Dear parents and families,

As we embrace the holiday spirit and approach the end of the year, I extend warm wishes and heartfelt gratitude to each of you for your ongoing partnership in our shared commitment to your students' success. However you celebrate and whatever holidays you and your family observe, I hope this season is a special one.

As the Fall 2023 semester comes to a close, I find myself reflecting on what a successful semester it has been. Since joining The New School in August, our Interim President Donna Shalala has shown a deep and heartfelt commitment to our students, and I look forward to continued progress in the new year. Our newest students who joined us for New Student Orientation back in August are wrapping up their first term with us, and have already made a lasting impact on our community. I very much enjoyed connecting with many of you at our Annual Family Weekend celebrations in October. Plus, our entire community is thrilled that a strong, fair, four-year contract was unanimously ratified on Friday by The New School’s SHENS-UAW Local 7902, representing our Student Health Employees.

At The New School, we are fortunate to have extremely dedicated and high-achieving students. We are proud of our students’ ambition, and we also recognize that high-achieving students often experience stress and need support in managing the pressures of a rigorous academic experience. As your students prepare to head home for the holiday break, I hope you will remember these helpful tips:

• Listen to understand. As you ask your student questions about their academic workload and stress, try to pause before giving advice. A little bit of empathy can go a long way. 
• Empower your student. Once you’ve had an opportunity to listen, remind your student to take advantage of resources like our Learning Center and faculty office hours to stay on track.
• Encourage self-care. If your student is feeling stressed and overwhelmed, they might need to take a break to enjoy some leisure time with friends, or they might need the support of a mental health professional at our Counseling Center.

During this season of celebration, I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge the difficult moment our world faces as we continue to follow news out of Israel and Palestine. As I shared with your students last month, it is important that we extend care and support to all members of our community dealing with issues related to loss, personal safety, and academic progress. Within Student Success, we are committed to finding the time to listen without judgment, creating spaces for dialogue, and being a supportive presence for every student's well-being. I am grateful to our Student Counseling Center for hosting ongoing dialogue for both our Israeli and Jewish communities, as well as our Palestinian and Muslim communities. Many of our students have been vocal in sharing their views about the ongoing crisis, and I remain committed to respecting their freedom of speech while remaining equally committed to the safety and well-being of our students and our entire community. 

From my family to yours, I wish you a joyous and healthy holiday season and a happy new year!

In Partnership,  

Rob Mack

Vice Provost for Student Success and Engagement

Please mark your calendar for The New School's 88th Annual University Commencement on Friday, May 17, 2024. All students who earn their degrees in December 2023, May 2024, and August 2024 are invited to participate.

This year, Commencement will take place at Louis Armstrong Stadium on the grounds of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, Queens, and will be live-streamed for guests unable to join us in person.

‌

‌In addition to University Commencement, each graduating student will be invited to participate in ceremonies hosted by each of our colleges Tuesday, May 14 through Thursday, May 16. These recognition ceremonies, held on-or-near the New School campus, honor each graduating student individually, and provide an important opportunity to engage with faculty and college traditions.

For a full schedule of ceremonies and other events, please visit the Commencement website.

A New Tradition: New School Winter Breakfast

On Wednesday, December 13th, the University Student Senate and Division of Student Affairs hosted our inaugural Winter Breakfast Fest! Hosted in the University Center cafeteria, this event allowed students to take a break from studying for finals to celebrate the end of the semester with delicious food and fellowship, all for free. We look forward to continuing this tradition in the year to come!

Spread some holiday cheer with gifts from The New School Community Market. The market offers beautifully crafted goods created by New School students, alumni, faculty, and staff artists, makers, and designers that will satisfy a range of diverse tastes and interests. From apparel, jewelry, and accessories to fine art, wellness, and home décor items, there’s something to find for a range of tastes with these one-of-a-kind gifts available at thenewstore.nyc