The future of MIIS will be announced to faculty and staff this afternoon.

The future of the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey has been in question since July 1, Middlebury College President Ian Baucom’s first day on the job.

Baucom said it was time to articulate what type of institution Middlebury aspires to be in this evolving environment in higher education, and that, “We cannot, however, do so without definitively resolving the future of MIIS and its range of academic programs.”

It looks like today will provide some clarity about that future, and it might not be what anyone was hoping. 

In an email MIIS Vice President Jeff Dayton-Johnson sent to faculty and staff Tuesday morning, Aug. 26, Dayton-Johnson wrote that Baucom and Middlebury’s leadership team had visited MIIS last week to discuss possible paths for its future, which were voted on my Middlebury’s board yesterday, Aug. 27, and that Baucom had committed to return to Monterey this week to announce the news. 

Dayton-Johnson’s email noted that the announcement will happen today, in-person only, in the Irvine Auditorium from 2-3pm, and that other options would be shared later for those unable to attend. 

Yesterday morning, Aug. 27, Dayton-Johnson sent out another email to faculty and staff, announcing a series of hybrid meetings for those unable to attend or those with follow up questions, as well as the option for staff to meet with with Vice President for Human Resources Caitlin Goss and General Counsel Hannah Ross, and for faculty to meet with Dayton-Johnson and Provost Michelle McCauley. 

Dayton-Johnson noted all four will also be available for drop-in office hours tomorrow, Aug. 29, from 12:30-3:30pm, and that similar options would be made available to students and ‘will be communicated to them shortly.”