TUPIT Update: September 10, 2026

Dear TUPIT community,

I am reaching out with an update on the TUPIT program. I want to thank the faculty who met with me on August 31 and the many students and faculty who have since written to university leadership and the working group. Your input is greatly appreciated and will help inform our work as we determine the path forward. I look forward to continuing these conversations with the TUPIT teaching assistants on September 11, and with our outside TUPIT students on September 14. We will be communicating with our inside TUPIT students soon and look forward to an opportunity to meet with them.

I want to begin by emphasizing that the university is committed to supporting and strengthening TUPIT to ensure that current and future participants have access to academic programs and coursework, as well as appropriate non-academic supports, and that the program adheres to university-wide protocols that safeguard the well-being of all students, faculty, and staff.

I feel fortunate that President Kumar asked me to lead this effort when I assumed the role of provost ad interim on July 1, 2026; I have been a long-time supporter of the TUPIT program and will be teaching in MCI-Shirley for the first time this fall.

I recognize that the temporary changes with TUPIT have created uncertainty and stress, particularly for our students, as well as for faculty and staff who have experienced the program’s impact firsthand.

Here is some background on the current status. Following the events of May 11, 2026, the university initiated an independent review of all aspects of the TUPIT program. TUPIT (including MyTERN) is a program that sits within Tisch College, one of the 12 schools and colleges at Tufts. We are awaiting the recommendations from this review. In July, I convened a working group of faculty and staff from Tisch College, the School of Arts and Sciences, and the Provost’s Office to evaluate the recommendations, engage stakeholders, and develop enhanced administrative structures and processes.

The working group is building on the foundations developed over time by Teaching Professor Hilary Binda and numerous internal and external partners. As we continue to review the TUPIT program, the university better understands the enormous amount of work that it takes to run a successful prison higher education program. We will therefore be transitioning to a different administrative model, one that offers the program more support. For fall 2026, Teaching Professor Binda has been invited to continue to participate in the TUPIT advising circles at MCI-Shirley, to teach the accompanying course for teaching assistants, and to serve as an advisor to TUPIT. She was also promoted from associate to teaching professor in the faculty of Arts and Sciences this past summer and has also been invited to continue her teaching responsibilities in the School of Arts and Sciences.

I want to take this opportunity to clarify a few items.

• Under the direction of Omidyar Dean of Tisch College Dayna Cunningham, Melanie MacFarlane will serve as TUPIT’s interim director during this transitional period, overseeing the administration of the program and coordinating with the other members of the Tisch College team and the TUPIT Faculty Advisory Board.
• While awaiting final recommendations from the independent review process, the working group has gathered input and information and identified the major workstreams needed to move the program forward. As part of this effort, working group members have engaged with the leadership of Tisch College and the School of Arts and Sciences, as well as TUPIT staff, and have considered a wide range of feedback from students, faculty, and alumni. The independent review has also engaged TUPIT faculty.
• Admissions for the next AA degree cohort for incarcerated students through Bunker Hill Community College will continue as planned.
• As has been communicated previously, the university is continuing to offer all in-prison education courses. In addition, formerly incarcerated students already enrolled, matriculated, and currently finishing their BA degrees on the Tufts Medford-Somerville campus will continue with their degree programs.
• I am working closely with the deans of Tisch College, the School of Arts and Sciences, and the School of Engineering on a BA degree pathway for currently incarcerated students. We are confident in our ability to achieve alignment on a pathway that thoughtfully and appropriately supports faculty, staff, students, and the broader university community—a pathway that will be considered through the appropriate channels.
• More information about the TUPIT working group can be found here.

Tufts community members may continue to email the TUPIT working group if they wish to share insights, experiences, or recommendations to inform the working group’s efforts.

Again, I want to thank you for your continued engagement with this process and for your dedication to the TUPIT community. I believe that together we will build a stronger program that reflects your hard work and commitment and that meets this moment.

Sincerely,

Joe Auner
Provost and Senior Vice President ad interim
Austin Fletcher Professor of Music