Ann Newman
Greetings to all attendees and potential attendees of the North Atlantic SCUP annual spring conference! If you are not yet a member I certainly hope that the quality of the program at this conference will entice you to join. SCUP is a wonderful organization and a great resource for those of us charged with planning our campuses. The conference co-chairs and I are very excited to bring NASCUP back to New York City. Home to numerous institutions of higher education, large and small, New York is a dynamic setting for our conference. We are also excited to be at The New School this year and in their sensational new University Center, opened in 2014.
The new University Center, a striking embodiment of The New School’s mission of challenging the status quo, provides a new focal point for the downtown New York City campus. At the intersection of 13th Street and Fifth Avenue, the forward-thinking design reflects The New School’s commitment to creativity, innovation, and social engagement. The 16-story building, which opened in January 2014, is designed to accommodate a decade of transformation and growth in The New School’s academic programs and student population. The University Center offers state-of-the-art classrooms, a library-research center, a new auditorium, a cafeteria and an event café, and a 600-bed student residence. All our students will find crucial resources in the University Center, including spaces deliberately designed to promote collaborative, interdisciplinary learning — a cornerstone of the educational philosophy of The New School.
Described as “a celebration of the cosmopolitan city” by the New York Times‘ Nicolai Ouroussoff and “a great addition to a great New York institution” by Mayor Michael Bloomberg, the University Center is one of Manhattan’s most ambitious and innovative new buildings.
Our theme, “Behind the Headlines: How Institutions Are Innovating to Meet the New Reality,” came out of a discussion at the regional council planning retreat, where the myriad of articles about issues facing higher education — enrollments, demographics, closures, race, affordability, relevancy, etc. — made us all wonder how colleges and universities are dealing with these ever-changing new realities. This theme will be addressed by our plenary speakers, concurrent sessions, and tours.
Learn from your peers, tour the University Center, and take part in optional tours including the High Line, NYU, and Fordham University.
Looking forward to seeing you there!
Ann Newman is the regional chair of the SCUP North Atlantic Regional Council. She is also the director of campus planning at the Rhode Island School of Design in Providence, Rhode Island.
