As it has been some time since I last communicated, I hope that you find this update as to recent activities informative and insightful. Hope those who celebrated had a blessed Eid and that everyone enjoyed some of the great weather we saw going into this week. The last few weeks have been busy as we approach the last month of our academic year. In addition to meetings with various on-campus constituents, I have also been engaged with off-campus partners.
Last week I and other presidents from the East Coast Conference concluded interviews with finalists for the Conference Commissioner (Jessica Grasso Named Commissioner of the East Coast Conference – East Coast Conference (eccsports.org), and we are excited about the prospects for the future. We discussed conference membership (with potential expansion), new sports (including women’s flag football, where CSI is already a leader: It’s the dawn of a new era at CSI as women’s flag football kicks off – silive.com) and how to best interface with the NCAA. Later that week, I hosted representatives from CUNY’s Office of Construction Management to discuss ongoing capital projects, including improvements to our campus pumphouse and renovations to the campus center (with particular attention to the utilization of the former campus bookstore). Should you be aware of facilities issues that need our attention, please follow the steps on the Facilities webpage to submit a work order (or request access to the Archibus system if you currently do not have it) and we will address as soon as possible. The highlight of my week was attending a book talk by adjunct professor Terry Golway, who regaled 50 students and a number of others with stories from his recent biography of Fiorella LaGuardia. Professor Golway also spoke about his time as a CSI student, where he found his callings thanks to his interactions with his then-professors. It is a lesson that I see playing out on campus every day, when caring employees work with students to help them achieve their dreams. I would also like to congratulate Associate Professor Bang Geul Han of the Department of Media Culture for being among the 2024 cohort of Guggenheim Fellow recipients. There is so much to be proud of here at CSI!
This week, in addition to the monthly CUNY Board of Trustees meeting, there was a breakfast meeting at the Jewish Theological Seminary, where college presidents gathered to address how to best support students amid rising cases of incivility on our campus. Although the conversation focused on “Antisemitism and Allyship”, there were also discussions on how to respond to race-based, gender-based, and other forms of intolerance. This was a theme that carried over to Tuesday, where I met with representatives from the JCC, Hillel International, UJA and several students to discuss local responses to similar challenges. Notably, next week will bring our next installment as part of CUNY’s anti-hate initiative “Understanding Muslim Experiences and Combating Anti-Muslim Bias Workshop” as presented by the New York City Commission on Human Rights. (Please click here to register). I also engaged in conversations with local charter schools to discuss pipelines to enrollment, with my fellow CUNY presidents to discuss transfer agreements and articulations, and with local employers to discuss internship opportunities for our students (and job prospects for our alumni).
This week I also met with the College Council Executive Committee to plan the agenda for next week’s meeting. We discussed, inter alia, plans for an increased on-campus presence for faculty and staff, potential changes to the student activity fee structure (including potential termination of the ferry shuttle), plans for commencement exercises, and other topics. It remains a forum for frank conversation and represents the true spirit of shared governance and transparent planning and I am thankful for the partnership of the committee members. This tenor was seen in Thursday’s meeting with the HEO screening committee, where we discussed issues germane to those employees, including ongoing facilities and infrastructure issues, commencement activities, and campus climate.
Wednesday kicked off “Sprit Week” here at CSI, and I made some remarks at the opening Pep Rally. It was great to see such an enthusiastic display of Dolphin Pride and I am impressed by the creativity expressed by so many as part of the door decorating contest. Take some time to walk around campus and vote for your favorites! The coming week is replete with activities to celebrate CSI, including student-events such as Trivia Night and our Spring Carnival, our annual gala, and other activities. It is a wonderful way to welcome the warm weather and celebrate our campus: thank you for all you do to make it worthwhile!
Until next time,
Timothy G. Lynch, Ph.D. (he/him/his)
