It’s important that you reach out to your Members of Congress to let them know the impact of the actions being taken targeting higher education institutions. The broad range of attacks to higher education are designed to undermine colleges and universities, including by harming enrollment by making college less affordable, decimating scientific research, restricting international student enrollment, or intruding into curricula and other policy decisions. Each has the effect of political interference and government overreach into our colleges and universities. 

Stand Up for Yale is supporting the Protect Science and Innovation Day of Action on July 21. You can see a script to call or email your representatives here.

Some additional ideas to consider:

• Talk about your experience at Yale and the critical role of academic freedom. Talk about the inclusive environment and how the school’s initiatives and policies benefited all students.

• If you were involved in a federally funded research project, or benefited from a faculty member whose work was supported by federal research funds, talk about the impact of the work and the role it played in your career path. Let them know how critical federal investments in research are for medical and scientific progress.

• If you benefited from federal financial aid to help pay for your education, talk about the impact of student aid or loans in supporting your ability to get a college degree and your current success. If you have children or employees who benefited from federal financial support, let them know the impact of those supports. The reconciliation bill being considered in Congress would eliminate federal subsidized loans for undergraduates, Direct Plus loans for graduate students, and Parent Plus Loans, and substantially limit eligibility for Pell Grants.

• If you were an international student, talk about the impact of the education you received at Yale and the ways you contributed back to the U.S. economy. If you benefited from classmates who were international students, talk about the critical role those students played in your education.