Academic courage, creativity and excellence have been core values at our University since its founding in 1919. These values are rooted in the best traditions of American pragmatism and
were later energized by the brilliant critical visions of the scholars who formed the University in Exile in the middle of the twentieth century. Today, the New School is reinventing and redirecting these values for the twenty-first century, an era characterized by new forms of interaction among nations, disciplines, professions and values.
In this interactive world, the University is engaged once again in an extraordinary act of educational experimentation. We are in the process of bringing together our eight divisions, which represent a unique mix of disciplines. To this fusion our University also brings the resources of New York City, one of the world’s premier gateways for global talent and ideas. To forge a powerful academic vision out of these ingredients, special traditions and remarkable opportunities is a serious intellectual and institutional challenge. In my new role as provost, I am working closely with the academic leaders and faculty of the divisions to explore the best ways to meet this challenge.
I have begun a broad-based planning process that will generate a University-wide Academic Plan over the next months. This plan will build on the distinctive strengths of the divisions, as well as on those themes that capture the strongest cross-divisional enthusiasms. “Bridge themes” such as media and the performing arts, culture and trade, design and globalization, and cities and consumption will be infused with the spirit of critical internationalism and critical democracy. They will join our traditional strengths and new areas we wish to explore in teaching and research.
The academic planning process will be closely linked to other major priorities and projects. We will strengthen and clarify the role and responsibilities of the Faculty Senate, a crucial forum for building faculty links across the University and for incubating ideas. We will complete the revision of our Faculty Appointment Policy, appropriate to our goal of “hiring like a university,” with careful attention to titles, ranks, evaluation and consistency. A priority for the next five years is to find the resources for cross-divisional hiring at all levels, a process that will add to our strengths as a University and generate new areas for experiment and innovation.
In the coming years, this University will have more students, more faculty, improved space, and cutting-edge technologies. The effort to find the resources to support this growth must begin with academic plans, visions and commitments. These are the requirements that my office is dedicated to meeting as we move forward.
I am honored to join the University at this exciting moment in its history.
Arjun Appadurai
Provost, New School University
