Faculty Handbook: John Jay College Basics

John Jay College of Criminal Justice is a senior college of the City University of New York (CUNY). Led by President Karol V. Mason, it is an internationally recognized leader in educating for justice. John Jay is a federally-designated Hispanic-serving institution, it is ranked third in the nation in Black student success according to The Education Trust, and it is a top ten institution for promoting student social mobility according to The Equality of Opportunity Project. The John Jay faculty, staff and administration are proud to serve a diverse and dynamic student body of more than 11,000 students that includes approximately fifty percent students who are first in their family to attend college as well as students who are immigrants, from low-income families, or from other historically underrepresented groups.

The College participates in the doctoral programs of the Graduate Center of the City University of New York and offers bachelor’s and master’s degrees in traditional criminal justice-related fields and also in a range of disciplines that promote justice across the arts, sciences, humanities, and social sciences. To learn about the history of John Jay, go to: https://www.jjay.cuny.edu/about-us/history.  See also About John Jay College.

Our values and mission are found here (and are shown below): https://www.jjay.cuny.edu/about/mission-values.

Our Mission

John Jay College of Criminal Justice is a community of motivated and intellectually committed individuals who explore justice in its many dimensions. The College’s liberal arts curriculum equips students to pursue advanced study and meaningful, rewarding careers in the public, private, and non-profit sectors. Our professional programs introduce students to foundational and newly emerging fields and prepare them for advancement within their chosen professions.

Our students are eager to engage in original research and experiential learning, excited to study in one of the world’s most dynamic cities, and passionate about shaping the future. Through their studies our students prepare for ethical leadership, global citizenship, and engaged service. Our faculty members are exceptional teachers who encourage students to join them in pursuing transformative scholarship and creative activities. Through their research our faculty advances knowledge and informs professional practices that build and sustain just societies.

We foster an inclusive and diverse community drawn from our city, our country, and the world. We are dedicated to educating traditionally underrepresented groups and committed to increasing diversity in the workforce. The breadth of our community motivates us to question our assumptions, to consider multiple perspectives, to think critically, and to develop the humility that comes with global understanding. We educate fierce advocates for justice.

Our Values

• Diversity
• Equity
• Integrity
• Justice
• Learning & Scholarship
• Respect
   

Our Vision

Reflecting our mission and values, our vision for John Jay is that we will: be an engine for social mobility and equity; educate students to be fierce advocates for justice in a rapidly changing future; and support world-class research and a justice-minded faculty. See John Jay’s 2020-2025 strategic plan: https://www.jjay.cuny.edu/about/president-karol-v-mason/strategic-plan. Work on the next 5-year strategic plan will begin this year (2024-2025).

John Jay is a premier Hispanic- and Minority-Serving Institution with one of the most diverse student bodies among CUNY’s senior colleges. Our student body identifies as 47% Hispanic, 18% White, 17% African-American, and 15% Asian, with more than 130 nationalities represented. To learn more about diversity at John Jay, including our Diversity Committee, Diversity Initiatives, and campus climate review, go to: https://www.jjay.cuny.edu/about/compliance-diversity/diversity-facts-figures.  (See Fast Facts here as well.)

The College seeks to ensure diversity among faculty as well. At the end of the most recent reporting year (2023-2024), the College had a total of 408 full-time faculty members, including 158 (38.7%) total minority faculty, 205 (50.2%) female faculty, and 18 individuals (4.4%) with disabilities. The College’s Annual Affirmative Action Plans, which include detailed information on faculty diversity, are posted here: https://www.jjay.cuny.edu/about/compliance-diversity/non-discrimination-equal-opportunity. The College is engaged in ongoing efforts to both maintain and increase diversity among faculty. This includes training department search committees on Best Practices for Hiring a Diverse Faculty (Appendix B), initiating faculty-led Diversity, Equity and Inclusion workshops (program initiated Fall 2021), focusing on faculty hiring and retention initiatives, and addressing climate-related issues to cultivate and protect an inclusive community that embraces and supports all members.

John Jay is a premier Minority-Serving Institution (MSI) and Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI). As defined by the federal Higher Education Act, MSI means that John Jay is an institution whose enrollment of underrepresented groups exceeds 50 percent of the total enrollment. As defined by the federal Higher Education Act, an HSI is a degree-granting institution with a full-time undergraduate enrollment that is at least 25 percent Hispanic. John Jay is a member of the Hispanic Association of Colleges & Universities (HACU), which promotes a commitment to diversity in higher education, and the Hispanic Education Technology Services consortium (HETS). John Jay College has joined Excelencia in Education as an affiliate school and is pursuing the Seal of Excelencia. (See also Resources for Culturally Responsive, Inclusive and Anti-Racist Teaching in the Teaching, Students and the Classroom section of the Faculty Handbook.)

John Jay’s campus includes several buildings on the west side of midtown Manhattan.  
 

Haaren Hall (HH or T)

Haaren Hall (sometimes referred to as the T-building) is located on the southwest corner of W59th Street and 10^th Avenue. It houses the Lloyd Sealy Library, swimming pool, alumni gym, copy center, classrooms, multiple academic Departments, faculty offices, and administrative offices. The latter include Faculty Services, Academic Programs, Student Academic Engagement and Retention, and the offices of the Provost and President.
 

New Building (NB)

The newest campus building, the New Building spans W58th and W59th Streets on 11^th Avenue. It houses multiple academic Departments, faculty offices, classrooms, the dining halls, Public Safety, our large classrooms and meeting rooms, the Children’s Center, many student services, and other administrative offices. The new building connects to Haaren Hall on the lobby level of each – and through the Jay Walk, a landscaped outdoor campus space above street level. The Jay Walk includes seating outside the dining halls for a pleasant outdoor lunch, grassy areas to sit and relax, and open spaces for individuals to gather on a pleasant day.
 

Westport (W)

Located on the southwest corner of W56th Street and 10^th Avenue, Westport houses classrooms in the lower floors of the Westport apartment building.
 

BMW Building (BMW)

The BMW building spans W57th and W58th Streets between 10^th and 11^th Avenues. The building, which houses a BMW dealership, is entered mid-block on either W57th or W58th Street. John Jay has offices on the 6^th and 10^th floors of this building, including the Office for the Advancement of Research (6^th floor), administrative and financial offices (6^th and 10^th floors), as well as some Psychology research labs (6^th floor).
 

North Hall (NH)

The oldest of our current buildings, North Hall is on the northeast corner of W59th Street and 10^th Avenues. It is no longer actively used by the College but is used by NYC and could eventually be renovated to include space for the College.