Colleagues:
As the fall weather has arrived, I write with updates and information that you may find of interest. Since our last communication, I’ve been engaged in a number of activities, and the campus is vibrant with energy as we approach the midpoint of the fall semester.
Last week began with our first Open House activity of the term, with over 100 prospective students attending our Macaulay Honors College (MHC) Open House. My thanks to Provost Holtzman, AVP Scott, and others who dedicated their Sunday to welcome these future scholars to our beautiful campus and to speak about one of our flagship programs. In talking to MHC Dean Dara Byrne, she raved about the reputation of our students and the ways in which they have taken a leadership role in the CUNY consortium. MHC—like our other Honors programs (Verrazzano and Teacher Education Honors Academy) truly embody both aspects of our mission: access AND excellence.
The week also included the return of our Alumni Association Hall of Fame Induction ceremony. I was pleased and honored to participate in that event, which saw ten notable graduates of CSI (and of our predecessor institutions, Richmond College and Staten Island Community College) lauded for their accomplishments. As we approach the 50th anniversary of CSI (and the 70th of public higher education in the borough) we are reminded of the role that higher ed plays as a public good. Our alumni–numbering some 80,000– have made their mark in various fields and are great ambassadors for the transformative power of public higher education in the borough. A notable embodiment of that spirit was on display at last Sunday’s “Friends of CSI” Literary Lunch, held at Osteria Santina. There, author and CSI graduate Barbara Worton (Class of 1973) regaled us with stories of how CSI changed the trajectory of her life, and how faculty here saw something in her that few others did. It was a wonderful affirmation of the work we do every day, and it was especially poignant in that a half dozen of our current creative writing students were in attendance. Many thanks to the Professor Christina Tortora, chairperson of the English Department, for bringing these students along and to the Friends—our longest-serving affiliate group—for sponsoring the event, which raised several thousand dollars for student scholarships.
I have recently participated in several meetings at the CUNY Chancellery. These included the Committee on Education Policy, the Committee on Finance and Administration (on which I serve as Presidential liaison), the sector meeting for Senior College leaders, and a pair of meetings concerning the search for the next Executive Vice Chancellor and University Provost (which I am chairing). I also participated in the monthly Council of President’s meeting where we discussed matters ranging from the impact of the federal government shutdown to enrollment projections, and from technology initiatives to fundraising/philanthropy activities. We also discussed the importance of cybersecurity initiatives: as October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, I urge you to take the 2025-2026 Cybersecurity Awareness Training, one of CUNY’s mandatory annual trainings, which is now live on Brightspace, and to remain vigilant against phishing and other schemes. My attendance at those meeting prevented me from participating in the Employee Health and Wellness Fair, but all reports indicate that it was well-attended and much-appreciated. My thanks to Manuela Alongi, Human Resources Director, and the HR team who organized the event (and I promise to get my flu shot nonetheless!)
I also had the first of regularly scheduled monthly meetings with CUNY’s Chief Financial Officer regarding our status as a campus of “high financial concern.” This designation reflects our continuing cash imbalance, even though we have eliminated an astounding 85% of our deficit over the past two fiscal years. The message was clear and unequivocal: we must remain true to our principles and prudent in our decision-making, particularly as it relates to hiring, if we are to close the remaining $2M shortfall this year. As I shared with the College Council Executive Committee in our monthly consultation, I am hopeful that we can do this by working collectively and collaboratively on budgetary matters. That last meeting also featured discussions about capital projects (and I am hosting the head of DASNY next week), bylaws provisions, and assorted matters related to shared governance. It was, as always, a fruitful discussion and I look forward to next week’s College Council and Faculty Senate meetings for similarly engaging conversation.
The week ended with a site visit by an accreditor for the Commission on Social Work Education, and I am sure that the hard work and preparation by Professors Barbra Teater, Paul Archibald, and the entire team in that department (and thanks, too, to Interim Dean Joiner) will yield positive results. I was proud to highlight the department’s efforts to prepare our students for meaningful, impactful work in our community and the ways in which we support those initiatives. With all due respect to others with whom I met, the highlight of my week was undoubtably hosting our campus’s youngest learners from The Children’s Center, who visited my office as part of “Celebrating Campus Children’s Centers.” Many thanks to the Center’s Executive Director, Margaret Rooney, for this visit. which lightened my mood and elevated my spirits—I may need to spend more time there and less at the Chancellery!
Lastly, this weekend, all are welcome to join the Willowbrook Legacy Project on Saturday, October 11, 2025, from 10 a.m. to noon (Center for the Arts/1P) for the Willowbrook Mile’s Open Day 2025, our annual commemoration of the history of the CSI’s campus on the site of the former Willowbrook State School.
In closing. I wish all who celebrate an enjoyable Italian-American Heritage Month, a joyful Sukkot holiday, and a restful (and long) Columbus Day weekend.
Until next time,
Timothy G. Lynch, Ph.D. (he/him/his)
President, College of Staten Island
