As we've finally entered Spring and its begun to warm up, I am delighted to share with you again remarkable news about the College of Arts and Science at New York University.
In my conversations with alumni, parents, and friends of the College, I continue to reiterate our mission: to maintain our status as the premier global College of Arts and Science in the country. We embrace liberal arts as the best and most well-rounded course of study, and we believe that global education is foundational to succeeding in a global world. Our vision includes innovating a liberal arts curriculum which ensures student success in the twenty-first century. Our students should grow to become inspired, lifelong learners; they should become social citizens civically engaged in their respective communities; and they should be capable of having a professional impact on the world. The access, affordability, and advancement of higher education frame the strategy by which we seek to achieve such student success in the College.
I am proud to say that we have been making great strides in achieving some of our biggest priorities. Regarding our innovation of the curriculum, we have partnered with the Center for Data Science and the Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences to develop a degree in data science, the courses for which students should be able to begin taking in academic year 2019-2020. We also are working to develop memoranda of understanding by which our best CAS pre-professional students could be ideal candidates for admission to the highly-ranked NYU schools of business, medicine, or law. These initiatives—with more in the pipeline—attest not only to the increasing excellence and diversity of our students, but also to the robust foundation of liberal arts education, taught by our distinguished faculty, on which they are poised to build successful careers.
As part of our effort to improve and enhance STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) education, the College, on behalf of NYU, has just won a grant from the Association of American Universities (AAU), the organization representing the foremost research universities in the United States, to explore new ways to improve teaching and student engagement in STEM courses. The proposal—Excellence in Undergraduate Laboratory Sciences Instruction by Design—was one of only 12 university proposals across the country to receive an AAU STEM Network Mini-Grant. Led by NYU President Andrew Hamilton, the program will bring together a group of select NYU faculty in STEM disciplines to form the Faculty Innovators Network. During the two-year effort, Network members will plan, pilot, and evaluate stages of exploring new models of instructional effectiveness for undergraduate laboratory coursework. Members will also be involved in the redesign of NYU’s teaching laboratories in the College.
The College also has had specific number of exciting events in the past couple of months. One such example is our very first CAS Declaration Day, which took place on March 13. After a season of open houses held by our many departments, students who declared their new major were invited to come to their new home base at the College to receive a major-specific pin and celebrate taking this important step in their academic careers. Students flocked to social media to share images and status updates as they declared their majors, and members of CAS Student Council even held its own event to celebrate the newly declared majors among their classmates. I am overjoyed by the response that we have had to this new tradition and look forward to next year’s CAS Declaration Day!
As we look forward to welcoming the Class of 2023, it’s astonishing to see how much the College has grown in the past year. Out of the close to 85,000 university-wide applications, a little more than 38,000 were to CAS, an increase from last year’s amount of about 33,000 applications. Whereas last year’s rate of admission was 13%, this year it has fallen to an all-time low of 9%, making the College more selective than even some Ivy League peers. The median SAT scores of our applicants have also risen to an all-time high of 1490. Finally, the top five states from which students have applied are New York, California, New Jersey, Florida, Massachusetts.
For many reasons, it’s a very exciting time to be at the College. As the Dean of the College of Arts and Science, witnessing the continued dedication to our mission and to creating new traditions has been overwhelmingly rewarding. I am excited to continue moving forward together.
Unique to CAS, the College Cohort Program offers all CAS first-year students the opportunity to build a small community within CAS that is diverse in intellectual range, serves as a crucible for debate and scholarship, and fosters a welcoming and supportive home. Centering on three key principles— College Life, Academic Inquiry, and Service—in students' First and Second years in the program, cohorts focus on building community and helping students adjust to life in college and in New York City. In the later years, the Cohort Program works to help students think about life after CAS. College Leaders are either Sophomores, Juniors, or Seniors who serve as student mentors to each new cohort.
After two days of training and team building, Transfer Orientation Volunteers were ready to welcome new students to CAS with energy and excitement during Transfer Orientation in January!
Over 130 new transfer students joined the CAS community this spring!
Dean Jarrett began a new tradition this year, sharing dinner with representatives from each of our 44 first-year cohorts over the course of two nights in February. Students shared their experiences from the first year so far, their thoughts on the Cohort Program and all things CAS and NYU--and offered advice on what they would do if they were Dean for a day (Photos 1, 2, 3, above).
03 | Proud To Be First
First Generation Alumni Panel, co-sponsored by Proud to Be First and the Wasserman Center for Career Development First Class Program
Proud to Be First was delighted to co-host, along with the Wasserman Center for Career Development’s First Class Program, the fourth annual First Generation Alumni Panel on Tuesday, February 5, 2019, from 6:00 - 7:30 pm. The event was held at the Wasserman Center and brought together 52 attendees to hear from a panel of alumni followed by networking. Alexandra Cordero, PhD, Assistant Director of Proud to Be First, welcomed the guests and introduced Joanne Garcé-Rodriguez, Senior Associate Director of Multicultural & Global Programs at NYU's Wasserman Center for Career Development, who moderated the event.
The panel, pictured below, consisted of three CAS alumni from the fields of medicine, law, and retail/merchandising: Kevin Chan (CAS ’14), third-year medical student at Cornell-Weill Medical College; Jason Jurgens (CAS ’96, Journalism & History), Partner at law firm, Jones Day; and Diana Chen (CAS ’08, Psychology), Senior Manager of Merchandising and Retailing at Soko Glam. The panel was moderated by Joanne Garcé-Rodriguez. The panelists spoke about aspects of being first-generation students at CAS and NYU, and how their academic and professional experiences led them to where they are today. They discussed challenges they faced when they first arrived at NYU, such as commuting and not knowing anyone, not knowing about available resources, finding community, and having family obligations that other students did not have. They spoke about ways that their NYU experience has been critical to their successes. These included networking and finding mentors, and having internships and work experiences that enabled them to build relationships. Panelists emphasized the importance of taking risks and using one’s college years to explore and ask questions, and remembering that figuring out what one doesn’t want to do can be as important as figuring out what one wants to do. The panel concluded with a question-and-answer session which gave attendees the opportunity to follow up on topics that piqued their interest, and to win prizes offered by Think Coffee. The event culminated with mixing and mingling, along with food and refreshments.
Ninety-four percent of attendees reported that hearing first-generation alumni stories helped them feel motivated and empowered toward their academic and pre-professional development and 89% of attendees reported that as a result of attending the panel, they felt more energized to start or continue their career exploration.
04 | Pre-Professional Advising
Each spring the Prelaw advising team turns their focus to career exploration. After hosting fall events focused on the law school application process, this team uses the spring to help students think about what happens after they complete law school. “Exploring Legal Careers,” co-sponsored with the Wasserman Center for Career Development, is a yearly highlight of their career-centric calendar.
On the evening of February 13th, attorneys from a wide variety of professional backgrounds -- ranging from partners in big firms to solo practitioners, from corporate counsel to lawyers working for New York City, at all stages of their career -- came to the Wasserman Center to talk to undergraduates about their experiences practicing law. Attorneys circulated between tables of undergraduates, and spent 10 minutes at each speaking with students and answering questions before moving on to another table.
Students turned out in force to speak to our guests, and loved having the opportunity to learn about law from current practitioners!
Exploring Legal Careers
05 | Academic Achievement Program
The AAP Family packed the Silver Center Heights Lounge during its Spring Welcome that took place on Thursday, January 31st 2019.
The 4th Annual GQ Retreat served the purpose of strengthening the brotherhood and bond among men of color on campus while it helped them become better and stronger leaders in their respective communities.
The first womxn’s retreat in collaboration with WEST had been years in the making and was an opportunity to come together to confront and tackle the issues that womxn of color face while developing lifelong relationships and lasting memories.
At the Annual Academic Achievement Program Alumni Mixer, we celebrated alumni across the past three decades to commemorate the 30th Anniversary of the program.
AAP joined CAS International Students and Proud to Be First on an overnight scholarly excursion of Washington D.C. which included visits to the MLK Monument, Smithsonian Museums, the Capitol Building, and more.
The 24thAnnual Golden Rose Senior of the Year, Court, and Woman of the Year (from left to right): Jonelle Boafo, Senior of the Year; Victoria Rodriguez, Iris Carbonel, Paola Ponce, and Kaylen Hayes; Taylor Fordham,Woman of the Year; and Fehintola Akesode.
06 | International Students
The CAS Advising International Team commenced 2019 with a host of lively and compelling events for the College’s international student population. For instance, the team sponsored an excursion to the New York Philharmonic for a special Lunar New Year concert and introduced students to NBA basketball with an entertaining and hard-fought game between two playoff-bound teams, the Brooklyn Nets and Portland Trailblazers. In addition, colleagues from the Office of Global Services (OGS) have twice presented about visa considerations and work authorization for international students seeking professional opportunities. The team has also initiated a monthly professional development series, with a first session offered in February on Valentine’s Day covering Love Letters & Cover Letters. The team’s March luncheon introduced different service and volunteer opportunities to attendees. Early in March, the team hosted a trip to the Metropolitan Opera to take in a performance of Verdi’s Aida, and, over spring break, the International Team partnered with the Academic Achievement Program (AAP) and Proud to Be First Program to bring a large group of CAS students to Washington D.C. for a three-day visit to the nation’s capital. Future events this semester include a docent-led tour of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) on March 29, a performance by St. Luke’s Orchestra at Carnegie Hall on April 18, and celebrations in May for graduating seniors and winners of the upcoming 2019 CAS International Photo Contest.
In April, all returning international students were notified of two key upcoming opportunities: (1) April elections to join the Elected Board of the CAS International Student Club (ISC); and (2) a call for applicants to serve as student mentors in the CAS International Student Mentor Program during the Fall 2019 semester. The CAS ISC hosts all sorts of events for the international student community in CAS and provides a home base for international students to build social connections and assume meaningful leadership roles. The mission of the CAS International Student Mentor Program is to support new international students starting out at NYU and in NYC. In this dynamic program, mentors and mentees spend time together in one-on-one meetings, group gatherings, and social activities around the city, all sponsored by CAS. Involvement in the program offers a fun way for participants to develop leadership skills and foster community among international students in CAS. Interested students should refer to the weekly International Edition newsletter for more information.
Finally, the International Team’s annual CAS International Photo Contest received a robust number of entries from students who have traveled abroad during a Scholars trip or as a study-away student. Winning entries will be hung as a gallery for one year in Conference Room 907 in the Dean’s Suite of the Silver Center and will be featured here in our summer edition of College News.
Students enjoying the Brooklyn Nets Portland Trailblazers game at Barclays Arena.
Students engage in a social activity as part of the CAS International Student Mentor Program (photos one and two, below).
Jackie Chin from the OGS presents on work authorization for international students as part of the January 31, 2019 International Team luncheon.
07 | Presidential Honors Scholars
Presidential Honors Scholars
The top ten percent of the entering first-year class is invited to join the Presidential Honors Scholars Program. Students may also apply for entry after they have matriculated, having demonstrated outstanding academic achievement and a commitment to leadership and service.
Students participating in the Presidential Honors Scholars Program have the opportunity to enrich their academic and cultural experience in the College.
Scholars participate in a Scholar Seminar in the first and second years that provides guidance and faculty mentoring focused on developing and building the skills needed for research at the honors level. Advanced Honors Seminars are also available in the second and third years.
Scholars apply for a grant from the Dean’s Undergraduate Research Fund (DURF). Grant recipients present their research findings at the CAS Undergraduate Research Conference, and have their abstracts published in Inquiry, the College’s annual journal for undergraduate research.
Scholars achieve a 3.65 GPA.
Scholars complete the Honors track in their major. This includes taking special courses, undertaking a research project, and writing a thesis prior to graduation.
Scholars have the opportunity to participate in the Scholars Lecture Series, cultural activities, community service, and service–learning projects.
Scholars study away at one of the sites in the NYU Global Network.
Students interested in joining the Program in the spring term prior to their sophomore year apply by:
Uploading the following: personal statement and current transcript.
Freshman Presidential Honors Scholars Florence. At NYU Florence, Scholars had the opportunity to attend lectures by NYU Florence Faculty and visit Villa La Pietra with its house museum and formal gardens.
Sophomore Presidential Honors Scholars Prague. Terezin was a concentration camp 30 miles north of Prague in the Czech Republic during the World War II. The woman seated in the center of the photo is a 93 year-old survivor of Terezin and the group's highlight of the trip.
Sophomore Presidential Honors Scholars Athens. The group had the opportunity to visit the Hellenic Parliament and sit down with the Honorable Aristides Baltas, member of Parliament, Former Minister of Education and Culture, and Professor of Philosophy at the National Technical University of Athens.
The College’s Undergraduate Research Conference was held on Friday, May 3, 2019. Submission highlights will appear in our Summer Edition of College News!
08 | CAS Summer Abroad
What impact does ‘smart’ city planning have on society? How can infrastructure and buildings from bygone eras be updated to meet 21st century needs? How can public transportation systems be better designed to serve the urban population?
Tackling these questions requires an interdisciplinary analytic approach, and Urban Design in London is the program to help you get started. The College of Arts and Science is pleased to offer this 4-week intensive at NYU London in the dynamic Bloomsbury neighborhood. Led by Professor Mosette Broderick, Clinical Professor of Art History and Director of the Urban Design and Architecture Studies program, students in a variety of disciplines converge in the British capital to gain practical knowledge in a variety of topics. In coursework, readings and day trips, they discuss preservation, infrastructure, transportation, adaptive re-use, ecological concerns and other subjects related to urban planning and architectural practice. Using London as a case study, students are encouraged to engage with the city from every angle, from its street corners to its mass transit system to its public housing structures and more. All participants enroll in ARTH-UA 9650.005 Exploring British Architecture. They also have the option to enroll in ARTH-UA 9804 Independent Study to explore more individual interests related to the coursework.
Students will also compare urban redevelopment and city planning through the lens of British architectural history with visits to some of England’s most renowned sites and manor houses. Among the highlights in London, students will visit and study Westminster Abbey, the Houses of Parliament, and St. Paul’s, while day trips allow the group to explore Oxford, Bath, Stonehenge and Blenheim Palace, ancestral home of Winston Churchill’s family. Through every architectural encounter, Urban Design in London students build on their knowledge and gain practical experience for future careers.
Gain invaluable international exposure with Urban Design in London or check out one of the other unique CAS Summer Abroad programs for your own incredible experience: http://www.nyu.edu/summer/abroad/cas.
Taking in a lovely summer evening in one of London's many reconfigured public spaces.
09 | CAS Alumni Relations
IN CONVERSATION WITH Marie Iida (CAS ’06), Interpreter on Netflix’s “Tidying Up with Marie Kondo”
What drew you to start working in translation?
I grew up moving back and forth between the United States and Japan. Both cultures make up my identity, but it can be isolating because you never feel quite at home in either one. I was drawn to work in translation because it turns being “in-between” into an advantage. After graduating from NYU, I returned to Japan for work. My ability to speak and write in English naturally led to roles as an unofficial interpreter and translator, but I did not have formal training back then. Once I finished graduate school at Columbia University back in New York, I started to seriously study interpretation.
What is it like acting as Marie's interpreter on “Tidying Up with Marie Kondo”?
To be honest I wasn’t even sure how much I would appear on screen, so I approached it as any other interpretation work. But once we started filming, it was so much more complex than I had anticipated. There were so many people moving around and talking at once! Thankfully, we had an incredible crew who steered us and made the whole show come together.
Had you worked with Marie Kondo prior to the show?
I’ve worked as Marie’s interpreter on a freelance basis for about three years now. She first asked me to interpret for her presentation at Japan Society in New York City. I love working with confident, courageous women, and Marie is definitely someone with a clear sense of self.
Have you incorporated her tidying up methods and philosophy into your personal life?
During filming, I would fold dozens of clothes with Marie so I became quite adept at it. I find her folding technique efficient and practical. I tend to tidy without much thought so her philosophy is a little trickier to incorporate. But it’s a beautiful reminder to slow down and appreciate the things and people in your life. Her philosophy is rooted in Japanese culture and custom, but it touches on an innate, universal desire — to feel safe and comfortable in our homes — so it’s no wonder that it has resonated with a global audience.
Has anything surprised you about working on the show?
I never expected so many viewers to be interested in the interpreter’s role. It made me appreciate the innovative ways this show uses sound, editing, and subtitles to incorporate interpretation. I hope that this show can pave the way for more multicultural perspectives to be represented on streaming TV regardless of a language barrier.
You also write short stories. What is the inspiration for your stories?
I think my short stories are my way of processing what I see and what’s going on in the world. I wrote Mr. Yunioshi, a reimagining of the infamous neighbor in the film, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, because I felt it was about time that he gets to tell his own story. I also felt that Truman Capote had very different ideas about the character when he wrote the original novella. I wanted to portray Yunioshi as someone with agency and a voice and free him from the skewed Japanese stereotype with which he has always been associated.
What advice do you have for students or alumni who are interested in a career as a translator?
Different skills are required depending on the field of interpretation or translation you want to work in, so it’s important to find mentors who are willing to share their experiences with you. Present yourself as a professional no matter how small the job and be honest with yourself about the mistakes you’ve made—keep a log of phrases and words you’ve missed along with solutions. And read widely and deeply to expand your vocabulary.
What is next for you?
I’m currently co-translating a three-volume crime thriller from Japanese to English with an amazing literary translator and editor, Allison Markin Powell. It will be published by Soho Press next year. A new non-fiction book I translated for Rizzoli, called Live Small/Live Modern: The Best of Beams at Home, which also happens to be about how Japanese people create tidy and unique living spaces, will be published later this year. I have other interpretation jobs too, but this year I’m hoping to focus on my own writing, which incidentally sparks a lot of joy for me.
CAS Student Council’s two-fold mission of Student Advocacy and Programming is geared toward establishing new college traditions and fostering community amongst our diverse student body. Pictured below are just a few candid shots of CAS StuCo in action.
Students after the Senior Stressbuster in December, where they painted on mini canvases
The First-Year Class Board's first event of the semester, a panel featuring upperclassmen and tips on being at NYU
CAS working hard on their banner for All-University Games 2019!!
11 | Important Dates
Mark Your Calendar! Important Fall 2019 Dates
Sunday, August 25: NYU Welcome Day/Move In Day
Tuesday, September 3: Fall 2019 Classes Begin
Thursday, September 12: Late Registration Begins
Monday, September 16: Last Day to Drop/Add on Albert
Monday, October 14: Fall Recess
Tuesday, October 15: Legislative Day--Monday Class Schedule
Wednesday, November 27 - Friday, November 29: Thanksgiving Recess
Friday, December 12: Last Day of Fall Classes
Saturday, December 14, Sunday, December 15: Reading Days
Monday, December 16 - Friday, December 20: Fall Semester Exams
Saturday, December 21 0 Sunday, January 5, 2020: Winter Recess
