President's Monthly Report

President's Monthly Report- June 2021

Dear College Community,

Happy Summer! I hope you have the opportunity to rest, rejuvenate, and reconnect with love ones this summer.  This past month we were engaged in a whirlwind of activity.  While we did not have in person commencement activities, we did our best to celebrate our graduates given our current context. 

I was proud to participate in KCC's first (virtual) Lavender Graduation which was a beautiful celebration of not only the accomplishments of our LBGTQIA+ graduates, but a celebration of our community of allies that support the success of students and each other. I was so moved by this experience that I paid tribute to the KCC Safe Zone Program in my recent Kingsborough Corner article.

Prior to their in-person Nursing Pinning Ceremony, our nursing graduates had the opportunity to pick up their pins in person. It was heartwarming to see our soon to be front line workers and the incredible Nursing faculty and staff reunited and excited to see each other.  A few graduates were able to pick up their cap and gowns on campus; and all graduates were afforded the opportunity during Commencement week with their family to take pictures on campus. 

On Commencement morning, I along with 15 faculty members boarded public transportation and set off in our cars (decked out in our academic regalia) to visit 23 graduates at their homes  in three boroughs to gift them with alumni SWAG. Thank you to all  faculty who participated in our first Commencement Caravan. It was an incredible way to bring joy to our graduates after such a challenging year.  You can check out highlights of their visits here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhuNCJfrnrk.  I made it back just time for me and Provost Russell to deliver our commencement remarks live from the PAC along with our phenomenal Valedictorian Alan Santana, awesome Commencement Speaker, Alumna Dr. Nancy Lee Sanchez prior to the launch of the Marching Order Graduate Salute site.  It is my sincere hope that next year we will be able to once again gather in person under the tent to celebrate our students for achieving their academic goals. Special Thank YOU to the Commencement Committee and all those who made this special time of year extra special for our graduates and their families.  Thank you also to the Dean's List, Awards Ceremony, Phi Theta Kappa Induction Ceremony and KCC Pride committees for their efforts in planning and implementing events that celebrate our students and members of our college community.

Our month ended in specular fashion with our first virtual and very successful Gala.  We went BIG for Brooklyn and KCC by honoring our own Mary Dawson, alumna Iris Clarke, KCC's native son David Gomez and the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce. During the pre-Gala reception we were honored to have KCC grad and MasterChef contestant Chef Shelly conduct a cooking demonstration for honorees and special guests.   Special thank you to the Division of Institutional Advancement and Marketing and Communication and all those who made this Virtual Gala a resounding success. 

I can't say thank you enough to the members of the KCC Forward Committee for their work throughout the last year, in moving with mindfulness and always planning with the health and safety of the campus community at the fore throughout this past year. Thank YOU to  the larger campus community for your input into several aspects of the plan and for your help in shaping the final plan.  Our Plan was submitted to the Central Office and is currently under review.  

This past month the University released the Preliminary Performance Management Process Databook (https://www.cuny.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/page-assets/about/administration/offices/oira/institutional/data/current-student-data-book-by-subject/PMP_2021_University_Databook_PRELIM_2021-06-01.pdf).  

A summary of our Performance on Key Indicators (compared to last year) by our Office of Institutional Effectiveness is as follows:

Improvements

  • Percent of students who are Underrepresented Minorities (URM)

  • Percent of students who are Black

  • Percent of students who are Hispanic

  • Fall to fall First Time/ Full Time (FTFT) ( retention

  • Fall to fall FTFT retention of URM

  • URM retention gap

  • Three-year graduation rate

  • Graduation + transfer rate (of freshmen)

  • Conversion from College Now

  • Research awards (three-year average)

  • ASAP three-year graduation rate

  • Enrollments in STEM

  • Percent of budget spent on student services, instruction, and departmental research

Declines

  • Two-year graduation rate

  • Transfer rate (of AA/AS graduates)

  • Male/female retention gap

Unchanged

  • Percent of faculty who are minorities

 

Vice President Fox will be sharing his report on recent, current and upcoming IE activities related to the PMP, assessment, institutional effectiveness, Middle States, Strategic Planning and Governance. 

We are still awaiting word regarding the details of the NYC Budget. More information will be forthcoming.  

Colleagues, our enrollment continues be an area of concern.  VP Rivera continues to send weekly reports.  As you saw from the most recent report, we lag behind in continuing student enrollment.  We engaged in an aggressive marketing campaign for new and transfer students and continue to conduct outreach to continuing and readmit students.

I will provide critical updates as information becomes available.  I look forward to the campus springing back to life with the return of staff on August 2nd. Until then, continue to be safe while enjoying these beautiful summer days.

 

-President Schrader