Welcome to the New Academic Year
Over the past week, I have enjoyed welcoming many of our 3300 new students to campus, meeting parents, talking with new faculty, and reconnecting with others after the summer break. I hope many of you will come out to this Thursday’s Block Party on 13th Street between University Place and Fifth Avenue from 4:30 – 7:30pm. It’s a great way to kick-off the year.
Together with Provost Marshall, I extend a special welcome to Rachel Schreiber as she begins her first semester as the Executive Dean of Parsons School of Design. We are also proud to have Executive Deans Mary Watson and Richard Kessler entering new terms leading the Schools of Public Engagement and the College of Performing Arts. Together with their colleagues Will Milberg at NSSR, Stephanie Browner at Eugene Lang College, Helen Wussow at Open Campus, and Florence Leclerc-Dickler at Parsons Paris, our deans are passionate about their schools and the academic enterprise we are all engaged in together.
We are proud to be one of the most international universities in the world, with students from 116 countries. In the current political climate, it is especially important to affirm our commitment to welcoming and supporting students from any country, regardless of their citizenship or immigration status. The New School is enriched by a broad range of perspectives, forms of scholarship and creative expression, and the drive to make a positive difference in the world. These values transcend national boundaries.
Across The New School, our work is connected by a desire to challenge the status quo, to innovate, and to be a force of new. This ethos will be fully in evidence during our Centennial celebration, The Festival of New, that runs from October 1 – 6. With dozens of events throughout the week, the Festival highlights the spirit our university has always embodied and that will propel us forward in the next century.  Priority schedule-building for the Festival is now open to students and will open to faculty and staff September 3. Be sure to peruse the schedule and reserve your spot at the events you most want to attend. Registration opens to the general public September 9.
We continue to identify ways our campus can be responsive to perceptions, experiences, and needs around social justice and equity. The next phases of work stemming from our Campus Climate Assessment will unfold in the coming year, as we work with the Task Force and engage the broader community to prioritize and activate efforts that address the findings in the Assessment we undertook last year.
My thanks go out to the staff who have worked hard over the summer to complete operational and service improvements and keep our campus looking sharp and functioning well. Major projects included campus WiFi upgrades, new sidewalks in front of the Parsons building at the corner of 13th Street and Fifth Avenue, and renovated studio and classroom spaces in the Sheila Johnson Center at Parsons and at Lang College.
On a personal note, this semester begins my final year as president of The New School. It is an honor to have led the university during a decade of achievement and progress. I am proud of our differentiated academic programs, our vibrant campus and the people and work that bring it alive and build our global reputation. Thank you for what you bring to our university.
I hope your semester gets off to great start. The months ahead will certainly be demanding and challenging. Please take care of yourself and each other. Remember to rest, be good to your body and spirit, and seek support when you need it. You will find good friends, helpful staff, and wonderful colleagues here.