DU signs brief of amici curiae in Harvard case

Dear DU community members, 

I’m writing to share an important update concerning challenges to academic freedom and institutional autonomy that impact the state of higher education. This month, the University of Denver joined 47 universities, the American Council on Education (ACE), and 22 national higher education associations to support Harvard University’s amicus brief with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit.  

This case goes back to June 2025, when a U.S. district judge blocked a presidential proclamation that attempted to prevent international students from studying at Harvard University.   

The case has been ongoing and more recently, the ACE and other signatories agree that the actions against Harvard threaten academic freedom, institutional autonomy, and First Amendment protections for universities and colleges. The amicus brief calls on the court to uphold a preliminary injunction, the key decision that prevented enforcement of the presidential proclamation against Harvard.  

Even though this case focuses on one university, the potential repercussions of the decision affect us all. At the University of Denver, we believe in the fundamental values of academic freedom, free speech, open inquiry, and intellectual curiosity. 

International student admissions and visa sponsorship programs should never be used as levers to drive ideological views or undermine our educational mission. We cherish and appreciate our international students at DU for their incredible contributions to our community.  

As the case moves forward, we will continue to offer our unwavering support toward a favorable outcome for higher education. As institutions of higher education, we must be able to pursue knowledge freely, exercise self-governance, and protect the autonomy that is necessary to provide a robust educational experience and conduct meaningful scholarship and creative work.  

Thank you all for being part of a community that promotes these values, both as ideas and in practice.  

Sincerely, 

Jeremy Haefner 
Chancellor