Message to the Campus

From: President Claudia Schrader
Tuesday, March 7, 2023

Dear Campus Community,

I couldn't let the day end without extending my heartfelt appreciation for the incredible work of our Enrollment Management, Advisement, Student Affairs, IT, Continuing Education, and Marketing and Communication teams and all those who had a hand in attracting, recruiting, enrolling, advising and registering the 11,438 students who will call Kingsborough their academic and continuing education home this spring.  Although spring 2023 enrollment data will not be considered final until the census in a few weeks, what is reflected now is noteworthy and a testament to the commitment of our college community. 

Last Thursday we hosted a highly successful new and transfer student orientation with over 300 students in attendance. Today we had approximately 30% more students taking on campus classes than we did last spring on a Tuesday.  

If you read VP Rivera's latest Enrollment Management Report, you will know that to date we have exceeded (over spring 2022) our enrollment targets for freshmen, transfer, continuing and readmit students.  What the report does not tell you is that KCC is one of five CUNY colleges that exceeded its enrollment for undergraduate degree students.  It also does not tell you KCC is one of only four colleges and is in fact the college with the highest percentage increase in undergraduate continuing degree students.   For the next few days and into next week Monday, we will continue to celebrate the "first day of classes" for many KCC students.  

As we look forward to the rest of the semester, we know that recruitment and enrollment are only part of the equation for success, the other part of the equation involves the retention and engagement of our students.  I have no doubt that we will approach this work with the same spirit, commitment and focus that our college is known for. 

As I walked around the campus today, the large crowds of students in the cafeteria and in the halls brought me immeasurable joy. But it was also the little things too, like the return of the salad station, lines in the bookstore, seeing students who I greeted as freshmen last fall, staff decked out in their KCC t-shirts, and the many, many cars in the parking lot.  

May the rest of your semester be productive, fulfilling and bring you immeasurable joy as well.

Claudia V. Schrader, Ed.D.
President