Stuart Rabinowitz

Rabinowitz started his career as a law professor at Hofstra Law School in 1971, when the law school was only in its second year.[5] He would then achieve the status of associate and vice dean, even before being on tenure as a professor.[2] He would then be named dean of the law school in 1989.[5] In 1993, the law school, along with Touro Law School in Huntington was profiled for "aiming for diversity" within its student body and faculty, as minority student numbers were lagging behind.[6] Rabinowitz commented that "Diversity adds to the education of all students and is good for the profession and clients".[6] However, the article noted that there were only four minority members of the three Hofstra Law publications at the time.[6] The Law School would eventually implement the Legal Education Accelerated Program (LEAP) to try to advance minority and diversity within the Law School. In 2000, there was talk of opening up a civil-rights law center at the school with the help of Leeds Morelli & Brown, but the plan ultimately never happened.[7] Primary accomplishments for the law school included working with international schools for programs in Nice, France and Sydney, Australia, along with $15 million raised for scholarships.[2]

Rabinowitz was elected Hofstra's eighth president on December 20, 2000, following the retirement of James M. Shuart. He had beaten out finalists Anthony Catanese, then-president of Florida Atlantic University and Mordechai Rozanski, then-president of the University of Guelph.[8] It was reported that Rabinowitz's overall marketing and fundraising skills ultimately won him the job "over 15 sitting college presidents".[2] His primary goals included the implementation of an honors college, expansion of programs and schools for engineering and computer science, along with the creation of a center for suburban studies.[2]

Rabinowitz began his tenure as president in July of 2001. He would move the president's office from Hofstra Hall to the library on campus, which moved the Scott Skodnek Business Development Center, which caused the resignation of then-dean Gene Bernstein.[9] On July 30, it was reported that Hofstra athletes had the second highest graduation rate at 92 percent and received a $25,000 award for their recognition.[10] However, it was revealed that the number was miscalculated by Hofstra, and that the rate was really only 58 percent.[11] In the fall of 2001, Hofstra's Honors College program began with a total inaugural makeup of 257, with 159 already at Hofstra and 98 being freshman.[12] In December of 2001, a proposal was made by local firefighters and police to use Hofstra Stadium as the backdrop for their annual football game, to raise money after the September 11th Attacks. The proposal was declined by the university, and New York Post columnist Steve Dunleavy wrote that "I want to smack President Rabinowitz in the mouth".[13] The university did, however, accept contributions for the World Trade Center archive at the Long Island Studies Institute, along with providing full scholarships for students of immediate family killed during the attacks.[14] In February of 2002, Rabinowitz laid out the plan to transform the prior courthouse in Hempstead to the location of the university's school of education and the school of health professions and human services. Hofstra Stadium would also be renamed James M. Shuart Stadium.[15] In October of 2002, two Hofstra student athletes were found to have tested positive for marijuana and let to a half season suspension for the result. On regarding the Code of Conduct and university policy, Rabinowitz said "has been demonstrated to be appropriate and fair" and that he hoped the students would "...emerge...as better students..."[16] The policy on drug offenses was changed to be only 20 percent of games instead of a full year's suspension for the first offense.[17] During his first year, the average freshman SAT scores had jumped from 1100 to 1128 (out of 1600), which was higher than Adelphi University, but lower than New York University's average.[18] In addition to the earlier expansion, there was initial planning for a hospitality management program at the university, with the leasing of land for a possible hotel, but it never came around.[19] In July of 2003, Rabinowitz voiced his support for the institution of the essay on the SAT to be required for admission to Hofstra.[20] On May 23, 2004 during Hofstra Commencement, speaker and honorary degree recipient E.L. Doctorow was booed and jeered by many Hofstra students and families for his speech about criticizing then-President George W. Bush's war in Iraq.[21] Rabinowitz calmed the crowd down to let Doctorow finish his speech. Stating during the boos, Rabinowitz said "We value open discussion and debate...please let him finish".[21] It was stated that while some people did not disagree with Doctorow's right to free speech, administration officials deemed the speech "broke an unwritten rule" that commencements are to "...inspire and unite a student body".[21] In November 2004, when Ralph Nader came to speak at an open forum, calls were made by student leaders for Rabinowitz to end Hofstra's contract with Coca-Cola citing human rights abuses.[22] In laying out a 5-year plan for the university, Rabinowitz had increased the minimum GPA requirement for freshman applicants from 3.08 to a 3.30, and looking to increase SAT scores to a median average of 1200.[23]