Futures Initiative

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The Futures Initiative advocates greater equity and innovation in higher education at every level of the university. Housed at the Graduate Center and reaching throughout the CUNY community, the Futures Initiative empowers the next generation of intellectual leaders with bold, public, and engaged teaching and learning. With an emphasis on student-centered practices, the Futures Initiative redefines graduate preparation to include translation of specialized research into the best undergraduate teaching, including for those from disadvantaged backgrounds. The Futures Initiative also fosters greater understanding of the complexities of the higher education landscape by spearheading data-driven research in areas critical to institutional change. Through HASTAC@CUNY (a hub of the online network Humanities, Arts, Science and Technology Alliance and Collaboratory), the Futures Initiative extends its collaborative peer-to-peer practices across institutions, disciplines, national boundaries, and economic and social disparities, promoting reinvestment in higher education as a public good.

Visit The Future Initiative's Website

Sign Up for Our Monthly Newsletters

The Futures Initiative shares announcements, event information, and news from the community in a monthly newsletter. Read our past issues below and sign up to receive monthly updates.
 

Summer 2015
Spring 2015

Winter 2015 (PDF)
Fall 2014 (PDF)

On the FI Blog

More Like This
Apr 7, 2022

Course Announcement: Global Feminisms

Learn about Global Feminisms (Fall 2022) course with Prof. Saadia Toor (Women’s and Gender Studies, The Graduate Center | Sociology, College of Staten Island) and Prof. Chaumtoli Huq (CUNY School of Law)

Learn about the course

  • Announcement
Nov 21, 2021

Call for Team-Taught Courses (Fall 2022/Spring 2023)

Apply now to teach a team-taught course at the Graduate Center and serve as a Futures Initiative Faculty Fellow! Read the post.

  • Announcement
May 4, 2021

2020-2021 Lennihan Arts & Sicences Grant Winners

Congratulations to this year’s recipients of the Louise Lennihan Arts and Sciences grants! Each recipient will present about their work in a Fall 2021 event. Read on to learn more about each interdisciplinary project. Read the post.

  • Congratulations/Kudos

Latest News

Mar 8, 2023

End of the English Major? Hardly!

Graduate Center scholars say "The New Yorker" story is a clarion call, but the humanities remain relevant.

  • GC Stories
  • Faculty News

Jan 24, 2023

ChatGPT Guidance for the CUNY Classroom

Graduate Center experts weigh in on how professors can reap the benefits and avoid the pitfalls of ChatGPT.

  • GC Stories
  • Faculty News
  • Student News
  • Alumni News

Who We Are

Cathy Davidson Faculty

Cathy N. Davidson

Founding Director

  • Futures Initiative

Distinguished Professor

  • English

Distinguished Professor

  • Digital Humanities

Distinguished Professor

  • Data Analysis and Visualization

Distinguished Professor

  • American Studies

Director of HASTAC@CUNY

Lauren Melendez

Lauren Melendez

Administrative Specialist, Director of Undergraduate Leadership Program

  • Futures Initiative