2008 Woodie Awards
Phase Two: End the Cynicism
President Joel: "We're transitioning from a sprint to a marathon now."
Zev Eleff
Issue date: 9/4/07 Section: Features
- Page 1 of 1
Agreeing with The Commentator's recent headline, "Phase One Complete," Yeshiva President Richard M. Joel is ready to unveil the first part of his plan for the University. With most of his key administrative staff in place (the only position that remains to be filled is Vice President of Finance), the President is now looking to recreate the perception of the University in its constituent communities.
"We are currently fighting a war on cynicism. Therefore, phase two means continuing to convince communities that Yeshiva University belongs in their lives," said President Joel. "It also means that we need to take a breath and look at how things fall into place."
The President cited several issues that need to be addressed by Yeshiva officials when they visit Jewish communities; chief among them was the need to break down longstanding stereotypes of the University. "We have to do a better job facing communities' perceptions regarding our educational quality," said President Joel. "This involves stronger marketing, heralding Torah u-Madda more effectively and being more involved in the broader Jewish community."
These stereotypes differ based on the particular Orthodox community in question. President Joel explained that some communities doubt the caliber of Yeshiva's academic programs, while others question the liberalism or conservatism of the University's Modern Orthodox convictions. "We're being doubted by all sides," he explained. "This makes marketing ourselves a greater challenge and forces us to make sure that we can accommodate the needs of any young man or woman who is committed to Torah study and a rigorous academic education."
President Joel added that a bolstered Office of Communications and the inroads made by the CJF will help the University access untapped families and communities.
The University is not satisfied with merely targeting students who are considering colleges ranked similarly to YU. "There are families who are choosing Ivy League schools over us, and I need to take away that excuse," he asserted. "There are also normative students with the intellectual capacity to successfully navigate a dual curriculum who should be here. We have to do a better job of targeting them."
The President also said that much of his fundraising is done to address families' concerns about tuition obligations. Currently, about 70 percent of students receive some sort of financial aid from the University.
President Joel still maintains his directive set two years ago to "be proactive and not to settle for the current numbers. There are 2,000 students graduating from day schools every year. Some belong at YU and some do not. What I believe is that more of them belong at YU than are coming here now. There are several groups of students who belong at Yeshiva University but for some reason or another, aren't - we need to figure out why."
The President said he was encouraged by record enrollment at Stern College and also pleased by the slight increase in the student population on Wilf Campus.
President Joel acknowledged that along with investing more money in faculty, increasing the undergraduate student body is critical to elevating the stature of the undergraduate programs. "We cannot make this a better academic institution if we do not have the critical mass of students to fill classes," said the President.
The President noted the progress of Yeshiva College's curriculum review, which he expects will reshape the College for years to come. He also believes that once newly appointed Sy Syms Dean Michael Ginzberg's school receives accreditation, it too will begin to show massive improvements.
With regard to morning programs on the Wilf Campus, the President does not see a need for major overhaul in the near future. Instead, he leaves that task for newly appointed RIETS Dean Rabbi Yona Reiss. "I am very encouraged by Rabbi Reiss's sensitivity to all of the issues he will face over the coming years. Rabbi Reiss will be a key contributor to proving conversations that matter around the Wilf Campus."
Although the President did say that administrators need to make students feel more comfortable with the culture of SBMP, President Joel explained that the Program has made improvements and has raised the level of its rabbinic faculty in recent years.
When discussing the morning programs, President Joel was adamant that the core sector of Yeshiva is the MYP. "I believe that the MYP is the core and heart of Yeshiva University," said the President. "Other programs are necessary for students to choose from because one size doesn't fit all, but we must recognize the primacy of the traditional yeshiva model inherent within MYP."
However, President Joel did not rule out curriculum modifications to MYP when Rabbi Reiss takes the helm. "The Yeshiva can be fitted to individual needs and made to be more personalized. We need to look at it and see if we can make it more personal and tailored to individual needs of our students."
"We are currently fighting a war on cynicism. Therefore, phase two means continuing to convince communities that Yeshiva University belongs in their lives," said President Joel. "It also means that we need to take a breath and look at how things fall into place."
The President cited several issues that need to be addressed by Yeshiva officials when they visit Jewish communities; chief among them was the need to break down longstanding stereotypes of the University. "We have to do a better job facing communities' perceptions regarding our educational quality," said President Joel. "This involves stronger marketing, heralding Torah u-Madda more effectively and being more involved in the broader Jewish community."
These stereotypes differ based on the particular Orthodox community in question. President Joel explained that some communities doubt the caliber of Yeshiva's academic programs, while others question the liberalism or conservatism of the University's Modern Orthodox convictions. "We're being doubted by all sides," he explained. "This makes marketing ourselves a greater challenge and forces us to make sure that we can accommodate the needs of any young man or woman who is committed to Torah study and a rigorous academic education."
President Joel added that a bolstered Office of Communications and the inroads made by the CJF will help the University access untapped families and communities.
The University is not satisfied with merely targeting students who are considering colleges ranked similarly to YU. "There are families who are choosing Ivy League schools over us, and I need to take away that excuse," he asserted. "There are also normative students with the intellectual capacity to successfully navigate a dual curriculum who should be here. We have to do a better job of targeting them."
The President also said that much of his fundraising is done to address families' concerns about tuition obligations. Currently, about 70 percent of students receive some sort of financial aid from the University.
President Joel still maintains his directive set two years ago to "be proactive and not to settle for the current numbers. There are 2,000 students graduating from day schools every year. Some belong at YU and some do not. What I believe is that more of them belong at YU than are coming here now. There are several groups of students who belong at Yeshiva University but for some reason or another, aren't - we need to figure out why."
The President said he was encouraged by record enrollment at Stern College and also pleased by the slight increase in the student population on Wilf Campus.
President Joel acknowledged that along with investing more money in faculty, increasing the undergraduate student body is critical to elevating the stature of the undergraduate programs. "We cannot make this a better academic institution if we do not have the critical mass of students to fill classes," said the President.
The President noted the progress of Yeshiva College's curriculum review, which he expects will reshape the College for years to come. He also believes that once newly appointed Sy Syms Dean Michael Ginzberg's school receives accreditation, it too will begin to show massive improvements.
With regard to morning programs on the Wilf Campus, the President does not see a need for major overhaul in the near future. Instead, he leaves that task for newly appointed RIETS Dean Rabbi Yona Reiss. "I am very encouraged by Rabbi Reiss's sensitivity to all of the issues he will face over the coming years. Rabbi Reiss will be a key contributor to proving conversations that matter around the Wilf Campus."
Although the President did say that administrators need to make students feel more comfortable with the culture of SBMP, President Joel explained that the Program has made improvements and has raised the level of its rabbinic faculty in recent years.
When discussing the morning programs, President Joel was adamant that the core sector of Yeshiva is the MYP. "I believe that the MYP is the core and heart of Yeshiva University," said the President. "Other programs are necessary for students to choose from because one size doesn't fit all, but we must recognize the primacy of the traditional yeshiva model inherent within MYP."
However, President Joel did not rule out curriculum modifications to MYP when Rabbi Reiss takes the helm. "The Yeshiva can be fitted to individual needs and made to be more personalized. We need to look at it and see if we can make it more personal and tailored to individual needs of our students."
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