As it has been sometime since I last communicated, I write with information and updates that you may find of use or interest. First, I want to wish a happy Pride Month to all who celebrate, and apologize for the delay in acknowledging this.
Although the academic year concluded with Commencement, the weeks since have seen a flurry of academic and community-based activities on campus. In addition to last Tuesday’s ASAP/ACE graduation event, where we recognized both the access and excellence components of our mission as a comprehensive college, we hosted a full-day conference (with Borough President Vito Fossella) on Thursday for a Mental Health and Wellness Expo, where several dozen providers, presenters, and other participants shared best practices and information about vital services to the local community. The next day, we hosted not only the annual Nursing Pinning Ceremony, but the Fourth Annual International Bone and Orthopedics Interdisciplinary Symposium, organized by Dr. Jean-Philippe Berteau of our Department of Physical Therapy. These events—and the annual CUNY-wide Undergraduate Research symposium where CSI was amply represented by a number of students and their mentors—collectively demonstrate the impact that the College of Staten Island plays in the local, regional, and international arenas, and underscore the value that we add to our community.
This week, I hosted representatives from the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce and had two separate meetings with the CSI Foundation Board of Directors, where we discussed plans for the upcoming academic year and reviewed last year’s activities. I also had the opportunity to attend several Board of Trustee committee meetings, and tonight I will be attending CUNY’s annual reception in honor of all 2024 Valedictorians and Salutatorians from each campus. I met with the other Senior College Presidents to discuss budget and other concerns (and we have better than expected news here), and with institutions of the East Coast Conference to welcome our new commissioner and discuss membership-related matters. Today the sixth annual Academic Advisement Council retreat will be held, where we will discuss best practices related to enrollment initiatives. This is a key imperative as we look to improve our first-year (especially) retention rates and I thank Interim Assistant Provost Carey Manifold for her leadership in this arena. Summer projects include major facility upgrades and improvements, work on the next iteration of our institutional Strategic Plan, grant-writing activities, and alignment of campus priorities with the CUNY strategic roadmap. Who said that things would quiet down after graduation?
Last Tuesday evening also saw a rally for Gaza just outside our Victory Boulevard gates. The rally, coming on the heels of demonstrations held on-campus during Commencement exercises, deserves some attention here. As I alluded to in earlier messages, the pain and suffering of Arab, Muslim, Palestinian, and Jewish members of our community—like that of so many others with roots in and links to the Middle East—is palpable and real. Recent and historic events in that region have culminated in a wave of demonstrations that have engulfed college campuses and other venues across the country. The College of Staten Island is not unique in this regard. As an institution of public higher education, we are committed to protecting everyone’s right to free speech, dissent, and peaceful protest, a commitment made clear in my October 13 message. We also recognize the need to ensure that such actions do not disrupt College activities or interfere with the rights of others who wish to avail themselves of the College’s instructional, personal, administrative, recreational, and community services in accordance with CUNY’s Rules for Maintenance of Public Order (Henderson Rules). Additionally, it is critical that the College ensures the safety and security of all, including those who are demonstrating.
The balance between allowing for peaceful protest, protecting free speech, and ensuring everyone’s safety is a difficult one. I know that some members of our community were concerned by the protests that took place during Commencement, and by incidents that occurred in response to them. The safety and security of all members of our community is my top priority, and I appreciate your assistance here. With respect to updates on personnel matters, I am unable to provide further details beyond what has already been shared.
I have been staying in contact with campus governance leaders to keep them informed of our plans and progress, and I encourage you to contact me (or them) with concerns you may have regarding any of the above. They have been wonderful partners to me and the administrative team, and I expect that to continue. I also expect that we, as a community, will learn and grow from our collective experiences.
Until next time,
Timothy G. Lynch, Ph.D. (he/him/his)
