Petition to Restore Transparency to the Yale Corporation

Dear President McInnis and Members of the Yale Corporation,

Five years ago, the Yale Corporation eliminated the petition process for the Alumni Fellow Election. In disenfranchising alumni, this move garnered criticism from across the political spectrum. This decision signaled a fear of dissenting viewpoints and a distrust of alumni voices.

Now alumni must choose a candidate only from among those hand-picked by the Yale Alumni Association. There is simply no pipeline for introducing other perspectives. Yale also prohibits candidates from sharing information about their views on important issues facing the university. This denies alumni the opportunity to make an informed choice in the election.

You have made restoring public trust in higher education an important priority for the university. But how can Yale expect to earn back the trust of the public if it does not even seem to trust its own alumni?

Fortunately, Yale can solve this challenge easily by reconsidering and reversing the Corporation’s 2021 decision. We respectfully call on Yale to:

1. Restore and reform the petition candidate process for the Alumni Fellow seats on the Yale Corporation
2. Allow candidates for Alumni Fellow seats—whether they are nominated by the Yale Alumni Association or petition—to explain and discuss their approach to Yale governance
3. Release the vote counts of Alumni Fellow Elections

In accepting the Committee on Trust in Higher Education’s report, you noted that, “Just as dissent is an indication of a healthy democracy, it is a sign of vitality at a university.” Implementing long overdue reforms in the Alumni Fellow Election is the perfect opportunity to put this principle into practice. This simple step will rebuild the trust of Yale’s alumni and put Yale on the path to earning back the trust of the public as well.

Sincerely,

Concerned Yale Alumni, Students, Faculty, Staff, and Community Members