As the semester draws to a close, the days are racing by. In reviewing all that has happened recently, I’m left a little breathless—and I run half-marathons. |
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Among the college’s many accomplishments this year is the completion and publication of the Strategic Plan 2021-2026. It emphasizes diversity, equity and inclusion in everything we do and lays the foundation for advancements in student success, academic excellence and programmatic initiatives like the new business and arts schools. We hosted a November 30 “thank you” reception for the plan’s faculty, staff and student participants who, through the Steering Committee and Working Groups, put so much effort into its development. I announced new Strategic Plan Implementation Grants at both the event and in a recent mailer. A Strategic Plan Implementation Group has been convened to work with the college community in support of the plan’s goals.
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An in-person event celebrates work that was conducted remotely. |
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With the resumption of in-person activity, I have been meeting colleagues from throughout CUNY. One of the benefits of being part of a great public higher education system is to connect with academic leaders and campus communities. This semester, we hosted President Larry Johnson, who just started service at Guttman Community College. I visited President Patricia Ramsey at Medgar Evers College, where I was impressed by scientific labs with state-of-the art equipment used by researchers from everywhere; and President Christine Mangino of Queensborough Community College, which partners with Queens College on programs to encourage associate’s degrees recipients to continue their education on our campus. I also visited with John Jay College’s President Karol Mason and was particularly interested in replicating at the college some of the visible ways they assist immigrants. I met with College of Staten Island President William Fritz, who is retiring later this month after nine years of dedicated service. Earlier this month, we hosted Dean of the CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies Gregory Mantsios, ’72, MA ’73. The school’s roots can be traced to a program originally at Queens College. We will be sharing more information in the future about this unique school, how QC students are being served, and opportunities for collaborations. |
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L to R: Samuel Groveman, Core Research facility manager at Medgar Evers College; QC President Frank H. Wu; Medgar Evers President Patricia Ramsey |
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President Ramsey; President Wu; Mohsin Patwary, Dean of the School of Science, Health and Technology at Medgar Evers
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L to R: President Frank H. Wu; AVP for Budget and Finance and CFO Joe Loughren; Dean Gregory Mantsios of the CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies; Interim Dean of Social Sciences Kate Pechenkina
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Among my many continuing visits with Queens County legislators to advocate for greater support for public higher education, I recently had the opportunity to meet with David Weprin, who represents District 24 in the New York State Assembly. Queens College is fortunate to enjoy the strong support of its representatives at the local, state, and national level. It is especially important to maintain sustained outreach as we press for the investment needed, given the huge economic impact Queens College and CUNY has on the borough and metropolitan region. |
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President Frank H. Wu and David Weprin shake hands and come out fighting for Queens College. |
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We are deeply thankful, too, to all the people who participated in Giving Tuesday, which raised funding for the Knights Table Food Pantry and other college programs. Additional contributions will come from the Queens County Farm Museum. Until December 31, the museum is collecting canned goods and other nonperishable items in its annual food drive on behalf of CUNY students; 15 percent of the university’s population continues to face food insecurity, |
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This is not the only challenge facing our students. I want to remind our community that Counseling Services offers free, confidential help to all students with mental health issues. The counseling office can be contacted at counselingservices@qc.cuny.edu or 718-997-5420. All email and voicemail messages will receive a response within 24 hours. Sessions are conducted via telehealth.
Queens College is aware of the barriers that prevent undocumented students from accessing higher education. I posted a comment on the Federal Register—the daily journal of the United States government—in support of strengthening policies for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. Here’s what I wrote:
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Queens College supports Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). For more than 80 years, Queens College has provided an outstanding education to students of all backgrounds. Congressmember Adriano Espaillat, the first Dominican American elected to the House of Representatives, and Cristina Jimenez Moreta, co-founder of United We Dream and recipient of a MacArthur Foundation grant, are among the formerly undocumented immigrants who have gone on to distinguished careers after graduating from Queens College. DACA enables other students in similar circumstances to pursue college degrees that enable them to change the trajectory of their lives, help their families, and improve their communities. Queens College is located in the “world’s borough,” one of the most diverse urban areas on the globe; our communities include many extended families who have people of various statuses, ranging from native born to naturalized citizens to green card holders to undocumented. We encourage President Biden’s administration to support the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s proposal for fortifying DACA, which will allow deserving students to continue their education. |
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Under the leadership of Zavi Gunn, the college’s Center for Career Engagement and Internships has been doing outstanding work in an environment that can best be described as challenging. Appropriately, the theme of the center’s year-end celebration, taking place online this afternoon, is “Thriving.” Alumni will be prominently featured. Sabir Semerkant ’93, an e-commerce expert, will deliver the keynote. The speakers list includes Harris Horowitz ’78, whose gift funds internship stipends. Harris is profiled in Queens magazine. I’ll be offering remarks, too.
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Tomorrow—December 8—I will attend the virtual gala for the Belle Zeller Scholarships, along with several student leaders. This prestigious award honors the memory of an educator who lived what she taught: the late Dr. Zeller was a founding member of Brooklyn College’s political science faculty and an effective labor advocate. I am proud that QC’s own Ahona Islam is one of the scholarship recipients.
Although the college has been holding some functions in person, the time isn’t right for us to host our customary holiday party on campus. But we are happy to contribute goodies to areas planning their own, smaller gatherings. We will distribute packages on Wednesday, December 15, from 3 to 5 pm in the lobby of Kiely. To reserve one, sign up here with the names of your office or department and the number of attendees.
This is my last newsletter of 2021. Happy Holidays to all! I wish our outstanding students good luck on their final exams. I thank our dedicated faculty and staff for all you continue to do in support of student success, the transmittal and creation of knowledge, and service to the college and community. See you next year!
Frank H. Wu
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