A formal letter from a collective of former, current, and alumni Veritas families documenting 9 systemic concerns and calling for transparency and reform.
April 23, 2025
To: Veritas School of Social Sciences Board of Directors and Board of Advisors
Subject: Collective Concerns and Recommendations from Veritas Families
Dear Veritas School of Social Sciences Board of Directors and Advisors:
We write to you as a collective of former, current, and alumni Veritas families who have experienced and observed recurring concerns within the structure, policies, and culture of the Veritas Debate Institute (VDI). Our intent is not to disparage the mission or educational value the program aspires to provide, but rather to elevate shared concerns with the hope of fostering a more just, transparent, and developmentally aligned experience for future scholars and their families.
We believe Veritas operates as a symbiotic partnership between leadership and parents. While the program delivers valuable instruction and exposure for scholars, parents play an essential role in enrolling students, funding tuition, facilitating transportation, supporting academic and emotional growth, and endorsing the program to prospective families. This feedback is offered in that same spirit — one of constructive collaboration to strengthen the program for all stakeholders.
Many of us entered the program with great hope, compelled by the promise of academic enrichment, personal growth, global exposure, and a sense of belonging within a prestigious community. However, our collective experiences revealed systemic misalignments that not only undercut those promises but also jeopardize the emotional and financial well-being of families and children, particularly those from communities that the program aims to uplift.
"Give me a student and I'll give you a scholar."
However, the pattern observed suggests that students who already arrive with strong oratory and academic skills are the ones who receive the most support and visibility, while those who need foundational development are allowed to fade into the background. Several parents across class years have echoed concerns such as abrupt dismissals, lack of communication, and harsh or dismissive treatment of students without adequate due process or support.
Some students struggle with the demands of high-stakes assessments due to inadequate developmental preparation. For instance, a public-speaking assessment months into the program was, for some, their first experience presenting before a large group.
If Veritas markets itself as a developmental program but actually favors students who already perform highly in the areas Veritas teaches, this could constitute misleading marketing. A true development program should include:
Parents are often left in the dark regarding student progress and standing within the program, and encouraged to "trust the process." While student self-advocacy is a core value of Veritas, it must be balanced with appropriate and timely communication with parents, especially when scholars risk suspension, dismissal, or disciplinary action.
Families are told that not all students will attend the Harvard residency, but it is unclear how those decisions are ultimately made or when they will be communicated. Transparent guidelines, deadlines, and criteria are necessary for families to make informed academic and financial decisions.
It should also be made clear to parents that the Harvard program is a summer camp that is open for any student to apply, and that the summer camp is transparent in its acceptance of students with experiences ranging from no public speaking and debate skills to those who are already competitive debaters. This is in opposition to Veritas' presentation of the Harvard residency as a cutthroat, competitive environment that requires intentional emotional toughening.
The policy that permits the dismissal of students without refund — and holds families liable for the full tuition, regardless of when dismissal occurs — is deeply troubling. Several families shared that students were dismissed before the end of the program, yet the organization retained all tuition payments or continued to require payment of remaining balances.
Retaining full tuition after dismissal, particularly without compelling cause or due process, could be perceived as financially exploitative, especially given the program's charitable mission. This is problematic from a consumer protection and ethical nonprofit governance standpoint.
Families in the 2024–2025 cohort were not informed of the tuition cost ($14,500) until after their children were accepted into the program, when emotional investment was already high. Solicitation occurred without full disclosure, which may violate truth-in-solicitation principles.
Furthermore, the additional costs associated with uniforms, travel programs, corporate immersions ($2,500 to $8,000), and social functions were not disclosed up front. Families are told that the Harvard residency cost is included in tuition, yet if a student is dismissed before attending Harvard, that portion of the tuition is not refunded.
Students have been dismissed abruptly, sometimes without any engagement with a legal guardian beforehand, in violation of handbook expectations. Dismissals have occurred without formal infractions, documentation, or structured processes for remediation.
The absence of a consistent and transparent disciplinary framework creates an environment of uncertainty and fear, particularly for students in the developmental age range of 12 to 17.
The Veritas handbook outlines that grievances unresolved through administration may be escalated to the Board of Advisors. However, current policies do not publicly provide contact information for Board members. This creates an insular process that limits accountability.
In at least one recent instance, administrative leaders initially withheld access or created barriers to the grievance policy. Access was ultimately provided only once administration approved of the nature of the grievance. Blocking the process for any reason violates the organization's own published policies.
The policy that students who do not complete the Harvard residency are not considered alumni effectively erases the time, effort, and growth they achieved within the program. Even institutions such as Harvard University recognize individuals who complete portions of their programs as alumni regardless of degree conferral.
Students commit a significant amount of time to the program, often forsaking sports, holiday travel, social and academic engagements, and other events common among youth. Attendance at Harvard should not be the only benchmark for which participation is honored.
Some scholars who withdraw or are dismissed have been sent abrupt communications without a meeting, feedback, or closure. This is potentially harmful to youth who have created bonds with staff and may regard the staff with great respect. To be cut off swiftly and fully from a community that was presented as a supportive environment is contrary to the well-being of developing youth.
External evaluation: The Board should call for a full external evaluation of the program covering recruitment, enrollment, outcomes, dismissal procedures, and retention — including the perspectives of families who completed the program, those who withdrew, and those who were dismissed.
Define the student profile: Clarify whether Veritas is a developmental program designed to teach fundamental skills to high-achieving students, or whether it is intended to sharpen students who already demonstrate a strong baseline. This clarity is essential to avoid misleading representations, which could be considered disappointing at best and deceptive at worst.
Financial transparency: Make the full financial commitment clear upfront. Restructure tuition so families not traveling to Harvard are not paying the same fees. Make nonprofit financial statements available to current and prospective parents.
Publish outcome data: Collect and publish anonymized data comparing outcomes among cohorts, including the number accepted, the number who compete at Harvard, cumulative attrition rates, scholarship percentages, and average scholarship amounts.
Adopt best practices: Adopt university-level student affairs best practices related to discipline, equity, and student well-being, tailored to be developmentally appropriate for the Veritas age groups (12–17).
Accessible grievance policy: Publish and implement an updated grievance policy with direct contact information of the board members who receive grievances.
Fair refund policies: Review and revise refund policies to align with the monetary value delivered. The program's value proposition is heavily weighted toward the end (Harvard residency, alumni network, travel, college support). If students are dismissed before these milestone experiences, the proportion of unused value is far greater than the number of weeks remaining would suggest.
Prioritize emotional well-being: Although Veritas is described as a collegiate-level program, scholars remain adolescents and require developmentally appropriate emotional support. Leverage mental health professionals to equip staff with developmentally appropriate techniques for engaging and supporting students.
Compassionate exit process: Establish a streamlined, formal exit policy including a final meeting with leadership, the scholar, and their parent or guardian. Scholars should receive constructive feedback and recognition for growth during their time in the program.
Tiered recognition model: Allow all scholars to complete the Saturday instructional component. Those who demonstrate exceptional skill earn the Harvard team opportunity. This avoids an all-or-nothing structure that fails to recognize incremental growth.
Formal apology: Issue a formal apology to negatively impacted families. Acknowledge the disruption caused by dismissal or program misalignment, and extend opportunities for redemptive action such as partial tuition refunds or reinstatement options.
We make these requests not in opposition to Veritas' vision but in support of better outcomes and experiences for future families. Notably, alumni parents, in particular, are invested in preserving the program's reputation. These recommendations are provided in that spirit.
We collectively hope your leadership will take this input seriously and apply it to the ongoing sustainability and evolution of the program, especially as you plan to scale.
Sincerely,
Kameron Sheats, Ph.D.
On behalf of concerned former, current, and alumni Veritas families