Dear Members of the TC Community,

Throughout my presentations, meetings with donors and talks with community members, I often refer to conversations I have had with students and alumni. I am always learning from these exchanges: what our alumni got out of their TC education, what more we could do to help our current students succeed, and how I can better serve our community. 

Through my series of new student chats over the last few weeks, I have appreciated hearing their early impressions of TC, especially those who have found that our environment has already opened their eyes in ways they hadn’t anticipated. One student spoke about faculty encouragement to try new things – that the emphasis on learning, and the freedom to experiment, was a very welcome change from their undergraduate experience. Another found the camaraderie with other students refreshing, and so helpful to maintaining a focus on learning and growth. I also heard about the immediate impact of classwork on practice, including from a student who spoke about a shift in the way they do things at the community college where he works, thanks to TC research. And one student discussed their research on Grace Dodge, and found enormous inspiration in our founder’s focus and legacy of providing opportunity to immigrant populations.

I love hearing all of these stories. They are a reflection of the important work of our faculty, and they also serve as examples of how our students are growing and bringing their own experiences to bear on their TC scholarship. I look forward to hearing more reflections, from all parts of our campus.

Feedback, even when it is difficult to hear, is vital to learning. Students of course should receive it regularly in their scholarship from their faculty mentors. We also encourage it in our managers of TC staff, and I appreciate the work of our HR team in promoting our goal setting and offering trainings so that we are able to give and receive feedback focused on professional development and institutional goals.

I see evidence of adjusting systems and processes regularly thanks to a commitment to taking in feedback and responding. Further, I have appreciated the efforts I have seen around the College to not only shift the way we work, but explain why and how, for example, the TCIT team helping us get used to our new portals and ensuring we are learning through National Cyber Security Awareness Month in ways both fun and effective.  

Just this week, I met with alumni who shared their deep appreciation for TC faculty who are leading in the intersection of education and technology, noting they trusted our expertise in looking at the right things and doing the right things – especially meaningful at a time when trust is eroding in all sectors.

I also had the opportunity this week to meet with the first participant in our two Lenape Elder Residencies this year. Curtis Zunigha, who is working with Professor Rachel Talbert on the growing Lenape Center Curriculum, expressed much appreciation for TC’s dedication to this work, and especially for Professor Talbert’s leadership. 

I am looking forward to meeting with participants in our Alumni Day programming tomorrow and hearing more.

With best wishes for the weekend,

Thomas Bailey
President 
Teachers College, Columbia University

P.S. For those who were surprised to see Teachers College transformed into a hospital Emergency Department this week, I assure you that this is temporary signage as we play a small role in an upcoming series on Apple TV. Astute viewers of Monday’s episode of “Line of Fire” (10/5) on NBC will also see scenes of my office, which is playing a bit part as “Judge's Chambers.” Zankel and Russell Halls also make a cameo appearance!