Dear students, 

As we prepare to begin a new academic year next week, we would like to take a moment to both welcome you and wish you the best as you enter the next phase of your academic journey.  

Temple University is a remarkable institution. We are Philadelphia’s public research university and as an R1 university, we are among the 4% of institutions nationally to earn the “very high research activity” designation. In addition to our domestic campuses here in Pennsylvania, Temple boasts a global presence with campuses in both Japan and Rome that continue to thrive and grow. This fall, Temple Rome is relocating to a new campus in Piazza di Spagna and then, in January, Temple Japan will open a second satellite location in Kyoto. 

What makes Temple truly great is our students. Simply put, our students—students just like all of you—go on to transform the world. Our talented faculty and staff work diligently to help set you on this path toward success. Whether you are a returning or incoming student, we are here to support you and your educational goals.  

Many of you are part of the more than 6,500 new undergraduate, graduate and professional students who will begin their studies here at Temple this semester. You represent an impressive group of bright minds, hard workers and creative thinkers, and we are excited to have you join this community. 

Included among this group are more than 300 former and prospective University of the Arts (UArts) students. Since the closure of UArts was announced, Temple faculty and staff have worked diligently to support the UArts community, and that does not stop now that you are here. As is the case with all our students, we will continue to do all we can to assist and empower you throughout your time here at Temple. 

This fall will be an exciting time both at Temple and in our nation. On Nov. 1, we are delighted to welcome John Fry as the 15th president of Temple University. A distinguished leader in higher education, President-elect Fry is uniquely equipped to help guide this institution and shape its vision moving forward. 

This fall also coincides with a national presidential election cycle, and the Temple community has a strong tradition of active civic engagement and voting. We look forward to that tradition continuing this semester and encourage members of our community to familiarize themselves with Temple Votes, a nonpartisan initiative led by a committee of students, faculty, administrators and voter education organizations.    

As a global university, Temple’s students, faculty and staff represent a richly diverse group of individuals who share a wide variety of viewpoints. We know that members of our community have been impacted by and are concerned about recent global events, as well as the upcoming election.  

Temple is committed to honoring the First Amendment and fostering an environment open to a diversity of thought, opinion and peaceful expression. To that end, we affirm the right of our community members to engage in peaceful and orderly demonstrations. We encourage all members of the university community to review the Student Conduct Code and these on-campus demonstration guidelines, which outline the policies and parameters that must be followed by individuals involved in a demonstration on any of Temple’s campuses. 

Our priority will always be the safety and well-being of our community, and we will continue to work to ensure all students, faculty and staff feel supported during these challenging times. University resources for reporting concerns and accessing support are available to every member of our community. 

Once more, we want to wish you well as you begin this academic year. We look forward to seeing all that you will accomplish. 

Sincerely, 

Richard M. Englert 
President 

Gregory N. Mandel 
Senior Vice President and Provost 

Ken Kaiser 
Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer