President’s Blog
Welcome to my official blog as President of Baruch College. I created this space to share ideas, research, and perspectives that impact the campus community, higher education, and society at large. Through this monthly blog, I will examine various topics and issues, pose thoughtful questions, and promote the exchange of ideas. I look forward to sharing these thoughts with you and invite you to join the discussion, comment, and share.
Sincerely,
S. David Wu, PhD
President, Baruch College
A Dress Rehearsal for the Future
May 26, 2021
It is hard to believe that we have reached graduation season and completed perhaps the most unusual academic year—not only for the graduates, but for everyone. Experiencing every facet of our lives virtually, as we have over the last 14 months, will likely influence us in ways we...Read more...
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Baruch College, Higher Education
Toward a Learning Institution
April 28, 2021
In continuing our conversation about the future, this blog will focus on my thoughts regarding a culture of creativity, curiosity, and engagement through institutional learning and collaboration. I am thrilled to see a dialogue beginning to take shape after my last blog—some of which directly touches on the...Read more...
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Baruch College, Higher Education
Thrive in the New World
March 30, 2021
In my last blog, I started a conversation about our future by identifying what parts of the past we want to reclaim and re-imagining a future we want to shape together. In this blog, I share my thoughts about a specific aspect of that future—how we might leverage...Read more...
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Baruch College, Higher Education
The Future We Yearn to Return
February 24, 2021
In my blog some six months ago, I attempted a handful of high-level ideas for our future. With the vaccine distribution expanding and the City gradually coming back to life, now is the time for us to start a deeper conversation about the future to which we want...Read more...
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Baruch College, Higher Education
What Does Success Look Like?
January 27, 2021
One of the most enjoyable aspects of being Baruch’s president is the opportunity to talk with a variety of alumni and learn about their unique Baruch story. I have found many of these conversations awe-inspiring and heartwarming and found myself wishing to share them with you, our students,...Read more...
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Baruch College
The 70-30 Principle—We Are in This Together
December 15, 2020
The year 2020 has been challenging by any measure, and many in our community have suffered from previously inconceivable levels of stress and personal hardships. If there is one thing we learned from the past year, it is that people can be profoundly resourceful, resilient, and creative. We...Read more...
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Baruch College
Connecting to the “Big Picture”
November 30, 2020
I hope you all had a nice Thanksgiving holiday. One aspect of the holiday I always enjoy—although not this year—is to explain to a distant family member what I actually do for a living. Since taking the helm at Baruch in July, I have received occasional comments wondering...Read more...
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Baruch College, Higher Education
A Personal Reflection on Discovery, Diversity, and Human Connections
October 29, 2020
By now, I hope you have realized that I’m a curious person by nature and enjoy reflecting on things around me. It is fortuitous that my parents named me Szu-Yung, which roughly translates into “forever thinking” or “ever reflecting.” As my name suggests, I have been reflecting on...Read more...
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Baruch College, Higher Education
Unlocking the Human Potential
September 30, 2020
In my last blog, I argued that Baruch breaks away from “higher education isomorphism” by not only providing access to a historically under represented population, but also insisting on the highest academic standards. I believe this is critical because public confidence and trust in the value of a college degree are derived from the reputation of an academically rigorous institution, and only rigorous, high-quality education truly challenges and unlocks human potential. ...Read more...
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Baruch College, Higher Education
Reimagining Higher Education—and Baruch—in a New Normal
August 25, 2020
Since the announcement of my appointment as president in February to the day I took office last month, the world as we knew it has changed dramatically. The pandemic has provided a cruel backdrop for the systemic inequality that has bubbled under the surface of our society—the public...Read more...
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Baruch College