important discussions, although as a professor who spent many years in the classroom, I do wish we could talk to each other in a spirit of generosity and open-mindedness, rather than the angry and divisive tone that pervades so many of our political debates today.

In the midst of all of this heated rhetoric, I think it’s very easy to forget about the most important piece of all of this—the actual students who are most directly affected by these policies. And when we focus on the students, the very real benefits of DEI initiatives come to the forefront of the political baggage that has been tied to DEI policies.

Roosevelt was founded in 1945 out of protest to the racial, religious and gender-based segregation that dominated colleges and universities. For seventy-eight years, Roosevelt has sought to break down barriers and provide education to those previously excluded. I’m not sure how many years will be enough to create a nation that fully embraces diversity, equity and inclusion, but I know these values are worth fighting for. We at Roosevelt will continue to fight for them and do our best to live up to them.

With warm regards,
Ali R. Malekzadeh, Ph.D.
President

To the Roosevelt Community,

Seventy-seven years ago this month, on November 15, 1945, Eleanor Roosevelt dedicated Roosevelt College “to the enlightenment of the human spirit.”At that time, she also told the crowd of over 1,000 that:

Here in this great city you have many, many races, many religions and in Roosevelt College those races and those religions will meet. They will work together, and it will be an example of what can be achieved by cooperation.

I am writing to reaffirm Roosevelt’s historic commitment to creating a safe and welcoming community for every one of our students, staff, faculty, trustees, alumni and friends during an unsettling time of rising antisemitism at universities across the country.

From our beginnings, Roosevelt University has strongly opposed bigotry, hatred and discrimination based on race, religion, ethnicity and gender. We were founded to protest racist admissions quotas limiting the number of Jewish and Black students at Chicago’s YMCA College and other universities in Chicago and nationwide.

Roosevelt has always been proud of pioneering a diverse academic community that has from the beginning included Jewish professors, students, administrators, staff and trustees. Many who came to Roosevelt in the early years were not welcome at many other universities, but Roosevelt was there for them and continues its commitment to inclusion today.

We are positioned to be examples of how to create real change that results in a more just, inclusive society. Inclusion is at the core of Roosevelt’s legacy, and we do not discriminate based on one’s religion, gender, sexual orientation, race, economic status, ethnicity, disability, national origin, or veteran or familial status. Let’s reflect on the challenges ahead of us and how we can facilitate change to make our university and communities a safer world for all.

As always, I welcome your thoughts.

With Warm Regards,

Ali R. Malekzadeh, Ph.D.
President