Dean of Faculty and Academic Affairs Dr. Nicola Blake
In an opinion piece published on Citylimits.org, Dean of Faculty and Academic Affairs Dr. Nicola Blake advocates for support for community colleges – institutions of higher education that have been most severely impacted by the pandemic. Dean Blake cites the unprecedented experiences of Guttman’s students and faculty during the past year to call on city, state, and private sector funders to invest in community colleges. “One thing that is quite clear is that this past year has amplified the need to better serve students at the community college level–students who are the economic engine of New York,” she writes.
Dr. Blake writes about the challenges Guttman faculty have faced while teaching remotely during the pandemic. They’ve had to adjust their methods to make sure students complete their work, while also serving as the front-line workers when students have had to deal with tragedy and hardships brought on by the events of the past year. She states that the true impact COVID has had on the work of faculty and students will take time to process, and community colleges need more support to streamline teaching and student success.
