President’s Monthly Message to the College Community
February 2024
Dear College Community,
Happy Lunar New Year!
Since my last report I have had the opportunity to meet more members of the college community and explore more areas of the campus. I also participated in my first PSC meeting where conversations centered on a number of items including communication regarding the college’s deficit reduction plan, class cancellations, and HEO reclassifications. I want to take this opportunity to thank Prof. Ian Hansen for his service as chapter chair and congratulate Prof. Freya Pritchard our newly elected chair. I look forward to working with her and the chapter membership.
As I shared, I cannot speak to how shared governance was actualized in the process of developing the deficit reduction plan in the fall, I can only address how we move forward. Speaking about moving forward and as fate would have it, this lunar year we celebrate the year of the Wood Dragon which is forecasted to bring about challenges, opportunities and changes -- I know York has had and continues to have its share. But, as I have shared, the challenges we face as a college were not created overnight nor will they be similarly resolved. There is also no one path to address these challenges. There must be efforts on multiple fronts which are undergirded by collaboration, communication and transparency.
We have real opportunities to increase enrollment through marketing to attract new students; improve student persistence and retention through academic advisement, early alert and other supports; increase student engagement; the upgrade/enhancement facilities and the teaching and learning environment; and alignment of financial resources with strategic priorities. But this cannot be an effort shouldered only by the administration, this work must be a college-wide effort and will require changes to the way we engage in the business of student success.
To this end, earlier this month we launched a new social media campaign to move beyond solely marketing the college, to marketing individual academic programs. Click here to view the first in the series: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRXd0uvCEO4. There are plans to market additional programs. Last week, over 50 faculty members and several staff members were trained on the use of EAB Navigates Early Alert system. Early Alert will help faculty and staff identify students in need of support and steer them towards appropriate interventions. I am looking forward to the involvement of more faculty and staff in this important retention initiative. You can access more information about EAB Navigate and Early Alert here: https://www.york.cuny.edu/academics/navigate/navigate-for-facultystaff-intro.
Earlier this month, I also met with members of the York College Advisement Council to discuss the advisement issues and needs. Among the topics that were discussed were the need for increased training/ orientation for students on the use of registration platforms CUNYFirst and Schedule Builder, more clarity and communication of advisement caseload structures to students so that they know who their advisors are, and ensuring congruence between degree works and curriculum maps. I am looking forward to AdvisorFest happening today until 7pm, where students will connect their assigned advisors and schedule their Fall 2024 academic advisement appointments. The summer and fall semesters are closer than we think, and it is essential we are proactive in advisement efforts and that students are equally proactive in registering for classes early. This month, VP Williams will share the first of what will be regular enrollment updates to the college community. Since we are all stakeholders in this work, it is important that you are aware of our progress and activities in the area of enrollment management.
Upgrades and enhancements to the physical plant continues to be a critical priority. In addition to your feedback about particular issues, I continue to make my rounds and provide feedback to Interim VP Lindow as well. As you know, there are many projects underway so in addition to regular updates/ progress reports, we erect signage that provides the college community with relevant information including dates of initiation/completion of capital and other projects.
This month I provided testimony at the Queens Borough Board Budget and requested funding for the expansion of the cafeteria and renovation of two lecture halls in the Academic Core Building. I also had the opportunity to meet with NYC Councilmember Nantasha Williams and Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, both of whom as you all know are valued supporters of York College. Most recently, I made my way to the annual New York State Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian Legislators Caucus in Albany, where I was able to meet and share our funding priorities with Senators Leroy Comrie and Assemblywoman Vivian Cook. In addition, I also met a number of individuals and organizations interested in working with York College to enhance programs and services for our student body. I must say though, that the best time I had was the time I spent in the company of our incredible Student Government Association members. On my way to Albany, I received a few text messages about our students who were decked out in their Cardinal red blazers and were observed actively engaged in workshops. I also had an opportunity to have breakfast with them on Saturday morning. They shared with me their varied paths to York College, concerns, and the joy they all feel in being a part of this academic community.
Colleagues, it is Black History Month and while there is a plethora of African-Americans who have made an indelible impact on the lives of others locally, nationally and internationally, we need only look right here at York to remember and celebrate those who have made such an impact.
As fate would have it, yesterday I attended Abyssinian Baptist Church’s 2nd annual HBCU/ Greek Sunday. As one of several college presidents that were in attendance, I was introduced as the Interim President of York. At the end of the service, I was approached by a man who said he had to meet me. His name was Stephen Johnson and he shared with me that he was the son of Reverend Robert Ross Johnson whose fervent lobbying and support was instrumental in the establishment of York College in Jamaica, Queens. I was then approached by a woman, who asked if I was familiar with the SEEK Program. She went on to introduce herself as Keisha Sutton James, the granddaughter of Percy Sutton: Freedom Rider, longest serving Manhattan borough president, activist, politician, civil rights leader and namesake of the SEEK program whose mission is to support students who are economically disadvantaged and academically underprepared.
Having lived in Queens a for a few years after completing my Master’s degree and now returning to Queens to serve at York, I have long been familiar with Guy R. Brewer Blvd. While stopped at the light on the Blvd, this morning I glanced up at the sign and having been inspired by my chance encounters this weekend, I wanted to know more about the man it was named for. I learned that Guy R. Brewer was the one of the first African-Americans to be elected to office in Queens and the first African-American to serve as Majority Whip. Brewer, I came to learn, was also man with a great sense of humor and formidable debating skills who served as a mentor to many of the elected officials of his time.
As we celebrate Black History Month and deliver on the mission of York College, let us continue to embody the legacies of Guy R. Brewer and Percy Sutton by investing our time and talents in all our students --the future leaders that walk our halls, enter our offices and sit in our classes every day; engage in our work with the passion of Rev. Johnson; and to provide all those who seek to transform their lives through education with the platform to do so.