Dear Colleagues—
As we prepare for this year’s Thanksgiving holiday, which is just next week, I write to provide updates in this October 2021 Provost’s Monthly Report on key initiatives and efforts within the Division of Academic Affairs and Student Success to advance our college mission and strategic priorities. The report includes activities and meetings around a number of these initiatives and efforts guided by our shared governance structures and processes as well as policies and guidelines from CUNY central administration. For more updates and announcements from the Office of the Provost, along with past monthly reports and emails to the campus community, please visit the Provost Corner. For updates on COVID-19, please visit the Fall 2021 Return to Campus Resources link.
Planning for Spring 2022
Planning for Spring 2022 is proceeding along two parallel and related tracks: 1) Implementation of Coursedog, a new integrated electronic platform designed to improve efficiencies and manage schedule optimization, curriculum, and catalog in ways that accelerate student success, and 2) Implementation of 70% fully in-person courses and 30% hybrid and online courses for the Spring 2022 Term, targets set by Central administration in light of the uncertainty about the course of COVID-19.
Coursedog has required technology support to sync the platform with CUNYfirst (with occasional glitches encountered), conducting training for all staff involved with the scheduling process on how to use the new platform, and entering all class schedules submitted by each department in the new system to ensure accuracy and completeness. Thanks to the Senior Registrar, Yvette Rosario, and her team of dedicated staff, who have shepherded the implementation of the new solution in tandem with the implementation of the 70x30 targets, working closely with our school deans, department chairs, and the IT division, among others.
The 70 by 30 mix contrasts with the pre-pandemic CUNY average of 90% in-person, 10% hybrid/online, and for us at Lehman, it is very close to where we were pre-pandemic at 75% in-person and 25% hybrid/online. Since September 9, 2021, when CUNY announced the 70 by 30 targets, I have held multiple meetings with our leadership team, our deans, and at the Provost’s and Deans’ Council (PDC) to discuss our approach to meeting the targets based on the following guidelines:
- Aim for 70% in-person/HyFlex courses and 30% hybrid and online courses.
- Select courses for hybrid/online that, to the best of the knowledge of our programs and courses, match student needs and the likely future mix of program delivery modalities.
- Prioritize instructors for online/hybrid/HyFlex who have done at least one training sequence in those modalities and attribute and/or have had demonstrated success.
- Aside from unusual circumstances, school deans should ensure that all full-time faculty members teach at least one in-person course on campus.
In addition to these guidelines, we plan to bring all freshmen fully back to campus to address the significant performance concern we have noticed this fall, a result of the lingering effects of the pandemic.
I know we have been away from the campus for more than 20 months now. Over time, it is comfortable to assume that working virtually from our homes becomes normal. I look to our chairs and deans to ensure that our spring 2022 schedule planning reflects the centrality of an in-person learning environment for our students. Having been to campus each week since the fall term began, I can proudly say that the college is safe. The measures we have in place are adequate to address concerns we might have as we work to re-populate the campus.
The School of Business at Lehman
I am pleased to report that we have now submitted a formal request to the Board of Trustees via the Committee on Academic Policy, Programs, and Research (CAPPR) to establish the School of Business at the College, with three distinct departments to replace the current department of Economics and Business housed in the School of Natural and Social Sciences (NSS). The three departments are Accounting; Management and Business Innovation; and Finance, Information Systems, and Economics. The proposal and resolution for the new school was approved by the faculty in the Department of Economics and Business, the Executive Committee of the School of Natural and Social Sciences, the College Faculty Personnel and Budget (FP&B) Committee, and the President’s Cabinet. A separate resolution regarding the transfer of personnel in the current department and school to the three newly created departments in the new school was also submitted to the Board of Trustees via the Committee on Faculty, Staff, and Administration. We anticipate approval of both resolutions by the Board at its December 13, 2021 meeting and the formal start of the new school in fall 2022, with an Interim Dean and to begin fundraising efforts and a search for a permanent dean. The school will work to achieve AACSB accreditation in 2030.
The establishment of the School of Business, which will become the 6th School at Lehman, is a major milestone in the life of the college. The benefits to the students, the college, and the Bronx are numerous and include the opportunity for Bronx students to obtain degrees recognized and accredited by the national organization. Since many CUNY graduates remain in New York City and their home communities, such graduates will participate in the continual revitalization of the Bronx. There are also opportunities to expand enrollment growth by serving students and communities beyond the borough. The School of Business and then a named School of Business will enhance the college’s reputation as a leader in economic mobility. In addition, the college’s long-term commitment to undergraduate education and a liberal arts foundation will be deeply embedded in the culture of the new school and demonstrate the clear intersection of liberal arts, professional development, and workforce preparation by maintaining and further encouraging cross-school collaboration.
Plans to establish a School of Business at Lehman College have been a part of Lehman College’s Strategic Plan and Vision since 2010. During 2014-2015, a Visioning Committee for the School of Business was formed to undertake a feasibility study. The study concluded with a recommendation to begin the process of moving towards the establishment of a school.
In fall 2019, we engaged the services of Dr. William Hopkins, Founding Dean of Murray Koppelman School of Business at Brooklyn College, to conduct a viability study for the establishment of a School of Business at Lehman College. Dr. Hopkins’ scope of work included a review of staffing needs, departmental structure, and faculty within the potential school of business with ideas about how to form a Departmental Personnel and Budget (P&B) committees without a sufficient number of tenured faculty in certain programs.
In Spring 2020, Dr. Hopkins submitted his report to the College titled: Consultative Report: Business Program Review and Recommendations for Creating a School of Business. In the report, he concluded that the Department of Economics and Business is well-positioned to make this transition to a school. The existing structure is consistent with the structure of many existing schools of business. He also noted that the program possesses strengths (e.g., competent administrators, a high percentage of doctoral-qualified faculty) essential to the success of a school of business.
Since Spring 2020, several meetings and discussions were held with multiple internal and external stakeholders guided by the Consultative Report. From these meetings and discussions emerged the following:
- A proposal (and the resolution submitted to the Board) to establish a School of Business at Lehman with three initial departments: Accounting; Management and Business Innovation; and Finance, Information Systems, and Economics.
- Additional new degree programs will be considered: Real Estate Finance and Management, Business Analytics, Supply Chain Management, Business Information Systems, and Small Business Management and Entrepreneurship.
- Positioning and Differentiation of the school through a strong focus on experiential learning and partnerships.
- Budget estimates and implementation timeline were also developed.
I am delighted with the progress we have made thus far to bring the school to fruition and confident that the new school will set Lehman apart as a major pipeline for preparing talented young professionals from underrepresented groups to support and lead the region’s business growth and economic development. I will keep the campus informed of the decision of the Board. Fingers crossed and kudos to Lehman!!
Student Success Initiatives
The Learning Recovery Program, launched in the summer, continued to recalibrate its efforts to provide intensive in-person instruction and support services on campus to our fall 2021 new freshman class to improve the first-year experience and address concerns about academic performance. We worked with Administration and Finance to lift restrictions on access to the campus for students for all days regardless of whether students have a class; expanded library, and other support services. The program is led by Elin Warring and Althea Forde, and supported with philanthropic funding and funds provided by the college through the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 (CRRSSA). This year’s entering class of 1,587 students is the largest full-time freshman class at Lehman.
The college successfully held Lehman Student Success Summit (LS3) on October 15, 2021, focusing on transfer students. President Delgado provided opening remarks at the day-long event attended by more than one hundred and fifty faculty, staff, and administrators from Lehman, CUNY, and our B-TAG partners. Featured keynote speaker was Dr. John Gardner of the Gardner Institute for Excellence in Undergraduate Education. Both EVC Daniel Lemons and Provost Nwosu provided remarks to frame the summit.
This year’s summit built on the successful 2019 Summit and highlighted the work of the following Lehman’s faculty and staff who have championed impactful student success strategies at the college:
Reimagining Course Redesign for Student Success
Olena Zhadko, (Facilitator) Director of Online Education
Donald Sutherland, (Facilitator) Assessment & Institutional Effectiveness Manager
Jacob Eubank, Assistant Professor, Health Sciences
Kim Hyangmi, Assistant Professor, Health Sciences
Julie Maybee, Chair, Professor, Philosophy
Rethinking Advising: The CUNY Train
Richard Finger, (Facilitator) Senior Director of Enrollment Management
Christopher Buonocore, Director of Student Success Initiatives
Althea Ford, Senior Director of Academic Programs
Lisa Moalem, Director of Academic Advising
Yvette Rosario, Senior Registrar
Reine Sarmiento, Vice President of Enrollment Management and Vice Provost
Lucinda Zoe, Senior University Dean and Vice Provost of Academic Programs and Policy
Conceptualizing General Education through ATLAS
Karin Beck, (Facilitator) Associate Dean, School of Arts and Humanities
Mila Burns, Assistant Professor, Latin American and Latino Studies
Alyshia Galvez, Professor, Latin American and Latino Studies
LaRose Parris, Associate Professor, Africana Studies
Reflecting on HyFlex
Pamela Mills, (Facilitator) Dean, School of Natural and Social Sciences
Michael Buckley, Associate Professor, Philosophy
Migdio Dominguez, Media Technology Manager, Adjunct Lecturer
Steven Fulakeza, Lecturer, Computer Science
Tailisha Gonzalez, Instructor, Health Sciences
Brian Murphy, Chair, Associate Professor, Computer Science
I am grateful to both Associate Provost for Academic Programs and Educational Effectiveness Victor Brown and Director of Online Education Olena Zhadko, who facilitated the day’s program. I would also like to acknowledge the Steering / Planning Committee co-chaired by Olena Zhadko and Alison Abreu, Faculty Development and Communications Specialist, Migdio Dominguez, Pamela Mills, Reine Sarmiento, Joshunda Sanders, and Jermaine Wright. For video recording of the summit, visit the Provost Professional Development Series page.
Internal and External Engagement
Internal meetings and discussions during the month have included the following: 1:1 with President; President’s Cabinet; Extended Cabinet/President’s Advisory Board (PAB); Cabinet Retreat; College Faculty Personnel and Budget Committee (FP&B); Provost’s and Deans’ Council (PDC); Deans, Academic Affairs Senior Leadership Team; Provost’s Staff; Strategic Plan Implementation and Budget Work Group; New Faculty Orientation; PSC Labor-Management; College Senate and Governance Committee.
External meetings and discussions during the month have included the following: The CUNY Leadership Institute Opening Weekend and planning group; CUNY Academic Council; Teagle Foundation on the NEH Cornerstone: Learning for Living Initiative; Petrie Foundation for funding support for our Bronx Recovery Corps (BRC) Program; American Academic Leadership Institute; Institute for Higher Education (IHEP) to participate in a board meeting; national Association of Chief Academic Officers (ACAO) to participate in Board and committee meetings; AASCU to participate in a national discussion on STEM education; CUNY Academic Council; American Council on Education (ACE) Fellows Professional Development Committee; NYC-CUNY-Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP) in STEM Program; the Gardner Institute for Undergraduate Education on our Fall 2021 Student Success Summit; and Bronx Transfer Affinity Group(BTAG).
Academic Affairs’ Searches and Appointments
-
Interviewed finalist candidates for the following positions: Associate Dean, School of Health Sciences, Human Services, and Nursing (HS2N); Education (SOE), Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students, and Director of Strategy, Planning, Assessment, and Institutional Research (SPAIR).
- College Committee on Faculty Personnel and Budget (FP&B) approved the Fellowship Leave Recommendation for Dr. Teresita Levy, Chair, Department of Latin American and Latino Studies at its October 12, 2021 meeting.
- FP&B also discussed department scholarship statements regarding tenure and promotion processes and the timeline for submission.
I wish everyone success and good health through the remainder of the fall 2021
semester. Please continue to remain well and stay safe. Enjoy the upcoming Thanksgiving break with your families and loved ones.
-P
Peter O. Nwosu, Ph.D.
Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Student Success
Lehman College
