Phase 2 Report from the Task Force for the Future

Dear Colleagues,

I am pleased to share with you the Phase 2 Report from the Task Force for the Future, a College-wide advisory group that I charged in May to assess the way we deliver education and provide student services in the post-Covid environment.

The Phase 2 Report examines Baruch’s long-term future, building on the first report that focused on a path forward for Baruch’s reopening for the Fall 2020 semester. Immediately after completing the first report in July, the Task Force turned its attention to an examination of what the long-term future of Baruch should be, in response to both the pandemic and the underlying forces that have been driving higher education before Covid-19 emerged.

In response to campus feedback, the Task Force added a fifth subcommittee focusing on the specific needs of Baruch’s staff in this rapidly shifting work environment, which is essential to the College’s mission. In support of this subcommittee’s work, we launched two surveys on “Staff Experience and Concerns” and “Staff Technology.” I am grateful for the time and effort staff members took to provide their feedback.

Save the Date: Next Town Hall

I look forward to discussing the recommendations from this report—as well as results from the two staff surveys—at our next Virtual Town Hall, scheduled for Thursday, October 29, from 12:30 to 2 pm.  An invitation with a link to RSVP will be coming shortly.

Continued Appreciation and Engagement

I want to thank the Task Force members for their thoughtful analyses and recommendations across many academic and administrative areas critical to the future of Baruch. They have done so by broad consultation with the campus community and engaging with key stakeholder groups. By releasing the Task Force report, we are soliciting additional and broader feedback from the entire Baruch community.  Everyone’s input and ideas are invaluable as we look to the future for Baruch College, and I will be counting on your participation.

Sincerely,

S. David Wu
President, Baruch College