After five years at the helm of the Adelphi University College of Professional and Continuing Studies (CPCS), Andy Atzert, EdD, has retired from the role of dean—but will always remain a believer in the College’s mission to serve and support nontraditional students.
Dr. Atzert has long had a keen understanding of the nontraditional student—the student returning to complete a degree they had put on hold, the parent taking on college among life’s many responsibilities, or the veteran seeking a new career after completing their service to our country. As Dr. Atzert said when he began his role in 2019, “The school is poised to serve what is the fastest-growing and largest market for higher education, which is nontraditional students, oftentimes working professionals who need not only the right programs but services attached to those programs because they’re very busy.”
His appreciation for the nontraditional student was developed through experiences gained from a long career that included the Columbia University School of Professional Studies, where he served as senior associate dean for external affairs and associate dean of administrative affairs, The New School in New York City, the University of Pennsylvania, and the W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University.
Helping Nontraditional Students Get to the Finish Line
To assist nontraditional students, Dr. Atzert helped initiate the Panther Potential Program at CPCS, one of his biggest accomplishments during his tenure as dean. “President Riordan and I are both inspired by the fact that too many undergraduate students—not only at Adelphi but across the country—encounter personal and financial difficulties that force them to drop out of college,” Dr. Atzert explained. “We wanted to find a way to encourage former Adelphi students to return to complete their degrees and to support them along the way.”
Now called the Finish Line Program, this initiative helps readmitted students earn their degrees quickly and economically, providing advisers who can help navigate financial aid, registration and academic support, and career counseling. The program also evaluates a student’s professional and prior learning experiences to determine if those experiences can count toward college credit, reducing the student’s overall time and cost. Former Adelphi students who left the University three or more years prior can even qualify for financial forgiveness of previous education debt, and academic forgiveness to improve their GPAs. With leadership from former associate dean, now Interim Dean Sandra Castro, PhD, in the short time since its launch, the Finish Line Program has readmitted 30 students to Adelphi and helped five students earn their degrees.
All the innovative programs that Dr. Atzert helped bring to fruition at CPCS are reflective of Adelphi’s core commitment to student success, a key priority of the University’s Momentum 2 strategic plan.
“As dean of CPCS, Dr. Andy Atzert was a kind, thoughtful and mindful leader, who helped to drive the mission of CPCS that serves our nontraditional student population,” said Darren Petronella, senior adjunct professor at CPCS. “He was the ambassador and advocate for CPCS students, and I will always remember his supportive and collaborative approach towards creating necessary governance frameworks that helped legitimize CPCS as an equal academic partner with other departments across the University. “
A Lasting Legacy
Dr. Atzert had a profound impact on Adelphi during his five years as dean and was instrumental in establishing CPCS as a leading academic unit at Adelphi. Under his leadership, CPCS developed the infrastructure for a variety of online undergraduate and graduate degrees and certificates in in-demand professional areas, appointing academic directors to guide each initiative. He also helped establish CPCS’s first Academic Affairs Committee.
Dr. Atzert fostered strong relationships with third-party educational experts in emerging fields and with industry leaders. “As both a gentleman and a scholar, he embodied the qualities of a true leader,” said Dennis Cowan, senior adjunct professor at CPCS. “His dedication as a team player and his advocacy for students, faculty and staff have been remarkable.”
Upon Dr. Atzert’s retirement, Dr. Castro was announced as interim dean for CPCS. “Andy was a visionary who consistently thought outside the box, pioneering innovative ways to provide educational opportunities aligned with industry needs,” said Dr. Castro. “Thanks to his efforts, CPCS is in a stronger position today. I am honored to continue his legacy in my role as interim dean, working alongside a remarkable team of dedicated administrative and executive assistants, academic advisers and faculty members.”
Dr. Atzert’s work elevated Adelphi’s programs that are dedicated to lifelong learning. His leadership drove the CPCS mission to provide opportunity for all adult learners to earn undergraduate, graduate and alternative credentials, offering programs that are high quality, valuable and convenient. Dr. Atzert touched the lives of many Adelphi students with the programs he introduced, both directly and indirectly, whether they realize it or not.