Dear Members of the Sarah Lawrence Community,
I write as we are in the final stages of preparing to welcome students back from winter break for the start of classes, which is always an exciting time on campus. As we look forward to all this semester will bring (including warmer weather!) I am also delighted to share with you news about two newly accredited offerings in the College’s professional and continuing education programs in genomics and education, both of which demonstrate Sarah Lawrence’s foundational and ongoing commitment to creating innovative educational programs that meet critical societal needs.
Master of Science in Genome Health Analysis: A Partnership with NYU
Earlier this month, we jointly announced with New York University a groundbreaking new master’s degree in Genome Health Analysis. This partnership between our recently launched Institute for Genomics Education, Workforce & Leadership and the NYU Grossman School of Medicine’s Vilcek Institute of Graduate Biomedical Science will address a vital need in the burgeoning fields of genetics and genomics: bridging the gap between the vast amount of genomic data available today and the small number of professionals trained to use and apply that data to improve patient healthcare.
Sarah Lawrence has held a leading role in developing and educating the genetic counseling workforce since 1969, when the College created the first—and still largest—genetic counseling masters program in the United States. This new partnership with NYU’s medical school—itself a pioneer in the genome informatics field—furthers our commitment to providing students with unparalleled opportunities for learning and research. By maximizing the complementary resources and expertise of both institutions, the Genome Health Analysis degree will provide a necessary foundation at the intersection of genomics and precision medicine, while preparing students to make significant contributions to the future of healthcare. We are excited to see this truly novel collaboration between a small liberal arts college and a major medical school come to fruition. Initiated by Sarah Lawrence and some years in the making, this partnership is yet another audacious initiative for SLC, as the College takes a critical leadership role through the humanistic, ethical, multidisciplinary perspective we bring to all that we do.
The two-year program will begin in Fall 2024, and applications are being accepted now. Learn more by watching the video below, and visiting the program website.
Meeting the Needs of Today’s Classrooms
A focus on children, childhood, and education has been a priority and strength at Sarah Lawrence since our earliest years when the the forerunner of the Early Childhood Center was founded in 1937 by renowned developmental psychologist and faculty member Lois Barclay Murphy. In the latest addition to our education and child-focused offerings, The Art of Teaching master’s program, which has educated teachers for more than 35 years, has just launched an advanced certificate in Early Childhood Special Education to help meet the high and ever-growing demand in schools today for special education certification.
Designed for teachers who already have a bachelors or masters degree in education or a related field and hold initial New York State certification in Early Childhood and/or Childhood Education, the three course, 17-credit program begins in the fall of 2024. Information sessions will be held in February and April, and I hope you’ll help spread the word to teachers who may be looking to expand their career options or deepen their training in this important field.
Sarah Lawrence recently announced another way it is preparing educators for the complex landscape of contemporary education: increased flexibility for students to select the right degree for them. In addition to our existing degrees in teaching and child development, the College now offers a dual degree in The Art of Teaching and Child Development. Additionally, students in all our education and child-focused programs now begin with a foundation semester, collaborating in the same classes across all of these degrees, sharing ideas, and learning from one another. From there, they continue in their chosen degree track or one of the dual degree offerings. We believe there is immense future value for teachers and child development professionals to gain early understanding of each other’s fields and how best to work together.
These degrees have long been part of our “4+1” accelerated trajectory, in which undergraduate students in their junior year may apply to the graduate program and begin taking courses in their senior year as they complete their bachelor’s degree, finishing the master’s degree in the fifth year. As we have developed our partnership with Westchester Community College, we are also now delighted to have students in a “2+3” trajectory, following transfer to Sarah Lawrence from WCC into an accelerated track that also leads them to a master’s degree in a total of five years. “Win-win” as they say: helping students manage the total cost of an undergraduate education and advanced degree, and providing much needed teachers and child-development experts for the workforce.
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I hope you share my excitement as we launch these important new programs—programs that will very much help students meet the demands of a rapidly changing world.
I look forward to welcoming students back to campus this week and sharing more with you in the coming semester about all that is happening on campus and beyond, including important developments like these in our lifelong learning offerings spanning our youngest learners in the Early Childhood Center to nonagenarians who participate in Writing Institute and alumni offerings, and every stage of life between.
I wish you all the best for a productive and enjoyable semester ahead.
Yours,
Cristle Collins Judd
President
president@sarahlawrence.edu
Instagram: @slcprez
Recent Announcements
Uncovering Beauty in Westlands
Over the break, our dedicated facilities team oversaw a key project on campus: refurbishing the floors on the ground level of Westlands that had been hidden under carpet for at least the last 50 years. When it came time to replace the carpet, we paused to examine other options and were delighted to discover that the floors—though blanketed in many layers of adhesive—were sound and could be refinished. With an initial investment that was just slightly more than the cost of re-carpeting, Westlands has a new look that is both beautiful and more sustainable in the long term. Special thanks to our AVP for Campus Operations and Facilities Mo Gallagher for her leadership on this important project.
Introducing Andrew Kane
I’m pleased to announce that Andrew Kane will be joining Sarah Lawrence College as Vice President of Finance and Operations on March 15. Andrew comes to SLC with a long history of service in higher ed, most recently as Associate Vice President, University Services at Princeton.
Save the Date for Reunion, June 6-9
We’ve had a terrific turnout for our holiday and new year gatherings with alumni around the country and I especially enjoyed attending New York and Washington, DC parties. It is always a pleasure to gather with Sarah Lawrence folks and we hope you are making plans now to join us on campus from June 6-9 for Reunion. While we have a special focus on the “4’s and 9’s” (alumni celebrating landmark reunions, including members of the class of 1974, pictured here, who will celebrate their fiftieth reunion), we know that our students’ experience at SLC crosses many boundaries, including those of class years, so whether it’s an official reunion year or not, we’d love to welcome you back! And why not make it a group gathering: reach out to a group of friends with whom you’d like to (re)connect and make your plans to join us.
#GoGryphons
As the spring semester gets underway, so too does our spring sports schedule. As is tradition, I enjoyed hosting at the President’s House student athletes who returned to campus pre-semester to get ready for their seasons. Follow this semester’s schedule, results, and news at gogryphons.com.