Glimmerglass, Hunt Union
SUNY Oneonta
Present
Mr. Joseph Bernier
Dr. David Brenner
Mr. Patrick Brown
Ms. Martha Forgiano
Dr. Diane Georgeson
Ms. Debra Parisian
Ms. Nicole Pereira
Mr. Daniel Sniezek
Presiding
Mr. Patrick Brown, Chair
College Administrators
Mr. Paul Adamo, Vice President for College Advancement
Ms. Colleen Brannan, Senior Assistant to the President
Dr. Franklin Chambers, Vice President for Student Development
Mr. Todd Foreman, Vice President for Finance and Administration
Dr. Nancy Kleniewski, President
Dr. James Mackin, Provost and Chief Academic Officer
Mr. Terrence Mitchell, Chief Diversity Officer
Ms. Lisa Wenck, Senior Executive Employee Services Officer
Presenters, Invitees, Observers
Ms. Tracey Ranieri, Director of Athletics
Call to Order
Mr. Brown called the meeting to order at 3:02 p.m.
Approval of Minutes
Upon motion of Mr. Bernier, seconded by Mr. Brenner, the minutes of the meeting of February 10, 2016 were unanimously approved.
Chair’s Report
Mr. Brown deferred his report and welcomed Ms. Nicole Pereira. Ms. Pereira is a communications major and will be the student body representative.
Mr. Brown also read the resolutions for Ms. Kai Malik and Ms. Virginia Pitkin Rossuck, thanking them for their years of service and commitment to College Council.
President’s Report
Dr. Kleniewski thanked the Council members for taking the time to come to the Student Research and Creative Activity Day luncheon. Dr. Kleniewski felt that Dr. Kenneth R. Carter’s presentation let our students know that they don’t always know exactly where they are headed and that they will find their way.
Dr. Kleniewski introduced Dr. James Mackin. Previously an interim appointee, Dr. Mackin’s title will now be provost and chief academic officer. His contract is for two years.
Dr. Kleniewski referred to an article from The Daily Star regarding our campus construction. The Science Building is almost completed. Renovation of the Health and Wellness Center underway now is scheduled to be complete by the start of the fall semester. The Center is moving from an infirmary model to more of an outpatient model with counseling. The Milne Library will be undergoing renovations in the basement and 1st and 2nd floors to upgrade the infrastructure. In late fall the college will break ground on the Welcome Center.
The president reminded members that commencement is May 14.
Dr. Kleniewski announced that Neal Mazzella and Hal Luftig are honorary degree recipients for 2016. Neal and Hal are well known theatre professionals. Both will give remarks at commencement.
Provost’s Report
Dr. Mackin delivered a presentation explaining how he and Cabinet are working on creating a safe and welcoming environment for diverse faculty. The percentage of underrepresented minority students enrolled at SUNY Oneonta has risen from 14% in 2010 to 24% in 2014. Over the same time period, the percentage of underrepresented minority faculty has remained relatively unchanged at 12-16%. Keeping consistent with the college’s strategic objective of strengthening SUNY Oneonta as a safe and welcoming learning and living environment where everyone is valued, a number of faculty diversification initiatives are underway: advertising a cluster hire, enhancing the historically Underrepresented Dissertation Fellows Program, attending underrepresented faculty recruitment fairs, and enhancing new faculty orientation.
Athletic Update
Ms. Ranieri provided an update on current athletic benchmarks compared to the national scale, the faculty and athletic mentor program, recruitment and programs to help incoming freshman and January transfers.
Budget Report
Mr. Foreman delivered a presentation describing the budget and its current conditions. The lack of multi-year funding in the capital budget funding, flat tuition in 2016-17, and the absence of new state tax support will be the most significant fiscal challenges in the coming year.
ACT Report
Dr. Georgeson reported that the annual ACT conference will be held Sept. 30-Oct. 3 in Rochester and there is an ACT conference call next week.
Good of the Order
It was recommended that for 2016-17 College Council meetings, that we have them in different locations, such as Science Building, Lee Hall, etc. The 2016-17 College Council meeting dates will be established and share among members in June.
Adjournment
On motion of Mr. Bernier and seconded by Dr. Georgeson, Mr. Brown adjourned the meeting at 4:48 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Christina Miller