I am pleased to welcome you to a new academic year at the College of Staten Island, one that I hope will entail all of us seeing more of each other in person.
Despite the pandemic and mostly remote classes, the past year at the College has been defined by perseverance, patience, and, ultimately, achievement. We have all gotten through this difficult time, with students having to adjust to online courses, faculty adapting to new teaching techniques and technology, and dedicated College staff working, remotely and on campus, sometimes around the clock, to ensure that the academic process continued and that students still received the assistance they needed.
Our achievements were fueled by that perseverance and patience—our students continued to pursue their degrees, and we held two virtual Commencements, graduating more than 4,000 students since 2020.
Now, with much anticipation, we’re looking forward to a more in-person Fall semester. This semester, more than 50% of sections will be offered either fully in-person or in hybrid modalities. These are large steps toward all of our students attending classes on campus. Our campus also boasts the CUNY’s pilot HyFlex Classroom located in the Library, and more than 70 classrooms on campus have received enhanced Smart technology that makes blended learning a reality. I applaud these amazing advancements that will forever change the landscape of learning on our campus.
There has been an enormous effort to make this possible through the planning and preparation of Buildings and Grounds/Facilities staff, who are ensuring that we are returning to a safe campus; Public Safety and Environmental Health & Safety, who are overseeing COVID-19 safety compliance; Campus Planning, who are responsible for social distancing planning and signage; Campus Operations, who will continue to deliver mail, accept shipments, and distribute and collect devices for learning and teaching; and Information Technology, who will continue to keep all of our essential technology running.
As we continue our movement forward, the College is remaining committed to working with New York State, New York City, and The City University of New York on the latest COVID-19 guidelines, seeking to consistently stay in front of health and safety directives to keep our campus secure and safe. Our Health & Wellness staff and Counseling Center continue to be an invaluable resource to our entire community as we navigate our return to more in-person learning and life on campus.
This upcoming academic year holds so much more promise for members of College of Staten Island to come together to learn, teach, and work together. I wish you all the best for a successful and healthy year!
By William J. Fritz
