State of Berklee Follow-Up
Thank you to all who attended the State of Berklee address(Opens in a new window). As I mentioned at the event, I’ve had the opportunity to host 16 listening sessions with more than 900 students, faculty, staff, and alumni from across our campuses. I’ve also read each of the hundreds of submissions we received via our online form. I really appreciate the insights, the candor, and the shared commitment to strengthening Berklee’s future.
While many themes came through, none was more pressing than our community’s concern for one another in the current political climate. To the students, faculty, and staff who shared your voices: thank you. We hear you, and we are committed to doing everything we can to provide support and clarity as we navigate this moment. We’ve compiled a resource guide for international community members that brings together existing information on visas, travel, and support services. This guide, paired with the direct support provided by International Student Services, the Berklee Bridge, and Human Resources, is designed to connect you with relevant resources and information in one central place. Berklee is a global institution representing nearly 100 countries, and supporting our international community is core to our mission and future.
As I said at State of Berklee, our student-centered strategic direction is how we’ll innovate our way forward to model the future of creativity and support the next generation of creative voices. The strategy is organized around five themes: artistic community, access and affordability, flexibility and innovation, career and completion, and creative environment. We are now refining this strategic direction into an operating plan. This is more than a set of goals—it’s about becoming who we need to be to meet the moment and shape what comes next. It affirms that Berklee’s future must be student-focused, values-driven, and creatively bold.
In closing, for those of you who attended a listening session, you know how excited I’ve been to learn more about your favorite Berklee performances. As promised, check out this YouTube playlist(Opens in a new window)—a collection of incredible performance recommendations shared by our students, faculty, staff, and alumni. It’s a powerful reminder of the depth, talent, and creative force that live at the heart of our community.
Yours,
Jim Lucchese
President