Tentative Agreement Reached with the MIT Graduate Student Union
In a brief statement to the MIT community, the MIT Bargaining Team negotiating with the MIT Graduate Student Union (MIT GSU) have announced a tentative agreement. The GSU will now have to vote on ratifying the agreement.
Maria Zuber becomes Presidential Advisor; Search for Vice Provost of Research Begins
In an email to the MIT Community, President Kornbluth announced that Maria Zuber, Professor of Geophysics, will become MIT’s Presidential Advisor for Science and Technology Policy. Zuber is currently Vice President for research at MIT, with previous roles as the department Head for Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences as well as a stint at NASA.
SOLE announces reopening timeline of the Student Center
In an email to the MIT community, Student Organizations Leadership and Engagement (SOLE) laid out a reopening timeline for the Stratton Student Center. The Student Center, which was closed in February due to water pipe explosions, has been undergoing renovations for the past seven months.
MIT to invite students and employees to participate in Sexual Harassment and Misconduct Surveys
In an email to the MIT community dated Aug. 17, Chancellor Melissa Nobles announced mandatory harassment prevention training for faculty, staff and third year graduate students for the fall 2023 semester. Additionally, during the 2023-24 academic year, MIT will invite members of the community to participate in a sexual harassment and misconduct survey. According to the email, students were surveyed by the Institute in 2014 and 2019, but the upcoming survey will “mark the first time the Institute is surveying staff and faculty.” The survey will be confidential and voluntary.
MIT Information Systems and Technology unveils new notification system
Mark Sillis, Vice President for Information Systems and Technology at MIT, wrote in an email to the MIT community Aug. 9, that the IST department is “implementing a new notification system called MIT Atlas Alert,” which will provide “prompt notifications” of disruptions to IT services including internet, phone, and email. Atlas Alert will be conveyed via email, the Atlas mobile app, and text messages, and is intended to reach the community through multiple channels in the event that one system is down.
Search for Institute Community and Equity Officer begins
Following the recent departure of Institute Community and Equity Officer (ICEO) John Dozier, President Sally Kornbluth announced the creation of a search committee in a national search for a Vice President for Equity and Inclusion. In her announcement Aug. 4, President Kornbluth wrote that because “health of our community” is dependent on the Institute’s ability to respond to challenges in equity and inclusion, the new ICEO leader would report directly to her.
Former President Trump Indicted on charges stemming from 2020 election
On Aug. 1, Former President Donald J. Trump was indicted on four counts relating to his attempt to overturn the 2020 election, which culminated in a deadly insurrection in the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. The indictment , which was filed by special counsel Jack Smith, contains charges including conspiracy to defraud the United States, witness tampering and conspiracy against the rights of citizens, and obstruction of an attempt to obstruct an official proceeding.
U.S. Women Stumble in World Cup
The U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team had a rocky start to the World Cup which began on July 20. After beating Vietnam 3-0 in their opening match, the squad has drawn their last two matches 1-1 and 0-0 with the Netherlands and Portugal respectively. The team has advanced to the Round of 16, where they will face a strong Sweden team on Aug. 6.
U.S. Department of Education investigating legacy admissions at Harvard
On July 25, the U.S. Department of Education opened a civil rights investigation into the legacy admissions policy at Harvard University. This move comes after the Supreme Court ruled affirmative action unconstitutional on June 29, prompting further scrutiny of the college admissions process.
Affirmative action brought down by Supreme Court
On June 29, the Supreme Court struck down affirmative action, ruling that race-conscious admissions processes at Harvard and the University of North Carolina were unconstitutional. In a video to the MIT community on July 1, President Sally Kornbluth said she wanted to "express my profound frustration with these decisions." She added that such an action "threatens our mission."
Professor Gilbert Strang ’55 Retires after 66 Year Career at MIT
Gilbert Strang ’55, the MathWorks Professor of Mathematics, taught his last class on May 15, marking the end of a 66-year-long career at MIT. Strang graduated from MIT in 1955 and joined the faculty in 1962. According to an article by MIT News, Strang was a member of the National Academy of Sciences and a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
MIT Commencement Ceremonies features OneMIT Ceremony for Class of 2023
Commencement ceremonies for the Class of 2023 will take place on a three-day span from Wednesday, May 31, through Friday, June 2. Similar to proceedings at the 2022 commencement, all graduates are invited to attend a 90-minute OneMIT ceremony on Killian Court. The Class of 2023 undergraduates will receive their diplomas at Killian Court on Friday, June 1. Ceremonies for Master’s and Doctorate degrees are spread out across all three days of Commencement.
President Kornbluth reflects on first months of presidency at MIT
The inauguration for President Sally Kornbluth was held May 1, 2023. Before assuming the role of MIT’s 18th president, she was provost at Duke University for eight years. Kornbluth succeeds L. Rafael Reif, who stepped down at the end of 2022 after serving ten years in the office.
The Boston Marathon Bombings, ten years later
Through this tragedy, the city revealed its true character that has manifested itself time and time again: a place of adaptability, resilience, and heart.
MIT victorious at 83rd Putnam Mathematical Competition
MIT won the 2022 William Lowell Putnam Mathematical Competition, a prestigious math competition for undergraduate students in North America and Canada.
First approved drug for Rett Syndrome orignates from MIT Professor’s Lab
On March 10, Acadia Pharmaceuticals’ drug for treating Rett Syndrome was approved, the first ever for the condition. The basic scientific research for the drug originated in Professor Mriganka Sur’s lab in the MIT’s Brain and Cognitive Sciences Department.
MIT Offers Admission to 1,259 applicants for Class of 2027
MIT admitted 1,259 out of 26,913 applicants via early and regular action applications for the Class of 2027. This was a 20% decrease in the number of applicants from the previous year.
Inauguration Schedule for President Kornbluth Released
According to an email from MIT Institute Events, the Inauguration events for President Sally Kornbluth, MIT’s 18th president, are set to take place on Friday, April 29, and Monday, May 1, 2023.
CPW 2023: Prefrosh Converge on Campus for Food, Friends and Fun
The first day of Campus Preview Weekend (CPW) has concluded. It is the second in-person CPW since the start of the pandemic, and one of the hottest in recent memory.
Alumni Wang Pool to close for renovation on March 27
On March 27, the Alumni Wang pool will be closed for renovations. The rest of the Alumni Wang fitness areas will remain open, although MIT Recreation cited the possibility of disruptions.
Ryan Wilson Shatters NCAA Division III Records in the Indoor 1-Mile and 800 Meter Distances
Ryan Wilson ’22 obliterated the NCAA Division III Records in the Indoor 1-Mile and the 800 meter events at the meets held at Boston University. On Feb. 10, Wilson ran a 3:55.29 at the David Hemery Valentine Invite, well below the vaunted four-minute barrier and more than a full second ahead of the previous record. Two weeks later, at the Last Chance Indoor National Qualifier, Wilson ran a 1:46.61, topping a record set exactly 11 years prior by Ben Scheetz of Amherst College.
Protestors demand transparency from cambridge police following fatal shooting
On the evening of Feb. 13., protestors demonstrated in the memory of Sayed Faisal, a 20-year old UMass Boston student who was fatally shot by Cambridge police in Cambridgeport on Jan. 4.
Student Center to partially reopen on Friday, certain floors will remain closed
In an email to the MIT community sent on Feb. 15, 2023, Vice Chancellor and Dean for Student Life Suzy Nelson and Vice President for Campus Services Joe Higgins announced updates regarding the Stratton Student Center (W20) closure.
MIT Medical Director Cecilia Stuopis urges vigilance with COVID-19 and other respiratory illness
MIT Medical Director Cecilia Stuopis urged the MIT community to continue taking precautions against COVID-19 amidst a rise in rates of COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses in the Boston area earlier this winter.
Kornbluth greets MIT community after assuming presidency
President Sally Kornbluth described the excitement of moving into her new role and discussed her goals for the spring semester in an email to the MIT community sent on Jan 4. The email is her first official communication since assuming the presidency on Jan. 1.
Brent D. Ryan and Anne White named as new associate provosts
The associate provosts will work in conjunction with Barnhart “to support Dr. Kornbluth’s initiatives and priorities related to research administration and space management and campus planning.”
MIT’s assets drop 5.3%, largest decrease in seven years
MIT reported a loss in net assets for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022. According to the Report of the Treasurer, the Institute’s return on pooled investments saw a 5.3% loss in the fiscal year.
President Reif reflects on his decade of presidency and 40 years at MIT
Reif: “An area that I would also like to think survived the test of time is what I’ve tried to convey not in an announced way, but by constantly speaking about it — in public, at Convocation, at Commencement — is a caring community.”
MIT hosts first in-person Fall Career Fair in three years
The in-person Fall Career Fair was held in the Johnson Athletic Center Sept. 23. The event was organized by MIT Career Advising and Professional Development (CAPD) and the student career fair committee.