The New School is at an important juncture. There is much work to be done to guide a sustainable future for our university, and each of us has a unique contribution to make. Listening to one another, understanding one another’s thoughts and concerns,
and finding ways to strengthen participation and collaboration in university planning and governance will guide this work. This commitment to dialogue, and to creating space for that to take place, builds on an aspiration shared by our community—faculty,
staff, and students—to create a fairer, more equitable New School.
This commitment also entails action. The New School’s Board of Trustees plays an important fiduciary role and has tasked President McBride and Provost White, who have the full support of the trustees, to gather input from all areas of the community and
to formulate a plan to address our current and future needs. Several efforts have already been initiated.
The University Budget Committee (UBC+) has been asked to evaluate proposals
to improve every aspect of The New School’s financial situation. To provide for a collaborative process, the UBC has been temporarily expanded to become the UBC+, which in addition to the existing four faculty members now includes a representative
from the staff senate, a college executive dean, a member of the part-time faculty as well as our two student trustees. The UBC+ will seek viable and bold ideas from across the community that have the potential to yield savings or additional revenue
to match the expected deficit.
University Leadership has also been asked to develop a plan to address the deficit, taking into consideration every aspect of the university, including the findings of the UBC+.
Already underway is the work of the Student Remedies Task Force. Created in January 2023, following the labor negotiations, it is a new example of collaborative solution building. This group is charged with recommending equitable, achievable remedies
for concerns raised by current and graduating students. This work will be completed this spring semester.
In addition to the efforts of these working groups, there will be both small, informal discussion groups and more formal meetings that will create opportunities for candid conversations to help move our community forward together. These dialogues have
already begun and include meetings with the faculty, staff, and student senates and their leaders.
Know Your New School
It’s important for everyone at The New School to have a fundamental understanding of how our university operates in order for this work to succeed. You’ll find much of this information throughout our website; this page brings it together in one place.
Here you’ll find information about:
Check back to find additional resources as they are posted, see status updates on current and future initiatives, and learn how you can take part in this vital work. In addition, visit Higher Ed News to find reporting on some of the challenges in the field of higher education that can provide context.
Be Part of the Change
There will be many ways for each of us to play a part in building our future, and your involvement is essential to The New School’s success. Our senates are one of the most powerful means of helping to shape the university’s path forward. Their many roles
include collecting insights and feedback from our communities and sharing them regularly with university leadership. So get to know your senators and communicate your ideas. This process ensures that all voices will be heard and all opinions will
be respected.
Find links to your senate below.
Faculty Senate
Student Senate
Staff Senate
Visit our Community Messages page to find regular communications related to this initiative.
Collaborating, sharing information, and engaging in critical inquiry animate The New School and will guide our efforts in the coming months. Please visit this webpage often; it is designed to foster dialogue and house resources essential to our community’s
work.