What a busy week it has been! I write with information and updates concerning recent activities that you may find of interest.
October is traditionally a hectic month for campus and community activities, and this week certainly proved that. On Monday, while I was at the first CUNY Board of Trustees meeting of the academic year—where I was able to speak to several trustees and Chancellery staff—members of our administration represented the campus at the annual “Heart of a Champion” fundraiser on Staten Island, raising awareness (and money) for important health-related screenings to prevent cardiac issues in children and young adults. It is important to stay connected and remain visible in the community, which is why I attended Thursday’s Catholic Charities of Staten Island dinner and awards, where I advocated for partnerships and resources for our campus and our students.
October is both Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Domestic Violence Prevention Month, and our campus recognized each of these in meaningful ways. Thursday’s “Pretty in Pink Social” raised awareness and funds for breast cancer research, and I want to thank Anna Lambert and her team for initiating this event. Our Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion similarly offered a workshop around healthy relationships and consent, further demonstrating that the College’s mission of educating and serving our community extends beyond the traditional classroom. Many thanks to those who organized these events, particularly Tara Mastrangelo and her team.
On Tuesday, the campus hosted Khalid Latif, a consultant hired by CUNY, to assess the Muslim student experience at CSI. Focus groups composed of students, faculty, staff, and administrators discussed the state of interfaith dialog on campus, steps taken to make all our students feel welcome, safe, and appreciated, and included discussions about plans for further actions. It is affirming to see CUNY be proactive in this space and I am proud to partner with the University on this important initiative; thank you to those who participated and shared their candid feedback with our guest. That afternoon, I hosted a number of scholarship donors and recipients for a small reception where we celebrated the impact of their philanthropy and heard firsthand the difference that their generosity makes in the lives of our students. With nearly half of our students being the first in their families to attend college and two-thirds of our students being Pell-eligible, even small gifts can mean the difference between staying enrolled or dropping out. Special thanks to Michele Callahan, Fellowship and Scholarship Adviser, for organizing this event. Also, as we approach our annual Season of Giving and commemorate our 50 years of service, I encourage you to consider participating in CUNY Tuesday. our annual campaign for the College’s greatest needs beginning mid-November.
Tuesday also saw more than 300 of our students participate in our annual Fall Club Fair, another indication of increased student engagement. In meetings with student leaders, I constantly hear of their desire for more on-campus, in-person activities and I am glad to see this materializing (Saturday’s basketball game against Wagner College saw our largest crowd in recent memory, with nearly 700 in attendance—alas, we lost and I will have to honor my bet with my counterpart shortly). I expect that student engagement will continue and escalate upon the arrival of our new Dean of Students (pending CUNY BoT approval), Dr. Marsha Johnson. Marsha comes from Ithaca College where she most recently served as Dean of Students and she will begin her new role on November 15. Many thanks to those who participated in the search process, Lisa Korchma, Abhijit Champanerkar, and Chair Dana Trimboli. I am sure you will join me in wishing Marsha a warm welcome to the CSI family!
This week also saw the first of two required Labor Management meetings, where I met with union representatives to discuss several issues of concern. We addressed inclement weather protocols, concerns related to class sizes, issues related to faculty and staff workload, support for immigrant students, and other topics. I appreciate the passion and advocacy of the Executive Committee, and I look forward to addressing the issues they raised. That afternoon was our inaugural “Dolphin Finish Line” event, where representatives from various campus offices made themselves available to soon-to-be-graduates for degree audits, registration assistance, and to provide answers to myriad questions. This type of personalized direct student assistance is so important to degree completion, and I am amazed by the collective commitment to student success. This commitment was also on display at today’s meeting of the Institutional Planning Committee, where we continued to operationalize the Strategic Plan and discussed ideas related to academic program review, facilities projects, and workflow that should improve processes for that body and the campus. It is reassuring to see shared governance and true collegiality among campus constituents in action in each of these forums!
As October ends, I wish everyone a safe Halloween and remind you to turn your clocks back (and change your smoke alarm batteries) this Sunday. As November begins, I want to acknowledge Indigenous Persons/Native American Heritage Month. If you would like to learn more about the rich history of the first New Yorkers I encourage you to visit the Smithsonian Institute’s National Museum of the Native American in the Alexander Hamilton New York Custom House (1 Bowling Green in Manhattan, free to the public and open daily, 10:00am-5:00pm). The permanent exhibit on “Native New York” alone is well-worth the trip.
Election Day is Tuesday, November 3. Please review the CUNY Time to Vote Notice to Employees, which is also posted on the University Human Resources website. This guidance applies to Election Day only, and not the early voting period, and is applicable to staff for whom Election Day is not a paid legal holiday. Please refer to the 2026-2027 Holiday Schedule to review which employees are eligible for Election Day as a paid holiday. Voting FAQs can be found online.
Until next time,
Timothy G. Lynch, Ph.D.
