The Work Ahead
Dr. Maggie Koozer, Senior Vice Provost for Curriculum, Learning, and Academic Affairs
Dr. Robert Mack, Vice Provost for Student Success and Engagement
Dr. Michael Schober, Senior Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs
Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff,
Since the fall semester began, we have been reflecting on questions of community. In September, Provost White encouraged us to contemplate the ethics of care and the concept of the “beloved community” as we consider the multiple communities we are connected to, and the responsibility we feel toward them. She wrote:
- To embrace a care ethic means we are validating the realness of each other’s lived experience whether it is familiar to us or not. We act and make decisions with an awareness that we all inhabit different positions socially, politically, symbolically–especially within formal institutions like The New School…Dr. Martin Luther King spoke of the “Beloved Community,” a world in which empathy and an inclusive spirit of personhood pushes us to behave in ways that are just, equitable, and inclusive.
It is through this lens that we have grappled with how to support each other through the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict and the war in Gaza. As members of leadership working in areas that provide direct support to students, faculty, and staff, we are personally committed to partnering with you on the following goals for the Spring semester, seeking to balance our commitment to academic freedom with our responsibility to foster a safe and inclusive learning environment on campus.
Addressing Concerns of Bias and Harassment
Centering the safety of our community remains paramount. We ask students who face bias and/or harassment to continue to report incidents to the Office of Student Conduct. From a framework of care for the community, this office has formed a bias response team to ensure that its work aligns with The New School’s vision and mission, upholds the principles outlined in the Student Code of Conduct, and protects students’ freedom of speech. Conduct Review Panel members receive required annual training and work with the Office of Student Conduct to make determinations of responsibility to potential violations of the code of conduct. To express interest in serving as a Conduct Review Panel member, please contact studentconduct@newschool.edu.
Support Groups for Students and Additional Resources
Support groups for students impacted by the Israeli-Palestinian conflict will continue to meet throughout the semester. To sign up and learn more about the support group offerings hosted by Student Health Services, visit this page. Specifics on programming and spaces for students to find support and community are being developed by the Office of Equity and Belonging and will be shared in February.
We will continue to share resources with students on a regular basis in the Student Success newsletter. Please visit the Student Resources Hub for a list of offices that can help you navigate this time, such as Counseling Services and the Student Support and Advocacy office.
Community-Led Dialogue and Input
In recent months, we have heard from students, faculty, and staff looking for spaces to engage in dialogue, active listening, and mutual understanding. We will work together with the University Faculty Senate, Staff Senate, and Student Senate to develop a process to advance efforts for their specific communities. Please connect with your respective Senate members to suggest programming and stay tuned for more information throughout the semester.
Learning Opportunities for Faculty and Staff
With an emphasis on building bridges for dialogue and trauma-informed teaching, the Faculty Center for Innovation, Collaboration, and Support will offer workshops for faculty and staff on how to have difficult dialogues on complex and emotional subjects for use both inside and outside of the classroom. A full list of currently scheduled opportunities is available here and will be updated and announced in future Faculty Center and Provost’s Office newsletters. In addition to these enhanced workshop offerings, weekly office hours will be hosted on Tuesdays at 2pm over Zoom for faculty to discuss issues they may be experiencing. We actively encourage faculty and staff who wish to contribute their expertise and participation to reach out to thefacultycenter@newschool.edu.
Curricular Offerings Around the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
Provost White has charged colleagues in the Provost’s Office and dean’s offices across the university to leverage the expertise of our faculty to meet our educational mission through related programming that fosters rigorous inquiry and discussion within a climate of academic freedom and understanding. Deans and members of our faculty are developing a series of lectures, film screenings, and conversations focused on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. We encourage you to reach out to your dean’s office to get involved. Additional questions and expressions of interest can be sent to provost@newschool.edu.
University Resources for Free Speech and Campus Safety
Information regarding The New School’s commitment to free speech, student safety, and other resources may be found on the Free Speech and Campus Safety website. This page collects messages from university leaders, community standards and policies, and information about community dialogues, and will continue to be updated with resources.
As a community of learners, we have the opportunity to listen and learn from each others’ perspectives. We must draw on the frameworks we have available to navigate learning and healing as a collective, and anticipate sharing regular updates with you as this work proceeds.