1. How can the Graduate School assist with the rising costs of housing in New York City?

Affordable and attainable housing is one of the most important issues that confronts GSAS, one with which we constantly struggle and one to which I always wish I had more solutions. That said, since 2001, GSAS has provided the MacCracken Housing Program for entering doctoral students, which provides subsidized apartments in Stuyvesant Town and other locations close to Washington Square. For all doctoral and master's students, we work as closely as possible with University housing offices, including Off-Campus Housing at: http://www.nyu.edu/housing/offcampus/. There are indications that rents may be declining in New York City, which may be helpful to GSAS students, although we deplore the economic situation that is enabling this apparent decrease. We are also exploring the possibility of setting up an electronic community through which students might exchange information about housing. Let me know if that would be useful.

2. What resources are available to support students who teach?

I am unsure if this question pertains to actual teaching opportunities or to activities that provide educational development to graduate students who teach. If the former, GSAS students may teach in a variety of positions, from grader to instructor, depending on where they are in their graduate academic program. If the latter, there are several sources of support: individual faculty mentors; activities within individual graduate departments and programs; and finally, activities that the GSAS Office of Academic and Student Life offers through the Graduate Student Educational Development Program. I understand that Bobst Library will soon provide an option for a student whose department does not have an available space in which a student might rehearse a teaching presentation. The library is constructing new classrooms on Lower Level 1, with two additional rooms exclusively for graduate student use. A/V equipment will be available. The rooms should be ready by September 2009.

3. What impact will the economic recession have on the Graduate School community?

This is a very important question. People should consult President John Sexton's "Letter to the Community," released on January 26, 2009, which is a helpful analysis of the impact of our current economic situation on the University as a whole. It is impossible to answer this question completely because no one knows exactly how long and how deep the recession will be. I have great confidence that GSAS will weather the economic storms, and I do not anticipate decreases in the levels of MacCracken financial aid packages. Indeed stipends will increase 2.2% in 2009-10, and a minimal stipend will thus be $22,440. However, we are all deeply concerned about the capacity of students to pay tuition if their economic circumstances are difficult, about our ability to sustain our current levels of the private philanthropy that helps students, and about the capacity of faculty to raise grant monies if there are cutbacks in government and private support. Fortunately, the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation may receive more money under the Obama administration.

4. What are available research opportunities?

I believe that all of graduate education is a research opportunity. We are a community of advanced inquiry in which we constantly ask new questions, explore and generate ideas, and disseminate the knowledge we have gained. More specifically, students do research when they write papers, theses, and dissertations. Moreover, they can participate in the research projects of the faculty. I would advise students to consult with their faculty, and to read the GSAS on-line newsletter, http://gsas.nyu.edu/page/grad.life.ots, which lists fellowships, grants, and other possibilities of research funding. Students might also check out information on the website of The Foundation Center (www.foundationcenter.org).

5. Where can I find advice on apartment leases?

Friends and fellow students can be very helpful as can on-line resources such as Craigslist. Students consistently and frequently tell me that they have found their apartments through Craigslist. The Off-Campus Housing Office (http://www.nyu.edu/housing/offcampus/) is another source of information. The GSAS Director of Student Affairs, Israel Rodriguez (israel.rodriguez@nyu.edu or 212-998-8097), is a fount of information, especially about the MacCracken Housing Program for entering doctoral students and our Lease Guaranty Program. The Master's College is equally helpful on housing for master's students. David Giovanella (david.giovanella@nyu.edu) is a good contact here.