Although this was an abbreviated workweek, it was a busy one! I write with updates and information that you may find of interest.
Following a rainy Columbus Day holiday, we returned to campus on Tuesday to officially open the long-awaited MakerSpace in Building 4N. Generously funded by our representatives in the offices of the Borough President and City Council, this facility will offer state-of-the art training to our students and those in our workforce development and career-training pipelines. Featuring an array of 3D printers, lathes, and milling machines, the suite features advanced technology that can be used in a variety of courses and applications. My thanks to the Dean of the Division of Science and Technology, Dr. Ralf Peetz, and to Professor Neo Antoniades from the Department of Engineering and Environmental Science for their work in getting us to this point. I also wanted to acknowledge several local politicians and benefactors who joined us (or sent representatives from their office) for the ribbon-cutting event: Borough President Vito Fossella, State Senator Andrew Lanza, State Assemblymember Michael Tannousis, longtime local politician Ed Burke, City Councilmember Frank Murano, and our friend from the Staten Island Economic Development Corporation (and President of the CSI Foundation Board of Directors), Michael Cusick. Scott Van Campen, co-founder of MakerSpace NYC and partner with the College’s Workforce Development Office in our new welding program, was also on hand, but the stars of the show were our students, who discussed the ways in which this equipment will allow them to conduct cutting-edge research as they prepare for graduate school and careers after graduation.
Speaking of our amazing students, this week, I also had my first “Pizza with the President,” where I dined with the Executive Board of our Student Government Association, many of whom had just returned from a weekend retreat organized by the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs. I learned of their intense interest in more on-campus engagement (a theme first surfaced at last month’s College Council meeting) and their plans to achieve this. We also discussed their hopes to organize a campaign to lobby the MTA for increased bus service, their advocacy for campus enhancements, and their appreciation for the work that the College has put into addressing their concerns. I look forward to continuing to work with these incredible leaders in the coming months!
On Wednesday evening, I had an equally interesting meal, this one as a guest with the Heckscher Foundation Board of Directors. There, I networked with individuals from various funding agencies and other CUNY representatives to discuss the transformational work we are doing at CSI and across our system. It was wonderful to share the story of our faculty—including the news that a dozen members of the Division of Science and Technology were recently recognized by Stanford University and Elsevier as being among the top 2% in the field—and of researchers like Donna Gerstle, whose Staten Island Breast Cancer Research Institute has been such a beacon for the local community for generations (see this CUNY story). As this is Breast Cancer Awareness month, it made our story more immediate and impactful, and I am hopeful that those who heard it will be moved to support the work we are doing. Thank you, all, for making the work of “selling CSI” not only easier but also authentic.
On Thursday, I met with Robert Rodriguez, President and CEO of the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY) and his staff to assess progress on a number of campus infrastructure projects. We toured the athletic facilities, the Lucille and Jay Chazanoff School of Business (2M), and the Campus Center (1C) and I impressed upon our guests the need for their help in accelerating other initiatives. It is always good to bring folks to campus so that they can see firsthand (and therefore better understand the complexities and nuances of) our campus. I am hopeful that this meeting will move some of our languishing projects forward and appreciate the assistance of Jorma Loci and George Sulley from our Campus Planning Team for helping to make this visit a success.
Thursday also brought the second College Council and Faculty Senate meetings of the semester (can you believe we are at the halfway point of the semester!), where we received updates from various committees and a comprehensive report concerning fall enrollment (we ended more than 2% ahead of last year), and discussed a number of other items. We also reviewed the contents of recent conversations as a “campus of high financial concern” with CUNY’s Office of Academic Affairs, which counseled close attention to adjunct expenditures, faculty workload, and course scheduling efficiencies. This is sage advice and I will be monitoring such metrics closely in the coming months.
This weekend, the campus will host the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation/FDNY Memorial: Honoring Post-9/11 Heroes. This solemn ceremony will honor the FDNY firefighters who have died from 9/11-related illnesses and whose names are being added to the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial in Emmitsburg, MD. We expect more than a thousand visitors and the fact that the sponsoring organization chose CSI as the venue for this event demonstrates the impact that we have on our local community and the commitment we have to being excellent partners and stewards. I thank all those on our staff—especially our teams in Facilities, Athletics, and Dining Services—who have pitched in to make this event happen, and all those who risk their lives—and especially those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice—for the work they do to keep us safe.
With a reminder that there are no classes on Monday, and with best wishes for a joyful Diwali to those who celebrate, I wish you all a restful weekend.
Until next time,
Timothy G. Lynch, Ph.D. (he/him/his)
