Dear CVM Community,

By now, you are aware of the sad and distressing events that have come to light at MSU.

The women who brought this to the public’s attention displayed admirable courage, and I am thankful that their voices have been heard.  These survivors are inspirational, and they challenge MSU to move forward and address the concerns raised to continue building an environment of safety and inclusion.

Michigan State University has been an educational leader since 1855.  As a College, we have a special duty to develop and maintain a community where all people—faculty, staff, and students—feel safe and empowered to be heard, and that their voices have impact.

At the College, safety in all forms—from the practice of veterinary medicine to personal—is paramount.  We strive to maintain a safe and nurturing environment so all of us are able to perform our roles to the best of our abilities.  At the end of the day, we will all continue to do what needs to be done; keeping our community safe ensures that can happen.

It will take time for healing to occur, and we have to support each other and those affected by these tragic events. The CVM leadership is here to listen to your concerns.  There are support systems in place that are available if you or your colleagues should need them. The wellbeing of our faculty, staff, students, and clients—human and animal—remains a priority. We will support each other in this process.

I want to thank all of you for the compassion and care that you show each day.  As we all know, Veterinary Medicine is the caring profession.

Sincerely,

John C. Baker, Dean