Dear All, A new academic year, on the heels of 18 months of unprecedented events and adaptations for teaching and learning, is both exciting and cause for some first-day jitters. Everyone has been working hard to ensure a smooth transition for a great on-campus experience. Some unforeseen delays—due, in part, to unusual amounts of rain this summer negatively impacting some spaces—will inevitably occur. But new spaces, designs, and more are set to provide for a terrific experience for students (and the entire community) on both of our New York campuses. Certainly, environmental and policy changes over the past several weeks have allowed us to institute more mechanisms for health and safety. Masks are mandatory for anyone on campus in any indoor space, and vaccinations are mandated (please see President Foley’s August 23 email and read periodic updates from Dr. Brian Harper, our chief medical officer). Additional information can be found on the COVID vaccine information page and the campus reopening web page, which also contains information on in-person teaching (e.g., concerns) and other relevant and helpful items. Reopening plans for both campuses will also provide updated information, while many previously instituted COVID-related procedures (e.g., cleaning) are still in place. Classroom capacities, for instance, have been adjusted to have less seats than pre-pandemic times. We understand that students may have concerns and challenges. We have developed policies to address student attendance requirements for those who are uncomfortable or unable to physically come to campus and who have originally signed-up for an in-person class. Student Success: New Initiatives, Pre-Semester Event ACE: In our ongoing efforts in support of student success, we are continuing the successful Achieving Collegiate Excellence (ACE) program, with the third new cohort to start this fall. In advance, we thank the 41 coaches (we have more than 70 on our roster) who will be working with our students! We have also started a new First Year GUIDE program for all new freshmen to receive early contact and support. Find Your Classroom Event: On Friday September 3, we are offering a special event for new freshmen and sophomores called “Find Your Classroom” at both of our New York campuses. More than 370 students have registered! Thanks to all faculty, chairs, and others who have committed to help out! I can’t wait to see our students and all of you! Financial Literacy Tool: In addition to plans to improve advising this year even more, we are also launching a new financial literacy tool, which will be available to all students (and to everyone at New York Tech). Specific rollouts are planned, but I urge you to tour all of the resources and courses available on iGrad. New Student Success Tool: In addition, a “course” has been developed for students (especially freshmen), called My Guide to Success @ New York Tech, in Canvas. Get details here on these topics: The 411 on College Believe to Achieve Make the Most of your Time at New York Tech Communicating in College Money 101 Financial Literacy II Start off Strong Improve your Time Management Learning and Study Techniques Make Class Count Career Exploration Mental Health Wellness Academic Integrity Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) The CTL is turning its series of conversations with faculty into a podcast. “Teaching So Everyone Can Learn” is a podcast exploring equity in higher education. We talk with faculty about their effective practices and the strategies they use to reach all learners, and how individual faculty can make a difference by examining how they teach. This series is meant for faculty who care about equity in teaching and learning, and want to enable all their students to realize their goals. The CTL is seeking creative, caring faculty members to interview. Suggest yourself or a colleague here. The CTL will continue to offer support through workshops, teaching notes, and on-demand resources. Visit the CTL web page for the current list of offerings and links to archived workshop materials. Academic Technology Services: Dual Audience Teaching All classrooms were outfitted with multiple technologies last year, and we urge you to utilize them to expand reach and enhance the learning experience for your students. Here is some relevant information regarding this technology: The camera has a 120-degree field of view and auto-focuses on the speaker. You can rotate the camera to the desired field of view (either the podium or the classroom). If you are having a class discussion, go sit with your students! Remote students will be able to see everyone who is speaking. To see how the Zoom-enhanced classroom works, watch this YouTube video. One constraint of a dual audience classroom is that the chalk/whiteboard is no longer as effective. Boards have been replaced by the same document camera you used if you were teaching remotely. It is the only way your remote students can see the things you would normally write on the board. If you want to refer to previous pages of your writing, consider bringing a spiral notebook so the pages stay in sequence. Get more tips on using dual audience classrooms here. If you would like a hands-on experience, contact Academic Technology Services by emailing Service Central for a classroom tour. Include your name and contact information, and the day, time, and campus you would like to visit. From Student Engagement and Development on Conduct If you have questions about expectations for student conduct for this year, especially given the pandemic, please review information that will be in the student handbook. It includes what to do if someone is not adhering to mask requirement and other guidelines. This information will also be included in the online FAQs for students and faculty/staff. In addition, a new student attendance policy for in-person classes is forthcoming. I thank you for your work this summer and the upcoming work for yet a new and very different semester. We are all making adjustments and trying to anticipate things that may come up, as we stay in touch with what our colleagues are doing at other institutions. In many situations, there is no one answer to a question, so I appreciate your patience and flexibility in all situations. New York Tech has done very well in supporting the health and wellbeing of our populations and will continue to strive to do so. At the same time, many of you have developed innovative teaching and outreach to students, and I hope you will share those with your colleagues. Here are a few views of some beautiful “new” spaces we have to look forward to—enjoy. Finally, I hope to see you at the virtual New Student Academic Convocation on Friday, September 10. A reminder email will be sent next Tuesday; you can also find more details here. Again, I send these updates with sincere and much gratitude. More than ever, our strengths must include different kinds of agility, from neuro-emotional, learning, trusts, stakeholder (interdependence), and growth agilities (H. Iman, 2020). I look forward to seeing many of you on campus very soon. Regards, Junius J. Gonzales, M.D., M.B.A. Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Copyright © 2021 New York Institute of Technology