I hope this end-of-the-semester email finds you well. I write with updates and information related to recent activities that you may find of interest.
This week included a spate of activities that kept us all busy. The end of instruction, start of final exams, grading, and spring registration activities kept us all active and engaged. My week began with a Monday morning visit to and tour of the National Lighthouse Museum. As a maritime historian, educator, and community partner, this spoke to me on many levels. The Executive Director, Linda Dianto, is one of the honorees at our “Spring into Giving” annual benefit (April 18), and she and I spoke about the opportunities for closer collaboration between our institutions. That evening, I attended the CUNY Board of Trustees meeting where, among other action items, the Board approved the establishment of the Virginia Ozgar Endowed Education Fund and the Jennifer Straniere Endowed Scholarship Fund. These gifts will make a lasting impact on generations of students and are a fitting legacy to the lives of such treasured members of our community, and I was proud to be there in support of these actions.
The following evening brought a trip to New York City College of Technology, where members of the Chancellery, Board of Trustees representatives, and college presidents gathered to tour a new exhibit on “America and the Holocaust.” This exhibit, on loan from the Smithsonian, was impactful and timely, especially as the next day brought a two-hour training session on combatting antisemitism, hosted by the Chancellery and produced by Project Shema. Given CUNY’s longstanding commitment to providing a working and learning environment that is free from discrimination and welcoming to all, this was both inspiring and educational. Similar workshops and trainings, including a series of anti-hate symposia planned for CSI in the early spring term that will include recognizing and responding to both antisemitism and Islamophobia, are forthcoming.
I also attended the monthly Council of Presidents meeting this Wednesday, where we discussed enrollment (which is trending up), the state of the University’s budget request (which is ambitious), lobbying efforts (which are continual), and steps taken to address ongoing structural issues (which are ongoing). The College will be working to close our remaining budget gap in the coming months, as we discussed at Thursday’s College Council and Faculty Senate meetings: those meetings featured discussion as to how (and why) we ended FY 23 and our plans for the current and future fiscal years. The budget, as you know, continues to be challenging but we are committed to minimal disruption to our operations as we make important investments in staff and facilities. The need for such investments was made obvious during Thursday’s “Tea with Tim” lunch with members of our Financial Aid team, who raised concerns related to new FAFSA processes and the need for training (and space to do so) to better serve our students. I thank my colleagues for their frank and candid suggestions and, more importantly, for recognizing student needs and proposing concrete steps that we can take to improve our campus operations. I look forward to similarly productive conversations in the new year.
My week ended with a quarterly meeting of the CSI Foundation Board of Directors, where we reflected on the fundraising and philanthropic efforts (and there is still time to make a donation before the year ends! Give to College of Staten Island | #CUNYTUESDAY 2023) and our plans for board development and engagement. We are fortunate to have such dedicated and supportive friends as these (all of whom are volunteers and many of whom are alumni) to assist us in helping our students reach their full potential. Their work and commitment to the cause is incredibly affirming and reflects well on the mission of the College. With that mission in mind, and with gratitude for your dedication to it, I wish all who celebrate a Merry Christmas, Peaceful Kwanzaa, and Happy New Year. I will return with my usual updates and messages in 2024. Enjoy the holidays with your loved ones!
Until next time,
Timothy G. Lynch, Ph.D. (he/him/his)
