March 10, 2023
Colleagues:
I hope that this busy week has treated you well. I write with information and updates as to activities in which I have been engaged since my last communication. This week was all about partnerships and engagement. On Monday, I continued my efforts to educate and advocate, by visiting with State Assemblymember Michael Reilly, and staff from State Assemblymember Sam Pirozzolo’s and State Senator Jessica Scarcella-Spanton’s offices. I relayed the importance of funding higher education, and of the role that CUNY and CSI play in our local communities. This message will be amplified when I travel to Albany this weekend to caucus with other CUNY officials as we continue to make our case for increased funding.
I also met with representatives from the New York State Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) to discuss collaboration around workforce development, grantsmanship, and micro-credentials. The goal is to provide training and certification to individuals who work with organizations that serve those with cognitive, developmental, and intellectual disabilities. Our “legacy of place” here at Willowbrook makes this a natural partnership, as seen during Friday’s campus event marking March as Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month.”
I also had a wonderful conversation with representatives from the Coalition of Urban and Metropolitan Universities (CUMU), an organization dedicated to enhancing the role that such institutions can play in reducing disparities and serving as engines of economic and social mobility. The mission and goals of CUMU mesh nicely with those of CSI and CUNY, a theme reinforced at Wednesday’s all-day meeting of the Council of Presidents. There, we discussed enrollment, faculty research, fundraising and philanthropy, and—of course—the state of the system and campus budget. As I alluded to in last week’s communication, and as I shared with the College Council Executive Committee on Tuesday, CSI has done an incredible job of addressing our structural deficit. In the period between our FY 2022 midyear report and this month’s third-quarter update, we shaved an astounding $4 million dollars from that total! This would not have been possible but for the hard work, creativity, and flexibility of many folks on this campus: special thanks, in no particular order, to the Deans and Department Chairpersons, but also to CFO Serrano and his team, Provost Steiper, and the teams in Recruitment and Admissions and in Academic Advising who made this happen!
The week also brought good news when it comes to our facilities. Friday saw a ribbon-cutting ceremony that marked the completion of our athletic field complex project. This new facility will serve a dual purpose, as it will provide a top-notch forum for our track-and-field teams and other student-athletes, while also serving a recreational purpose for staff, students, and the local community. I am also pleased to announce that thanks to a partnership with the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation, we will soon receive several dozen trees to beautify the campus and help with soil erosion and water damage, and that our Buildings and Grounds teams will soon embark on a series of projects to improve the “look and feel” of high-traffic, high-visibility areas of campus. These will include upgrades to ADA access, a revitalization of the 1L entrance, installation and display of student (and other) artwork, and a refresh of building foyers and public space. I look forward to seeing the results of these initiatives in the coming months.
My densely scheduled week prevented me from attending, but not from acknowledging, events in honor of Women’s History Month/International Women’s Day. CUNY sponsored a “Divine Feminine Leadership Conference” Dinner on Wednesday, attended by several students, faculty and staff from our campus, and a three-day “Career Compass for Women Leaders” Conference. As the father of two daughters, I found the program—like my children!—both inspiring and challenging, and look forward to working with campus and system stakeholders to advance gender equity here and beyond. I am sure you will join me in that noble endeavor.
Until next time,
Timothy G. Lynch, Ph.D. (he/him/his)
Interim President, College of Staten Island
The City University of New York
2800 Victory Blvd, SI, NY 10314
718.982.2400
Communications
2023
- March 10, 2023: A Message from President Lynch
- March 3, 2023: A Message from President Lynch
- February 24, 2023: A Message from President Lynch
- February 17, 2023: A Message from President Lynch
- February 10, 2023: A Message from President Lynch
- February 3, 2023: A Message from President Lynch
- January 30, 2023: Statement on Murder of Tyre Nichols
- January 27, 2023: A Message from President Lynch
- January 20, 2023: A Message from President Lynch
- January 13, 2023: A Message from President Lynch
2022
- December 16, 2022: A Message from President Lynch
- December 15, 2022: An Important Message from President Lynch
- December 9, 2022: A Message from President Lynch
- December 2, 2022: A Message from President Lynch
- November 18, 2022: A Message from President Lynch
- November 11, 2022: A Message from President Lynch
- October 28, 2022: A Message from President Lynch
- October 21, 2022: A Message from President Lynch
- October 07, 2022: A Message from President Lynch
- September 30, 2022: A Message from President Lynch
- September 23, 2022: A Message from President Lynch
- September 16, 2022: A Message from President Lynch
- September 9, 2022: A Message from President Lynch
- September 7, 2022: President Lynch's Annual Reaffirmation of the College of Staten Island's Commitment to Diversity, Equal Opportunity, and Affirmative Action
- September 6, 2022: A Message from President Lynch
- September 2, 2022: Transitions in the Office of Academic Affairs
- September 2, 2022: A Message from President Lynch
- August 30, 2022: Important Announcement from President Lynch
- August 26, 2022: A Message from President Lynch
- August 19, 2022: A Message from President Lynch
- August 11, 2022: Student Affairs Leadership
- August 9, 2022: A Message from President Lynch
- August 4, 2022: A Message from President Lynch
- July 14, 2022: A Message from President Lynch
- June 30, 2022: A Message from President Lynch
- June 16, 2022: A Message from President Lynch
- June 3, 2022: A Message from President Lynch
- May 27, 2022: A Message from President Lynch
- May 20, 2022: A Message from President Lynch
- May 13, 2022: A Message from President Lynch
- May 12, 2022: Virtual Town Hall 5/17/22 - End of Year Reflections
- May 6, 2022: A Message from President Lynch
- April 29, 2022: A Message from President Lynch
- April 15, 2022: A Message from President Lynch
- April 8, 2022: A Message from President Lynch
- April 1, 2022: A Message from President Lynch
- March 25, 2022: A Message from President Lynch
- March 24, 2022: A Message from President Lynch
- March 18, 2022: A Message from President Lynch
- March 11, 2022: A Message from President Lynch
- March 4, 2022: A Message from President Lynch
- March 2, 2022: A Message from President Lynch
- February 25, 2022: A Message from President Lynch
- February 18, 2022: A Message from President Lynch
- February 4, 2022: A Message from President Lynch to Students
- February 4, 2022: A Message from President Lynch to Faculty & Staff
- January 27, 2022: Welcome Back Message
- January 21, 2022: Message from President Lynch
- January 14, 2022: Mid-Month Message
- January 7, 2022: Introductory Email