Exciting Campus Updates This Semester
A Message from Dr. Donna E. Shalala, Interim President
It feels great to be back on campus, and I hope the semester is off to a strong start for you.
As you make your way to your classes and other commitments this month, you’ll notice a number of renovations and improvements that were made to campus over winter break.Â
Ranging from significant updates to more subtle changes, these enhancements expand and improve social and collaboration spaces around campus to offer more ways for students to meet, connect, and enjoy each other’s company. We prioritized projects that students said were most important to them, and that would enhance the living-learning experience on our campus.
Many of you—students, faculty, and staff—shared ideas about how we could better support students and their experience on our campus. I want to thank everyone who contributed to this effort and recognize those who made the changes happen. The list is long—look for it at the base of this email.
In the meantime, here is what you’ll see around campus.
More Dedicated, Enhanced Space for Students and Activities
- Collaborate in newly renovated space on the 2nd floor of 39 West 13th Street that includes:Â
- Flexible space for use by student organizations and other student activities.
- New permanent homes for the University Student Senate, The New School Free Press, and WNSR New School Radio.Â
- Hang out in a refreshed Lang Courtyard that includes new furniture and a new seating layout.
- Lounge with friends and colleagues in the new seating areas on the first floor of 55 West 13th Street and at 39 W 13th Street.Â
Improved Dining Experience and New On-Campus Dining Options
- Enjoy meeting and spending time with members of our community in a redesigned and refurbished University Center Dining Commons.
- Beginning March 1, grab a meal or a coffee in the new 8th floor cafe located in 6 East 16th Street.
- Look for enhanced vending options that will be available in 39 West 13th Street, 55 West 13th Street, and 65 West 11th Street.Â
Making Our Campus More Welcoming for Everyone
- Use one of the new charging stations coming soon to campus so you can work easily anywhere on campus and never have to miss a call.
- Visit the newly renovated lower level Welcome Center reception area, home to our orientation activities.
I hope you enjoy these new and expanded spaces for working, collaborating, and socializing. You can read more about the enhancements in this Free Press story. I look forward to seeing you around campus.
Our thanks to everyone that contributed to these efforts, including the following members of The New School community for their work on the campus enhancements:
Lorenley Baez, Associate Provost for Equity and Belonging; Sam Bair, Part-time Assistant Professor and Faculty Advisor to WNSR + Podcast; Nadine Bourgeois, Interim Associate Provost for Strategic Academic Planning and Implementation; Alvin Chang, Assistant Professor of Journalism and Design and Faculty Advisor to The New School Free Press; Christoph Cox, Dean, Eugene Lang College; Mark Diaz, Interim Executive Vice President for Business and Operations; Andrade Fearon, Senior Director of Student Leadership, Involvement and Transition Experiences; Brian Fuller, Associate Provost for Strategy, Operations, and Partnerships; Paul Gottlieb, Director of Facilities and Life Safety; Allie Griffin, Part-time Lecturer and Faculty Advisor to The New School Free Press; Gregory Herrera, Director of Auxiliary Operations; Jin Kim, Deputy Provost for Academic Planning and Administration; Allen Jones, Director of Digital Libraries and Technical Services; Ashley Kossakowski, Director of Energy Management and Sustainability; Marcus Longmuir, Senior Director, Information Technology; Robert Mack, Vice Provost for Student Success and Engagement; Jorge Melendez, Senior Director, Information Technology; Shondrika Merritt, Associate Provost of Student Affairs and Dean of Students; Kayla O’Daniel, Senior Director of Customer Experience, Information Technology; Angélica Pena, Director of Operations, Student Success and Engagement; Kelly Powell, Director of Space Planning; Peter Redhead, Director Integrated Communications Services, Information Technology; Janice Shaman, Assistant Director for Systems Management; Ahana Sharma, University Student Senate Executive Board; Spencer Sher, University Student Senate Executive Board; Gilles Stromberg, Assistant Director Student Leadership and Involvement; Lisa Su, Senior Project Manager, Design and Construction; Renée T. White, Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs; Thomas Whalen, Vice President for Buildings and Campus Operations; Linfei Yang, University Student Senate Executive Board, Don Zacchino, Assistant Director For Physical Plant.