Zoom meeting
SUNY Oneonta
Present
Mr. Joseph Bernier
Dr. David Brenner
Mr. Patrick Brown
Ms. Gabrielle Cecere
Dr. Diane Georgeson
Ms. Debra Parisian
Mr. Daniel Sniezek
Presiding
Mr. Patrick Brown, Chair
College Administrators
Mr. Paul Adamo, Vice President for College Advancement
Ms. Colleen Brannan, Chief of Staff
Dr. Franklin Chambers, Vice President for External Affairs
Mr. Dennis Craig, Acting President
Dr. Leamor Kahanov, Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs
Mr. Hal Legg, Chief Communication and Marketing Officer
Ms. Julie Piscitello, Vice President for Finance and Administration
Dr. Lisa Snyder, Vice President for Strategy, Planning and Effectiveness
Dr. Bernadette Tiapo, Chief Diversity Officer
Presenters, Invitees, Observers
Dave Geasey
Christina Miller
Call to Order
Mr. Brown called the meeting to order at 4:33 p.m.
Approval of Minutes of Nov. 5, 2020
Upon motion of Dr. Brenner, seconded by Mr. Bernier, Council approved by unanimous vote the minutes of the Nov. 5, 2020 meeting.
Chair’s Report
Mr. Brown deferred his report.
Acting President’s Report
Mr. Craig recapped the Jan. 24 visit of SUNY Chancellor Jim Malatras, highlighting the chancellor’s appreciation for our COVID response planners and their tremendous effort, which led to our reopening. He added that the chancellor stated that SUNY Oneonta’s standard of testing all students coming to campus every week has become a system-wide requirement. Mr. Craig notes that the college has administered 2,400 COVID tests so far this week.
Dr. Georgeson added that the testing center is a significant asset.
The acting president shared that he suggested to the chancellor that SUNY Oneonta could make itself available to become a point of mass distribution for COVID vaccinations. This would make faculty and staff who aren’t teaching in-person eligible for vaccination. He noted that the college has the physical infrastructure and logistical talent to support vaccination.
Mr. Craig discussed factors that will contribute to enrollment in the years ahead and how, to address them, the college will need to reposition itself. He added that he and the provost have begun discussion this with our College Senate Steering Committee and that the Enrollment Planning Committee is reviewing a three-year plan with short- and long-term action items to address current enrollment issues.
Mr. Craig shared that Dr. Chambers has made progress in his new role focusing on the oversight of our off-campus students and their integration into the city and the greater Oneonta. He shared that Dr. Chambers recently produced a video podcast with Student Association President Gabby Cecere and that he and Dr. Chambers met with major city landlords to discuss their joint, role-appropriate responsibilities in preventing dangerous behavior and enforcing rules.
Acting President Craig Bernadette highlighted some of the work in Dr. Tiapo’s portfolio, especially the transformation of the Center for Multicultural Experiences to the Center for Racial Justice and Inclusive Excellence, which will include a racial/social justice museum, further infuse justice and inclusion into the institution, and enhance student, staff and faculty recruitment and retention goals, especially for those from underrepresented backgrounds.
Mr. Craig reflected on the college’s comprehensive fundraising campaign, Grow.Thrive.Live, which seeks to raise $25 million by June 2023. He shared that the campaign has raised over $19 million in gifts, grants, bequests and pledges. He complimented the leadership of the College at Oneonta Foundation as being instrumental in moving our endowment and net assets from it’s now record $76 million currently toward our vision of $100 million.
Mr. Craig added that the Foundation’s support of the college’s Student Emergency Fund has been helped retain students experiencing unexpected and difficult financial emergencies that threaten their ability to continue their studies. He shared that since the Fund’s inception in 2018, Vice President Adamo an the Division of College Advancement have raised $391,100 and awarded most of it to nearly 350 students. Mr. Craig noted that the College Advancement would like to endow the fund at the $1 million level, ensuring that this important and effective resources lives on in perpetuity.
In response to a question from Dr. Georgeson, Dr. Kahanov shared that 10 students have tested positive for COVID since Saturday. In response to a question from Mr. Bernier, Dr. Kahanov shared that some students have symptoms, while others do not.
Mr. Craig added that success will rely on testing and working with off-campus students. He shared that he has invited Dr. Gerogeson and Oneonta Mayor Gary Herzig to attend some of the COVID strategizing meetings.
Mr. Craig clarified that college employees are required to test weekly, just like students who have any connection to campus and shared that although many employees are eligible for vaccination, vaccine is unavailable. Dr. Georgeson agreed that local supply of the vaccine is insufficient.
Mr. Brown shared that the Council could advocate for locating a vaccination center on campus. Mr. Craig affirmed that the college has appropriate infrastructure for this.
Chair’s Report
Mr. Brown noted that the governor’s proposed state budget is publicly available. He shared that it seems dependent on federal revenue and that it will be interesting to see how the federal and state governments interact. Similarly, he said he is curious about how the state will address SUNY’s budget and how COVID will affect enrollment.
Mr. Brown noted his appreciation of Mr. Craig’s leadership and the progress that the college has made over the last few months.
Spring Re-Opening
Dr. Kahanov shared a presentation illustrating the organization of the college’s COVID response and highlighting academics, safety and testing requirements. She noted that about 1,570 students are taking in-person classes, that the college is delivering about 20 percent of all classes in-person and that about 650 students are living on campus. The provost explained that over 50 members of the campus community contributed to the process and structure behind plan for the spring semester, which includes content related to academic flexibility, testing, quarantine and isolation and a dedicated website for COVID-related information.
In response to a question from Mr. Brown, Dr. Kahanov explained the differences between saliva and rapid tests. Dr. Georgeson further explained the merits of pool tests, noting that the one SUNY Oneonta uses is especially accurate.
Budget Report
Ms. Piscitello referred to a budget update document previously shared with Council, which shows a projection of overall revenue and expenses for state appropriated operating funds that does not factor in the state’s Jan. 19 executive proposal released or funds from the December federal stimulus package. She noted that the college’s budget will remain fluid and that the executive budget proposal and potential for federal stimulus funds are both encouraging.
She detailed that federal funding could add about $6 million in one-time funds to the college’s budget, plus another $2.9 million in direct aid to students.
Ms. Piscitello shared that the state’s executive budget proposal seeks to address a two-year, $15 billion budget gap and includes a 5 percent reduction in direct state operating support for SUNY, which would amount to about a $600,000 reduction for SUNY Oneonta. She added that it also would reinstate funding for predictable tuition and maintenance of effort and continue to fund the Tuition Assistance Program and also the Educational Opportunity Program, for which SUNY Oneonta receives $800,000 annually.
Ms. Piscitello summarized that the the state’s executive budget proposal could reduce the college’s overall deficit this year to a projected $2.5 million, primarily driven by res hall operations and that the infusion of one-time federal stimulus funds would help bolster reserves.
In response to a question from Mr. Bernier, Ms. Piscitello shared that some SUNY campuses have struggled more than others because of COVID. Mr. Craig added that some campuses lack the cash reserves that SUNY Oneonta does.
In response to questions from Mr. Brown, Ms. Piscitello clarified that SUNY Oneonta has not settled on a strategy for mitigating short-term, current-year budget deficits. She noted that the campus has allowed only essential spending since last March and that the college has not eliminated any positions. Ms. Piscitello affirmed that the college is charging the double-room rate to the roughly 650 students on-campus, all of whom are living in single rooms.
In response to questions from Mr. Bernier, Ms. Piscitello shared that the college accommodated all students who wanted to live on-campus.
In response to a question from Mr. Brown, Ms. Piscitello confirmed that the vendor providing food services is still doing so, albeit in a limited capacity.
Enrollment Update
Dr. Snyder presented an overview of enrollment trends across SUNY, observing that application rates are lower this year than last and attributing this to the economic and social effects of COVID. She noted that SUNY Oneonta does not substantially differ from sister SUNY institutions in terms of reporting decreased interest among traditional-age potential students and is outperforming most other comprehensive campuses based on a year-over-year comparison of freshman applications received.
Dr. Snyder reported that the rate of retention from the fall 2020 to the spring 2021 semesters was normal in comparison to fall-to-spring retention rates of previous years and noted that the Office of Marketing and Communication had enhanced the college’s digital recruitment efforts.
ACT Report
Mr. Brown, who chairs the ACT Strategic Planning Committee, shared that in light of the impact of COVID, the group is considering its dues structure, the continued awarding of scholarships and when next to host an in-person event. He noted that last year’s virtual conference was successful, drawing several participants who may not have been able to attend a convention event.
Good of the Order
Upon motion by Dr. Brenner, seconded by Mr. Bernier, Council voted unanimously to enter executive session to discuss a personnel matter.
Upon motion by Mr. Bernier, seconded by Ms. Parisian, Council voted unanimously to return to open session.
Adjournment
Upon motion by Mr. Bernier, seconded by Ms. Parisian, Mr. Brown adjourned the meeting at 6:12 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Hal Legg
Chief Communication and Marketing Officer