Dear Members of the TC Community,

Recently, I had to get in touch with my bank to fix a credit card issue. It seemed simple enough to handle, but the automated voice on the phone insisted I try the website. The website connected me to a chat bot: my issue still wasn’t resolved. Emails went unanswered. So I returned again to the phone and could say “agent” only so many times before I got up and walked to the bank. While this at first seemed annoying, perhaps infuriating, these feelings were quickly overcome by the satisfaction of meeting someone face to face, asking questions, redirecting, and working together until my problem was solved.

I was reminded of the incident this week during our launch of the Joyce B. Cowin Student Success Hub in Horace Mann 242. We held an open house celebration attended by students, staff, and faculty, as well as TC Trustee Emerita Joyce Cowin, whose extraordinary generosity made this new resource possible, among a great many other efforts at TC geared to supporting our students. 

The fact is, even balancing the efficiency of technological advances, sometimes you need the help of a person. And with the beautiful space, the brand new furniture, the many configurations available for gatherings, I must say I am most excited by the fact that you can easily access the staff for support with financial aid and registration. The Hub also allows students to collaborate with one another in private spaces or attend workshops and consultations with staff from the Office of Graduate Student Life and Development (GSLD) and TC NEXT. I encourage you all to visit this new space, whether you need help or to make use of the computer lab, or just to sit and read. I am grateful to the many staff members who worked to pull this new resource together, from Facilities to Enrollment Management, to Community and Student Affairs, and ensured that it is welcoming, comfortable, and people-focused.

In fact, the Hub opening was one of many events I was able to attend over the last few weeks on and around our campus that brought many of us together to celebrate, explore, and think deeply about our collective future. EdTech Week featured faculty, educators and industry leaders working together on how we best use technological advances in the classrooms, again balanced against the need for people-driven leadership and usage. I was pleased to be on a panel for tech CEOs along with former New York City Public Schools Chancellor David Banks and executive coach Ashley Chiampo to consider how industry and educators must partner together for continued learning. And a common theme throughout our Alumni Day events was the extraordinary value of people working together. It was wonderful to celebrate our 2025 awardees, hear about their experiences at TC and after their graduation, and have the opportunity to speak with hundreds of community members past and present about the impact of TC on their lives, as well as their impact on the world. And just last night, I was pleased to be among many more of our alumni, students, staff, and faculty to consider the potential impact of the New York City mayoral election on the education landscape. In a webinar moderated by the Hechinger Report’s Jill Barshay, I appreciated hearing the very thoughtful insights of TC Professors Aaron Pallas and Jonathan Collins on issues ranging from mayoral control of public schools to the challenges and opportunities of gifted and talented programs. 

I hope you will all take advantage of opportunities like these as they come; they are an excellent reminder of the extraordinary leadership and talents we have at the College and I’m grateful to be able to learn from them all. 

With best wishes for the weekend,

Thomas Bailey
President
Teachers College, Columbia University