Staying Connected and Supporting Our Students

March 31, 2020

Dear Graduate Center Colleagues,

I want to thank you for the way you are responding to all the challenges we are facing because of COVID-19 and to affirm our commitment to our entire community. The Graduate Center's core belief in building knowledge for the public good connects us now more than ever.

Our community has been working hard to care for each other and operate as smoothly as we can. All but jobs requiring physical presence on campus are being performed remotely. All classes have moved online, and faculty and staff are coming up with thoughtful and creative solutions to meet student needs in this new learning environment, from the Center for Teaching and Learning to the library and Student Counseling Center.

I have the good news to report that, just recently, Ph.D. candidate Carolyn Hanesworth (Social Welfare) was among the first of many doctoral candidates to defend her dissertation digitally. You can always check out The Graduate Center posts to our website and social media to stay up to date about our students accomplishments even in these times.

I am also proud to tell you that the Advanced Science Research Center has donated hundreds of boxes of gloves and other critical supplies to New York City care workers and hospitals.

With our classes up and running, our focus is turning now to the other challenges many of our students face. We have heard from many of our students of their immediate needs to cover new child care expenses and care for older relatives, to supplement lost income, to pay their rent, and to pay for urgent travel home to care for at-risk family members.

Fortunately, we already have a Student Emergency Fund in place, which is being utilized to help our students cover their unexpected expenses. My executive team and I have donated to support this effort. And I invite those of you who are in a position to do so to give what you can. You can donate directly online via a secure form on our website.

As always, I appreciate all that you do for The Graduate Center and for our students.

Sincerely,

James Muyskens
Interim President