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Parents & Families
August 2010
Dear Students,
I hope you are enjoying the last weeks of summer and looking forward to returning later this month as we begin the 2010-2011 academic year.
As you prepare to join us, whether as a freshman who is moving into residence halls for the first time or as a rising sophomore, junior, or senior who is taking another step towards achieving your dream, I want to remind you that Manhattanville is committed to preparing you, through academic and co-curricular programs, for ethical and socially-responsible leadership in a global community. We achieve this through integrated learning that combines classroom rigor with experiential opportunities, leadership with service, intimate attention with global reach, progressive change with enduring values, social commitment with ethical responsibility, and diversity with community.
In a recent letter to future Manhattanville students, I noted that “Belonging involves bringing everything you have to offer to a community, and in turn, shaping that community.” I look forward to seeing each of you as you inflect and influence our community through your talents and commitments. My dream for each of you is that you will enter a world in which your Manhattanville education continues to rise in value, propelling you towards fulfilling lives as meaningfully engaged citizens of the world. I hope each of you will imbibe values we hold dear at the College, to treat all with dignity, inclusion, and love, to act responsibly and caringly towards those who might be less fortunate, and to always root your actions and behavior, however challenging, in principles that have been strengthened through your Manhattanville education.
As I await your return and the energy that you bring to life on campus, I share the following updates, which I hope will interest you.
Incoming Freshman Class
- The class of 2014 is from 23 states and 17 countries including: Argentina, Canada, China, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, France, Georgia, Guatemala, Honduras, Italy, Japan, Monaco, Nigeria, Spain, Sweden, United Arab Emirates, and the UK.
- Our incoming freshman class includes many who are already community minded and have been dedicated to service by starting clubs and organizations in their high schools and communities for a range of causes: one student started her own newspaper to raise funds for a charity; another ran for city council in New York City’s 2nd District and plans to major in Political Science.
- One student scored a combined SAT of 2300 (out of a possible 2400) and several received perfect scores within individual sections.
- We continue to be a family environment with triplets from Hawaii and many whose siblings are upperclassman or alumni.
Academic Convocation
The official opening of the academic year will take place on Saturday, August 28 at 4:30 pm in the O’Byrne Chapel. Though Academic Convocation concludes Orientation and freshmen typically fill the Chapel, I invite all of you to attend, and see our faculty and staff formally welcome students into the academic community. Academic Convocation, a standard start to the academic year at colleges and universities throughout the world, was formally reinstated last year, and it is a tradition not to be missed.
Facilities:
A. New Residences
Preparations have begun for some seniors and juniors to live in the Cottages on the northern edge of the campus. These Cottages, with oversight by a Resident Director, will prepare you to transition from traditional dorms into semi-self sufficient housing, thus preparing you for work and life post graduation. Please take care of these newest homes for your use; in spirit, they capture a tradition of housing that existed on our old campus in Manhattanville. Alumnae who graduated from the College before 1951 refer fondly to Cottages on the old campus; I hope that as alumni post 2010, you will speak as fondly about our Cottages in future.
We are delighted to report that starting fall 2010 new residences are as follows:
Houston House, named for our first home on Houston St. in NYC, is a six-person residence featuring 2 singles and 2 doubles.
Olmsted House, named for Frederick Law Olmstead who designed portions of our Quad, has a 10-person capacity and features 3 singles and 3 doubles with an additional single occupied by an RA, as well as a shared kitchen, bathroom, and common area.
Burnett House, named for Mother Ruth Burnett – an incredible President who in 1919 ushered radical changes by taking us from an Academy to a College, transforming our curriculum to focus on America, and teaching us to play baseball – is a 3-person loft-style residence.
Duchesne House, named for St. Philippine Duchesne, is open to students interested in furthering the College’s mission of service, and activities at the Duchesne Center. This is a two-story structure with an 8-person capacity located between the Physical Plant and Anderson Hill Road.
Marissa A. Pagli House, named for Marissa whom we lost last year but whose memory and life we will always celebrate, is open to students interested in exploring the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects of wellness in their life. This is a two-story, 9-person house.
Additional housing for 40 upperclassmen will be completed in 2010-11 and will be ready for use by fall 2011.
B. Other Facilities
We are in the process of renovating the physics lab in Brownson Hall which includes new fixtures and cabinetry.
Parts of Founders Hall have new flooring and remodeled bathrooms.
We are looking into other facilities enhancements, such as a Welcome Center, and increasing common spaces for students.
New Residence Life Staff Members
Associate Director of Residence Life
Michelle Eichengreen, B.S. in Business Administration Management from Bryant University and M.B.A. in Human Resource Management from Fitchburg State College, served three years as an Area Coordinator at Dean College and four years as the Coordinator of Residence Education at Roger Williams University.
Non-Traditional Housing RD
Kiara Brown, B.S. Mathematics and minor in Women’s Studies from Muhlenberg College, served one year as Area Coordinator at the University of the Arts and four years as Residence Life Coordinator and Student Activities Coordinator at Cedar Crest College.
Founders Hall RD
Jesse Kimmerle, B.A. in Psychology from SUNY Cortland, served three years as Residence Hall Director at SUNY Cortland.
Spellman Hall RD
Clinton Voltman, B.A. in Psychology and M.A. in Counseling from Montclair State University, served three years as Assistant Community Director at Montclair State University.
Dammann Hall RD
Dustin Lesperance, B.A. in English from Bridgewater State College, served three years as Senior Resident Assistant and two years as Conference and Event Services Office Operations Supervisor at Bridgewater State College.
Tenney Hall RD
Benjamin Grant, B.S. Culinary Arts and Service Management from Paul Smith’s College and M.S. in Student Personnel Administration from Buffalo State College, served as Associate Hall Director for three years at Paul Smith’s and as Resident Director at Collegiate Village, NY.
Student Activities
As you may imagine, summer is the time of year when we are hardest at work, planning new programs for you, and preparing residence halls and academic buildings for your arrival. Here is an overview of some activities planned for 2010-2011:
Welcome Back Week
Kicks off August 29 with a Variety show and runs until September 6. Activities planned include Club Fair, Caribbean BBQ, NYC trips, service opportunities, breakfast with the Dean, and the Welcome Back Party. What a great way to dive right back into life at Manhattanville.
Family Weekend
Takes place from September 24 - 26 and provides an opportunity for families to experience Manhattanville. Here are some of the activities:
Art Exhibition
Dinner in the Dining Hall
Student and Alumni Performances
Fundraising Carwash
State of the College Address
Family BBQ with activities, arts and craft
Afternoon Tea with President Smith
Family Reception & Dinner
Music and Dancing for Everyone!
Farewell Brunch
Special Events and Trips:
- Broadway Shows
- Fall Fest Saturday, October 23
- Feast of San Gennaro in Little Italy Trip
- “200 Nights” Halloween Party
- Six Flags Great Adventure Fright Fest
- Fright Week
- Rockefeller Tree Lighting Ceremony
- Get your passport when the Passport Bus comes to campus in October
- Blood Drive
- Red Madness
- Winter Formal
- Midnight Brunch
Student Activities has other exciting upcoming events and is forming a Campus Activities Board to help plan and collaborate on programming. Please be sure to check the master calendar for updates or contact OSA@mville.edu for more information.
Searches
Director of Student Activities and Commuter Affairs
As you may know Alanna Nolan, Director of Student Activities and Commuter Affairs, has accepted a position at Fordham University as the Assistant Dean for Student Leadership and Community Development. Alanna played a driving role in the success and growth of the Office of Student Activities and Commuter Affairs, and served as mentor to many students and staff. She will be missed by all, but we wish her well in her new role, an incredible opportunity for her to expand her portfolio and career prospects. Brandon Dawson, Dean of Students, has begun a search to fill the position and has convened a committee comprised of faculty, staff, and students. Brandon’s goal is to have a new Director in place close to the start of the new academic year.
Vice President for Admissions and Enrollment Management
A search is underway for a Vice President for Admissions and Enrollment Management. Filling this position will enable us to become more strategic in our recruitment and retention efforts.
VP of Student Life
The search for a VP for Student Life is well underway assisted by Isaacson Miller. Chaired by Provost Simmons, the search committee includes SGA President Amanda Ruderman and David Noel, President of the Black Student Union. The Committee has been charged with identifying to the President by December 2010, a list of three unranked, appointable finalists. We hope to have a new VP in place by January 2011.
Strategic Thinking and Institutional Planning for the next decade
A Committee has organized Strategic Planning into five action areas, and begun to identify Dashboards. Next steps include establishing milestones, determining costs, and assigning leaders. A vision for the next decade will center on Integrated Learning that expands our curricular footprint, strengthens co-curricular learning, and enhances facilities in order to maximize living and learning. I will be reaching out to SGA leaders and others among you for student representation on the Strategic Thinking and Institutional Planning Team.
Foundational initiatives listed below will help us move forward on initiatives and aspirations that we identify in the Strategic Plan.
Faculty and Staff Retreats
Eighty- five faculty members and several staff met on May 24 and 25 to discuss a signature Manhattanville Curriculum and Integrated Learning. Plans are underway for a Staff Retreat in January organized by Academic Affairs and Student Life to discuss co-curricular learning. These annual retreats will help us move forward on initiatives identified in the Strategic Plan. I hope student leaders will join both groups in the future.
Dynamic Campus and IT Services
With significant help from Trustees, input from members of the community, and consultation with faculty leaders, the College has contracted the services of Dynamic Campus, which has a strong history of success in managing college and university Information Technology operations nationally, to assume responsibility for the management of our IT services.
In the course of the next few years, DC will complete several technology-dependent projects, including those identified by members of our community, such as creating a completely wireless campus, providing access to Degree Audit by students and Advisors, strengthening web registration and advising, instituting an E-Portfolio system, etc. This will enable the College to reach key strategic goals identified in our Strategic Plan and ensure that our IT infrastructure and support will become state of the art.
Global Initiatives
UN Academic Impact
We joined the United Nation’s Academic Impact, an initiative by the UN Secretary General for Communications; launch of this initiative will occur on Nov 18th, 2010 and the event will be attended by the President, Provost, and faculty members.
Consortium link with the University of Roehampton in the UK and Sancta Sophia College at the University of Sydney in australia:
Plans are underway for creation of a consortium and launch of an annual symposium to be jointly hosted by Manhattanville, the University of Roehampton, and the Sancta Sophia on subjects of mutual interest. The first on “Social Justice and Global Citizenry” will occur in summer 2011.
University of Paul Valery-Montpellier III Direct Exchange Agreement
Manhattanville College will send two students to study at Montpellier, an ancient Romanesque city located in Southern France, this coming academic year, each for one semester. We will receive a student from Montpellier for the academic year. The agreement includes future possibilities of faculty and graduate student exchanges as well.
Utilization of St. John’s Rome Satellite Campus
Thanks to explorations by Fr. Wil Tyrell, negotiations have begun between Manhattanville College and St. John's University/NY to utilize its Rome, Italy Campus for semester long or short term study abroad and global service learning educational opportunities.
University of Meynooth Exchange
Thanks to the efforts of Dr. Irene Whelan, we hope to initiate an equal exchange of students with the University of Meynooth in Ireland for semester or year-long study. Discussions are underway.
ACE Fellow in Residence
ACE 2010-11 Fellow in residence, Dr. Jennifer Cushman, will bring deep knowledge as we unify, strengthen, and expand our global efforts.
Other Initiatives
Foundations of Excellence
We joined the Foundations of Excellence Project, which will be led by Provost / Academic Affairs.
President’s Advisory Council
A President’s Advisory Council, consisting of alumni and friends of the College, who will function as a “think tank” on new initiatives, directions, and aspirations, will meet annually in the Fall and Spring terms.
President's and Provost's Summer Research Awards
Due to a large and excellent pool of applicants for the “Provost's Summer Research Awards”, additional funding was provided to create a group of "President's Summer Research Awards." Please congratulate the recipients of these awards:
President’s Summer Stipends
- Elizabeth Cherry (Sociology) – “Evaluating Success in the Contemporary Animal Rights Movement”
- Samantha Berkule-Silberman (Psychology) – “Examination Parent-Child Interactions: Effects of a Relationship Based on Pediatric Primary Care Intervention among Latino, Low Socioeconomic Status Families”
- Tony Santucci (Psychology)– “Residual Effects of Concussions on Collegiate Athletes”
- Irene Whelan (History) – Article for Oxford Handbook of the British Sermon “Preaching in the Churches of Ireland”
Provost’s Summer Stipends
- Jeff Bens (English) – “Background Research for a Novel set in Cocoa Beach, Florida”
- Alison Carson (Psychology) – “Examining the Effects of Acculturation on Women’s Body Dissatisfaction Focusing on an Underrepresented Population – Latinos”
- Robin Cautin (Psychology) – “David Skakow’s Contributions to the Field of Psychoanalysis”
- Christine Dehne (Communications) – Lifelog: “My Pregnancy and First Year of My Daughter’s Life”
- Siobhan Nash-Marshall (Philosophy) – Research for "a book on the Problem of Evil which attempts to re-define that Problem”
- Nancy Todd and Wendy McFarlane (Biology) – “Studies of Ecosystems of Barbuda, Lesser Antilles”
- Greg Swedberg (History) – Research Project - “Dangerous Women and Macho Men, Preserving Sexual Difference in Orizaba, Mexico, 1015-1040”
- Juliette Wells (English) – “Book on Modern Cultural Expropriation of Jane Austin”
- Anna Yeung-Cheung (Biology) – “The Improvement of Water Quality by a Combined System of Gunderboom and Floating Garden”
- Nicholas Zoffel (Communications) –Research and Write a Book Manuscript: “SomeBodies(‘) in School”
Faculty Compensation Research
SIBSON has begun research to help us understand our competitiveness on faculty compensation and benefits and to address shortcomings.
Cross-departmental Faculty Hires
The Provost and I have initiated cross-departmental collaboration and expansion of the curricular footprint by calling for proposals from faculty for new hires; a possible first area of focus is on Sports Studies with hires in multiple departments – including possibly Psychology, Biology, English, Communication, and Management – was proposed by a team of faculty and is under consideration.
I will conclude by reporting on progress we have made on several fronts. We have strengthened our relationship with the Town of Harrison, and promised to submit all paperwork and permit requirements on facilities enhancements hereafter. We have been in touch with the NY State Department of Education and ensured timely submission of reports since 2009 from key programs that are supported by state funds. In keeping with federal law, we will this year adhere more closely to the spirit of the requirement that we celebrate Constitution Day on Sept 17th by educating the community about our Constitution; Dean Brandon Dawson is leading this effort with support from many offices, including the Library. Last but not least, we are preparing through Reaccreditation to erase the challenges we faced between 2005/06 and 2008/09 regarding our identity as an institution committed to academic excellence, best practices within the academy, and high levels of accountability and ongoing assessment of all that we do. The Reaccreditation process is going well, and in a single year, we have risen beyond the challenges we faced in past years, thanks to thoughtful and committed leadership by numerous faculty and staff.
With attention to these challenging directions in able hands, well underway, and going swimmingly, I will join you this year in some of your theatre excursions into NYC and host every First Year Seminar for dinner at the Cottage. I also look forward to seeing some of you at small gatherings over tea or supper as part of the Ambassador Lecture series and quarterly Trustee dinners. This year, I will keep office hours in the President’s Conference Room on the second floor of the Castle on Fridays beginning September 3rd from 11 am to noon during which I hope many of you will drop in for tea and conversation. See you all soon.
Best,
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