The Provost's Newsletter: Fall 2023

Welcome New Faculty!

As we begin this new academic year, we are thrilled to welcome our new faculty members to our growing family. At the Faculty Convocation on August 29, we celebrated our newest full-time tenure-track and visiting faculty members from a variety of disciplines. Check out the New Faculty 2023 brochure and accompanying addendum—and join us in welcoming this group as they embark upon their journey at St. John’s University.

The Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship to Launch this Semester

Institutions of higher education represent some of the most concentrated communities of scholars and collective expertise engaged in discovery and research, and we are excited to launch the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) this fall. Although we are still finalizing details, the CIE will represent a University-wide, dynamic, and forward-thinking center supporting students and faculty in their pursuit of groundbreaking ideas and sustainable business ventures.

The CIE’s mission is to empower innovators and entrepreneurs, providing them with the knowledge, resources, and networks necessary to transform their visions into successful, market-ready products and services. Our vision is to be the premier hub for innovation and entrepreneurship in Queens, driving economic growth and societal progress.

Some of the key initiatives of the CIE include

1. An array of educational programs, including workshops, seminars, and courses, which will equip entrepreneurs with skills and knowledge required to navigate the business world effectively.
2. A supportive incubator environment for startup companies and early-stage ventures by offering mentorship, access to funding opportunities, and facilities to help businesses flourish.
3. Serving as a networking hub, connecting entrepreneurs, investors, and industry leaders.

As we continue our planning, the CIE is committed to expanding its reach and influence. We plan to launch new initiatives within the innovation and entrepreneurship space, such as sustainability and social impact, and we aim to further our partnerships with local and global stakeholders to create a robust ecosystem.

Enrollment Management Update

With the Fall 2023 semester officially underway, we are excited to welcome approximately 2,700 new first-year students, 300+ new undergraduate transfer students, and 1,300+ new graduate students to the University. 

In an increasingly competitive enrollment landscape, the departments and offices within Enrollment Management have done a tremendous job optimizing search approaches, identifying new sources of student search, modifying a financial aid leveraging strategy, creating personalized and customized communications to prospective students and their families, and conducting numerous outbound campaigns to connect with students and their families throughout the enrollment process. In addition, Enrollment Management continues to seek new opportunities for pre-enrollment partnerships to strategically expand and solidify student pathways to St. John’s.

We would like to take a moment to recognize and thank the many members of the St. John’s community who have assisted in our enrollment efforts this year, including members of the Faculty Engagement Initiative who contacted approximately 2,000 admitted and deposited students through personalized outreach. In addition, thank you to the Parent and Family University presenters and coordinators who offered more than 20 virtual information sessions to 1,400 family members of our incoming students, as well as the coordinators and participants of the Explore and More program that provided deposited students with the unique opportunity to connect with many members of our incredible community at Broadway shows, on boat cruises around New York City, while visiting The Met, at professional sporting events, and more.

A sincere thank you to all members of our community who participated in our enrollment events throughout the year. We appreciate your time and commitment to our incoming students and their families and recognize that it truly takes an entire University community to enroll a student.

Looking ahead to the next incoming class, we are excited to continue a new interdepartmental collaboration between the Office of the Provost, Office of Marketing and Communications, Enrollment Management, and individual academic departments that directly address marketplace demand for graduate education. Through this initiative, select graduate programs will be identified for optimization to ultimately drive graduate enrollment.

Upcoming Enrollment Management Events: Save the Date!

Please mark your calendars for our upcoming Open House and Showcase events, including

Undergraduate Open House on Saturday, October 14, and Sunday, November 5, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Graduate Showcase on Wednesday, October 18, at 6 p.m.

Student Financial Services

During the 2022–23 academic year, the Office of Student Financial Services awarded a total of $521 million in financial aid, including $307.5 million in University aid. In total, 95 percent of all students—both undergraduate and graduate—received financial aid, including 99 percent of undergraduate students.

The FAFSA is Changing

Beginning with the 2024–25 academic year, the federal financial aid process is experiencing a significant change to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA^®). The FAFSA Simplification Act has brought about a change in the FAFSA^® form, the application process, and the federal need analysis calculation. The Student Financial Services team, along with colleagues in the field, have spent the summer learning from the US Department of Education about these changes and their impact on policies and procedures.

The good news for our students is the FAFSA^® will have fewer questions and families will be able to consent to the use of tax information from the Internal Revenue Service. The US Department of Education believes the changes in federal need analysis calculation will expand Federal Pell Grant eligibility. To account for all these changes, the FAFSA^® application is scheduled for release in December (in recent years, it has been available as early as October 1).

Office of International Education

This summer, the Office of Global Programs continued to see the revival of international programs postpandemic, with more than 75 participants from three countries attending in-person programs on the Queens, NY, campus. In addition, more than 30 students from 11 countries were enrolled in the online EducationUSA Academy Connects program. Nearly 180 students will participate in study abroad this semester, and almost 140 more are participating in Global Online Learning Exchange (GOLE) courses. 

In addition, St. John’s welcomed more than 200 undergraduate and graduate international students to the University this fall. To showcase all of this activity at St. John’s, we will participate in International Education Week from November 13 to 17, with a full calendar of events highlighting global engagement at St. John’s. Look for a calendar of events soon!

New University Core Curriculum: Faculty and Adviser Training Workshops

Two training workshops were held in August to introduce faculty and advisers to the new University core curriculum. Sponsored by the University Core Curriculum Faculty and Advisers Training Working Group, the overall goal of the training was to familiarize those who advise with the spirit and coherence of the new core, as well as provide guidance on how best to approach the advising process with students. Members of the working group include Jacqueline Grogan, Ed.D., M.B.A., Associate Provost for Enrollment Partnerships and Engagement, Enrollment Management; Jeremiah Hickey, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Communication Studies; Joanne Llerandi, Assistant Provost and University Registrar, Office of the Registrar; Dallas Maddox, Chief Data Officer, Office of the Provost; André McKenzie, Ed.D., Vice Provost, Academic Support Services and Faculty Development, Office of the Provost; and Cynthia R. Phillips, Ed.D., Executive Director, Center for Teaching and Learning and Office of Online Learning and Services, and Associate Professor, Department of Accountancy.

Key areas of discussion included why we are implementing the new core; what it is designed to do; and how we can communicate to students its spirit and value, choices, and the interconnectedness of courses. Faculty panelists spoke to the relevance and importance of their respective disciplines to the core. Panelists included Phyllis Conn, Ph.D., Associate Professor and Director, Institute for Core Studies; Rev. Patrick Flanagan, C.M., Chair and Associate Professor, Department of Theology and Religious Studies; Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D., Chair and Associate Professor, Department of Philosophy; Kathleen K. Marks, Ph.D., Chair and Associate Professor, Arts and Humanities; and Nerina Rustomji, Ph.D., Chair and Professor, Department of History.

Participants also received information on recommended course pairings for first-year students that indicate the likelihood of enrollment progression at the University and accessing student advisement reports through DegreeWorks. Attendees included those from the deans’ offices, Center for Student Success, University Libraries, University Honors Program, and the Office of International Education.

Workshop attendees were subsequently enrolled in the University Core Curriculum Advisement Resources Canvas course with access to the New Core Curriculum Advising Guide. 

Those who also want access to the guide should email Cindy Phillips ([email protected]) and request enrollment in the course. A student version of the guide can be accessed on the University Core Curriculum webpage.

The next workshop is tentatively scheduled for March 6. Registration information will be shared in early spring.

Requirement Reminder: Equity Advocate Training Program

In preparation for Fall 2024 faculty hiring, all Personnel & Budget (P&B) committee members are required to complete all modules of the Equity Advocate training program offered through the Academic Center for Equity and Inclusion.

The critical purpose of the Equity Advocate training program is to ensure that all faculty hiring processes utilize fair, consistent, and equitable practices. Having all P&B committee members trained through this program is a promising practice that complements our existing antiracism, equity, and inclusion initiatives.

The curriculum includes three modules: The Role of the Equity Advocate, Understanding the Social Justice Frameworks for the Faculty Hiring Process, and Tools and Tips for Conducting an Equitable Hiring Process.

Please contact the Academic Center for Equity and Inclusion to learn more about the program. Further information will be provided when additional trainings become available.