Adelphi Explores New Partnership With Dominican Republic University

President Christine M. Riordan's meeting with university officials in the Dominican Republic is the latest development in Adelphi's strategic efforts to create global connections that benefit our students.

Great universities have strong ties with the wider world, and expanding connections at home and abroad is one of the top initiatives of Adelphi's Momentum 2 strategic plan.

In July, University President Christine M. Riordan traveled to the Dominican Republic to explore a collaboration with Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra (PUCMM). The visit laid the groundwork for expanding academic programming and for exploring student exchange opportunities, research collaborations, joint conferences and other efforts between the schools.

While visiting the private Roman Catholic university, Dr. Riordan participated in a public dialogue with César Dargam, executive vice president of the National Council of Private Enterprise in the Dominican Republic, to discuss the mutual benefits of creating synergies between academic institutions and businesses.

"Our main goal as a University is to produce graduates who are in high demand by companies and to help fulfill a company's needs in terms of their employment," Dr. Riordan said.

United Nations Envoy Connections

Instrumental in coordinating the meeting was José Singer Weisinger '73, '20 (Hon.), a member of the Adelphi University Board of Trustees and an honorary adviser on international affairs to the president of the Dominican Republic. Trustee Weisinger, who earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from Adelphi, has been a leader in both the private and public sectors in the Dominican Republic for more than three decades. He served as special envoy to the United Nations from 2019 to 2020, leading the country's delegation in its nonpermanent membership on the Security Council.

Dr. Weisinger accompanied President Riordan on the mission to the Dominican Republic, as did Thomas Kline, EdD, vice president of University advancement and external affairs.

Close to Becoming a Hispanic Serving Institution

The potential partnership with PUCMM aligns with Adelphi's goal of becoming a fully designated Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI). In 2019, Adelphi was named an Emerging Hispanic-Serving Institution by the U.S. Department of Education.

Adelphi's population of incoming Hispanic students grew by 43 percent between Fall 2015 and Fall 2021. The University's largest-ever first-year class, entering in Fall 2023, totaled more than 1,400 students, 23 percent of whom reported a Hispanic background. Adelphi's total enrollment of undergraduate students is now 21 percent Hispanic.

To be designated as a full HSI, an institution must report at least 25 percent full-time Hispanic undergraduate students. Adelphi is expected to reach that mark as early as 2025 or 2026. As a fully designated HSI, the University will be eligible to apply for federal discretionary grants that assist with strengthening educational opportunities for Hispanic Americans and other underrepresented populations.

"The HSI designation will help create a broader outreach with community organizations and expand our partnerships with local, regional, national and international agencies and institutions," said R. Sentwali Bakari, PhD, Adelphi's vice president for student affairs and diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging. "The educational environment will increasingly be culturally relevant and inclusive, reflecting a commitment to our students' cultural identity and academic and professional success."

Growing Global Connections

The Dominican Republic partnership is the latest in a series of global collaborations. A partnership between the Adelphi University Robert B. Willumstad School of Business and Hochschule Fresenius's International Business School in Germany brings together students and faculty from Adelphi and Germany to study, teach and collaborate, culminating in an exceptional study abroad experience for students at both institutions.

A collaboration with the University of Warsaw, funded by the National Science Foundation, takes six Adelphi students to Poland each summer to work alongside top scientists engaged in advanced research into nanotechnologies applicable to solar energy.

The Adelphi University College of Nursing and Public Health has established a partnership with the Grameen Caledonian College of Nursing in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The two colleges are exploring a number of opportunities, including exchanging faculty members and staff, sharing academic materials, offering faculty development programs and jointly participating in seminars.

And the Bhisé Global Understanding Project is an expansive multidisciplinary initiative designed to prepare students to think globally and to encourage faculty research on issues affecting people worldwide. The project includes curriculum development, faculty fellowships and grants, on-campus programming, and student travel experiences.

Partnerships Here at Home

The University also has more than 40 partnerships with companies in the New York City area, opening learning, internship and job opportunities for students and providing faculty expertise for businesses.

Partnerships with local universities-like the highly ranked New York Doctor of Audiology Consortium with Hofstra University and St. John's University, and a new partnership offering a path for Adelphi students who want to pursue a master's degree in Hofstra's Creative Arts Therapy Counseling program-are also expanding learning opportunities for our students.

Whether here in New York, or around the world, our focus on partnerships supports our dedication to student success, academic excellence and meaningful real-world experiences.