As we conclude the second week of the Spring term, I write with updates and information that you may find of interest.
The Spring term (and despite the frigid temperatures and Staten Island Chuck’s prognostications we are in Spring semester) started well, with more than 10,750 students registered for classes, meaning that we hit our enrollment target. February also brought the welcome news that our mid-financial-year projections still show us ending FY26 with a positive cash balance. If all holds (although there are still serious risks and liabilities), this would be the first time in a half-decade that we have finished “in the black.” Many thanks to those who have worked so hard to get us to this positive position! Next week, the Provost and I are meeting with folks from the Central Office of Academic Affairs to assess academic efficiencies, campus plans for faculty hiring, and other initiatives that will contribute to our continued financial solvency.
This week marked “National Women and Girls in Sports Day,” an annual event where we celebrate women athletes, especially those who compete for the CSI Dolphins. Student-athletes are among our best representatives, and this week I learned that the academic profile (Fall 2025) for the Dolphins was impressive, with an aggregate grade point average of 3.23: 65% of our 200 intercollegiate athletes had a term average greater than 3.0, with 75 earning Dean’s List (over 3.5) recognition and 14 of these achieving a perfect 4.0! Congratulations to Athletics Director Matt Scally for emphasizing academic performance, to the coaches and staff who provide advisement and tutoring, and to our Faculty Athletic Representative Dr. Leah Cohen for prioritizing this important initiative. You can support student-athletes by showing up to an event and/or by donating to their campaign.
Speaking of athletics, this week I met with a major NYC-based community organization that is seeking to expand its footprint on Staten Island by offering a variety of camps, clinics, and lessons to the local populace. It is my hope and expectation that such a partnership will generate revenue, improve community relations, and provide opportunities for our students to work in a variety of roles as coaches, counselors, and in other capacities. And CSI’s connection to the world of sports goes beyond athletics and (far) beyond the campus: as the Olympic Games open this evening, keep an eye on NBC who sought out CSI expert Professor Giancarlo Lombardi for his insight into Italian culture and heritage!
Next week brings a full slate of activities, including the first scheduled meeting with the College Council Executive Committee, my monthly Council of President’s meeting at CUNY Central, a meet-and-greet with CUNY’s new CFO (Kenneth Godiner), and the always-popular Winter Student Involvement Fair. I look forward to that event and hope to see many of you there—many thanks to the folks in Student Affairs for their work in putting on this event! Speaking of student engagement, this week saw both SEEK celebrating its 60th anniversary!) and the Center for Global Engagement hosting events in 1P to drive enrollment and retention. And next week, the Latin American, Caribbean, and Latina/o Studies Program (LACLS) will host “A Dialogue on Slavery of Black Africans in Spain and the Spanish Caribbean” (Tuesday, noon-2:00pm in 2S-215). Presented in celebration of Black History Month, the event will feature Dr. Lissette Acosta Corniel, Associate Professor in the Department of Race and Ethnic Studies at the Borough of Manhattan Community College. We are proud to support this event!
In closing, I want to acknowledge some disruptions experienced by users navigating the new Research Foundation ecosystem. As a community, CUNY is currently experiencing some challenges with OneRF powered by Workday, which had its official launch on January 5, 2926. The Office of Sponsored Programs and Research is working closely with the RF to learn the new systems so that they can effectively support the campus community. Although the new system is designed to empower Principal Investigators to have more access and more control over the management of their own grants and contracts, the learning curve is steep. We ask that you give yourselves and your colleagues some grace since we are all adjusting. We recognize your frustrations and appreciate your patience.
Until next time,
Timothy G. Lynch, Ph.D.
