DRAFT
Glimmerglass Conference Room
Hunt College Union
SUNY Oneonta
Present
Mr. Joseph Bernier
Mr. Patrick Brown
Dr. Diane Georgeson
Mr. Daniel Sniezek
Presiding
Mr. Patrick Brown, Chair
College Administrators
Mr. Paul Adamo, Vice President for College Advancement
Dr. Alberto Cardelle, President
Dr. Franklin Chambers, Vice President for Student Advocacy and Ombudsman
Dr. Richard Lee, Provost
Ms. Danielle McMullen, Chief of Staff
Ms. Julie Piscitello, Vice President for Finance and Administration
Dr. Bernadette Tiapo, Chief Diversity Officer and Interim Vice President for Student Development
Presenters, Invitees, Observers
Mr. Edward Aluck, Alumni Representative
Ms. Rachel Dobkin, Chief of Staff, Student Association
Dr. Keith Jones, Presiding Officer of the Faculty and Chair of the College Senate
Alec Woodruff, President, Young Americans for Liberty
Mr. Andrew Stammel, Affirmative Action Officer, Title IX Coordinator and Assistant to the Chief Diversity Officer
Call to Order
Mr. Brown called the meeting to order at 2:30 p.m.
Approval of Minutes of Jan. 25, 2022
Upon motion of Mr. Bernier, seconded by Ms. Georgeson, Council voted on the approval of the minutes of the Jan. 25, 2022 meeting. The vote was four ayes and no nays. The motion failed due to lack of quorum.
Chair’s Report
Mr. Brown deferred his report.
President’s Report
Dr. Cardelle shared an update student recruitment, highlighting a new partnership with Mohawk Valley Community College, favorable media coverage and Provost Lee’s summit with two community colleges in our region. He added that a higher number of students applied late for fall 2022 and that the college will need to focus on retention, which was the topic of a summit held recently on campus.
The president noted a new initiative aimed at first-generation students and also referred Council members to a document summarizing the outcome of the series of conversations he had held to gather input on how the college could regain momentum.
Dr. Cardelle thanked Ms. McMullen for her advocacy with elected representatives, noting that the college had recently hosted two members of the state assembly and is building relationships with two other assembly members who are alumni.
The president previewed campus facilities work scheduled for summer 2022 and introduced Vice President Adamo to speak about the College at Oneonta Foundation’s 40th anniversary. Mr. Adamo recapped a recent celebration of giving and recent meetings of the boards of directors of the foundation and alumni association boards. Mr. Adamo referred to a local newspaper column about the incorporation of the college’s foundation 40 years ago and another publication that the college prepared regarding the same. He shared three new goals of the college’s Grow. Thrive. Live. campaign: the Student Emergency Fund, creation of at least 25 new, endowed scholarships and increasing the unrestricted portion of the endowment.
Ms. Dobkin expressed her appreciation for the foundation’s work.
Mr. Brown added that he had appreciated the professionalism and patience of Division of Advancement staff members in working with him to develop a scholarship.
President Cardelle concluded his report by announcing that Council members would be invited to an inauguration event Oct. 14.
In response to a question from Mr. Bernier, President Cardelle clarified that the college may not be able to pursue every strategic opportunity that arose from his series of conversations to gather input on how the college could regain momentum; that the college’s executive team will be responsible for advancing specific initiatives.
In response to follow-up questions from Mr. Bernier, the president shared that the college’s recruitment goal for fall 2022 is 1,150 new students.
In response to a question from Mr. Brown, Ms. Piscitello explained that reduced residential occupancy on campus has afforded an opportunity to upgrade Hulbert Hall, which was opened in the mid-1970s.
Fall COVID Planning 2022
Ms. McMullen previewed changes to upcoming isolation and quarantine spaces, noted advancements in testing and shared that the college had received no further state guidance about the current COVID vaccination requirement. She forecasted that the college’s management of COVID during the fall 2022 semester would be similar to its management of COVID during the spring 2021 semester.
Ms. McMullen shared that the inter-agency group in place to manage COVID within Otsego County may consider shifting its focus to public health, per se.
In response to questions from Ms. Dobkin, Mr. Bernier and Mr. Sniezek, Ms. McMullen shared that the college has identified 10-15 new COVID cases per week for quite a while, that the rate of infection among employees has risen, and that she knows of no SUNY Oneonta student or employee who has been hospitalized because of COVID.
In response to a question from Mr. Brown, Ms. McMullen clarified that off-campus students who test positive for COVID may isolate on campus, at their off-campus residences or at their homes.
In response to questions from Mr. Brown and Dr. Georgeson, Provost Lee affirmed that the college’s absence policy takes into account the effects of COVID, insofar as that is possible and aims to ensure academic continuity. Dr. Georgeson added that COVID cases in Otsego County are rising.
In response to a question from Mr. Sniezek, Provost Lee explained the function of learning management systems (LMS) and the college’s upcoming transition from one LMS to another. Mr. Brown requested an update on the transition at one of the fall 2022 Council meetings.
Budget Report
Ms. Piscitello referred to documents shared with Council members and summarized differences between projected and actual 2022-2023 revenue and expenditures to date. She shared that, because of salary savings, she did not anticipate the college needing to use cash reserves to offset an operating deficit this fiscal year.
Ms. Piscitello recapped the impact of the new New York state budget on the college, noting that state tax support did not decrease, that state has eliminated the difference between full SUNY tuition and the amount campuses are allowed to charge Tuition Assistance Program-eligible students, that the cost of tuition did not increase and that the Excelsior Scholarship will increase. She added that the state had appropriated money for SUNY to hire additional faculty members and funding to improve academic programs and enrollment, enhance student supports and modernize operations and expand childcare and mental health initiatives.
Ms. Piscitello reviewed the college’s core budget. Based one the current financial model, she projected that expenditures will be greater than revenues during the next fiscal year. She added that the college has cash reserved equal to about 27% of the current operating budget and that strong partnerships with affiliated organizations will be important in restoring future operating budgets and building cash reserves.
Ms. Piscitello mentioned that residence hall room rates and dining hall plans would cost more in the coming year and that student fees likely will also increase, pending approval from SUNY.
In response to a question from Mr. Bernier, Ms. Piscitello affirmed that lower enrollment led to less fee revenue this year. Ms. Dobkin added that the Student Association raised the student activity fee as much as it could this year.
In response to a question from Mr. Brown, Ms. Piscitello clarified that SUNY Oneonta’s room rate for incoming students will be the highest among SUNY comprehensive colleges in 2022-2023 and that students appreciate the condition and quality of the college’s facilities.
In response to a question from Mr. Bernier, Ms. Piscitello affirmed that SUNY Oneonta had never borrowed money from SUNY.
Resolution Honoring Gabrielle Cecere
Mr. Brown deferred this agenda item.
Resolution Recognizing Dennis Craig
Mr. Brown deferred this agenda item.
Resolution Honoring David Brenner
Mr. Brown deferred this agenda item.
Student Code of Conduct Proposals
Dr. Tiapo introduced Mr. Stammel, who delivered a presentation summarizing the process by which the college recently reviewed the student code of conduct. He pointed out that SUNY Oneonta was dissimilar to sister SUNY campuses in that its student code of conduct did not include a bias charge and summarized proposed changes related thereto.
In response to a question from Mr. Bernier, Mr. Stammel clarified that the Office of Human Resources enforces policy pertaining to employees’ conduct.
In response to a question from Mr. Brown, Mr. Stammel explained why protected identity characteristics were not defined in the body of the proposed changes’ language.
In response to questions from Ms. Dobkin, Mr. Stammel clarified that the Office of Community Standards has the sole responsibility for enforcing the student code of conduct and that there no exhaustive, prescriptive list of sanctions corresponding to each code violation exists.
In response to a question from Dr. Georgeson, Dr. Chambers clarified that seven years is the national standard for the notation of suspensions and dismissals on students’ transcripts or records.
In response to a question from Mr. Sniezek, Mr. Stammel clarified that vaccination status is not likely to be a protected identity characteristic.
President Cardelle shared a vignette describing the impetus for the college to revisit bias in the student code of conduct.
Mr. Sniezek, Mr. Brown and Dr. Chambers agreed that proceedings arising from the student code of conduct may have the effect of depriving the accused of the full range of due process customary in criminal law, and that such effect would be deleterious.
Upon motion of Mr. Bernier, seconded by Ms. Georgeson, Council voted on the approval of the minutes of the Nov. 16, 2021 meeting. The vote was four ayes and no nays. The motion failed due to lack of quorum.
President Cardelle introduced effort to amend the student code of conduct to allow pepper spray on campus and the college’s forthcoming efforts to analyze the same. He shared that he had received a petition from students urging the college to revisit its ban on pepper spray.
Ms. Dobkin introduced Mr. Woodruff, who describe his efforts to elucidate support for lifting the college’s pepper spray ban.
Mr. Brown wondered how the college’s law enforcement professionals might view the proposal, observed that the matter is a complex one, and expressed interest in entertaining a proposal in the fall.
In response to a question from Mr. Bernier, Dr. Cardelle clarified that University Police Department officers do not carry Tasers and do carry pepper spray.
Resolution Honoring David Brenner
Mr. Brown read into the record the following portion of a resolution honoring Dr. Brenner:
Resolved, that the College Council of the State University of New York College at Oneonta on behalf of its members, recognizes the significant contributions of Dr. David Brenner over the course of his distinguished career and extends its sincerest condolences to his friends and family; signed this day.
Upon motion of Mr. Bernier, seconded by Ms. Georgeson, Council voted on the approval of the resolution. The vote was four ayes and no nays. The motion failed due to lack of quorum.
Resolution Recognizing Dennis Craig
Mr. Brown read into the record the following portion of a resolution honoring Mr. Craig:
Resolved, that the College Council of the State University of New York College at Oneonta on behalf of the entire college community, expresses its heartfelt thanks and appreciation for Acting President Dennis Craig’s service to the college and community and steady leadership during a time of great uncertainty; signed this day.
Upon motion of Mr. Sniezek, seconded by Mr. Bernier, Council voted on the approval of the resolution. The vote was four ayes and no nays. The motion failed due to lack of quorum.
Resolution Honoring Gabrielle Cecere
Mr. Brown read into the record the following portion of a resolution honoring Ms. Cecere:
Resolved, that the College Council of the State University of New York College at Oneonta extends its deepest gratitude to Gabrielle Cecere as she completes her service as a Council member and wishes her good health and good fortune upon graduation; signed this day.
Upon motion of Dr. Georgeson, seconded by Mr. Bernier, Council voted on the approval of the resolution. The vote was four ayes and no nays. The motion failed due to lack of quorum.
ACT Report
Dr. Georgeson shared the the ACT conference will take place Oct. 14-16. She added that she will chair the Scholarship Committee and encouraged the college to identify potential applicants.
Mr. Brown previewed the conference schedule and encouraged Council members to attend.
Good of the Order
Mr. Brown and Mr. Sniezek shared their appreciation for the Student Research and Creativity Day presentations.
Upon motion of Mr. Sniezek, seconded by Dr. Georgeson, Mr. Brown adjourned the meeting at 4:27 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Hal Legg
Special Assistant to the President