April 24, 2024
Le Café, Morris Conference Center
SUNY Oneonta
Present
Mr. Joe Bernier
Ms. Emily DeStefano
Ret. Maj. Gen. Anthony German
Dr. Diane Georgeson
Mr. Gary Herzig
Ms. Debra Parisian
Mr. Daniel Sniezek
Presiding
Mr. Gary Herzig
University Administrators
Mr. Paul Adamo, Vice President for University Advancement
Ms. Karen Brown, Assistant Vice President of Enrollment
Mr. Dirk Budd, University Police Chief
Dr. Alberto Cardelle, University President
Dr. Tracy Johnson, Vice President for Student Affairs
Ms. Lisa Miller, Senior Communication and Marketing Officer
Dr. Enrique Morales-Diaz, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Dr. Bernadette Tiapo, Chief Diversity Officer
Ms. Karyn Wendrow, Interim Chief of Staff
Presenters, Invitees, Observers
Mr. Ed Aluck, Alumni Representative
Dr. Tomas Gomez-Arias, Dean, Jack H. Brown College of Business and Public Administration, California State University, San Bernardino
Mr. Alec Hodge, incoming Student Association President
Dr. Keith Jones, Presiding Officer of the Faculty and Chair of the College Senate
Mr. Raphael Web, Instructional Support Technician
Call to Order
Mr. Herzig called the meeting to order at 2:35 p.m.
Approval of Minutes
Ret. Maj. Gen. German made a motion to approve the minutes of Jan. 23, 2024, seconded by Ms. Parisian. The minutes were approved by unanimous vote.
Chair’s Report
Mr. Herzig mentioned how impressed he was with the Student Research and Creative Activity projects on display today. He also gave positive feedback on the strategic planning session he attended and, in particular, applauded the university for including a 10-year goal that strives to create opportunities for business development and innovation at SUNY Oneonta to attract funding and contribute to the economic growth of the community and region.
Mr. Herzig read a resolution recognizing graduating senior Emily DeStefano’s contributions to SUNY Oneonta as the Student Association president and as a volunteer, extending gratitude on behalf of the University Council as she completes her term. Mr. Herzig welcomed incoming Student Association President Alec Hodge, a junior majoring in Communication Studies with a minor in Digital and Studio Art, focusing on photography.
President’s Report
Dr. Cardelle thanked the council members for attending the Student Research and Creativity Day showcase before the meeting and shared several updates, including:
- Changes in New York State Education Department pathways for teacher certification requirements that might affect SUNY Oneonta’s graduate degree programs in education. He said the university is working with local Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) organizations to begin developing stackable credentials that would allow us to continue offering relevant post-bachelor’s degree teacher preparation programs.
- Highlights of the recently passed state budget, including universal Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) completion, an increase in Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) eligibility income limits, $150 million of new operating support to SUNY, $103 million in one-time cash support for bargaining and unit settlement costs and $650 million in capital funds for the SUNY Construction Fund; $2.5M in operating support for artificial intelligence research and teaching; $2.75 for the SUNY Empire State Service Corps and elimination of state support for private institutions with an endowment of over $575 million.
- Photos of the new ExCL Center in downtown Oneonta and reminded council members that they are invited to the ribbon-cutting event on April 29.
- Grant funding to support microcredentials for Direct Support Professionals at Springbrook, Pathfinder Village, ARC Otsego and other area organizations. The grant allows DSPs to earn microcredentials free of charge and receive a stipend for books and upon completion of the program.
- Grant funding to support offshore wind training and workforce development – in partnership with the Otsego Norther Catskills BOCES.
Dr. Cardelle gave an overview of recent accomplishments and events, including:
- Three students received the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence.
- SUNY Oneonta’s solar eclipse events in and outside the Science Discovery Center drew a crowd of 3,000 campus and community members.
- Five cadets graduated from the SUNY Oneonta Law Enforcement Academy.
- SUNY Oneonta has partnered with SUNY Cobleskill to create a new pathway program for students pursuing degrees in childhood education
- U.S. News and World Report has ranked SUNY Oneonta’s Educational Technology and Literacy Education graduate programs among the top 100 “Best Online Master’s in Education” programs.
- The Music Department, alumni and community members organized a celebration of life concert in memory of music faculty member Timothy Newton
- SUNY Oneonta is among 23 American Talent Initiative members that have received “high-flier” status for their work to increase enrollment and persistence among Pell-eligible students.
- SUNY Oneonta is among several Otsego County organizations that are featured on the What’s Upstate website, which aims to promote the area as a great place to live and work.
- Spring Commencement is set for May 18 and will feature speaker and honorary degree recipient Gladstone “Fluney” Hutchinson, associate professor of economics and business at Lafayette College and founder of the college's Economic Empowerment and Global Learning Project.
Dr. Cardelle gave an update on continuing challenges, including hiring and the SUNY Athletic Conference loss of members, and reminded members of the Powered By You 72-hour giving challenge, which runs from April 24-26.
Mr. Bernier asked what campus construction projects are going on now. Dr. Cardelle mentioned the completion of the Hulbert Hall project and said the biggest project this summer will be retrofitting Sherman Hall for offices, to accommodate staff moving out of the Netzer Administration Building next year so that a large-scale Netzer renovation project can begin. After the Netzer project, the next big project will be a renovation and possible addition to Schumacher Hall.
Strategic Plan
Dr. Johnson gave an update on the university’s collaborative strategic planning process, which resulted in development of 13 10-year outcomes that SUNY Oneonta aspires to as an institution and will be addressed incrementally in two- to three-year Forward Momentum agendas. Over the course of the strategic planning process, which has spanned nearly the whole 2023-24 academic year, a total of 288 initiative ideas were submitted for consideration and synthesized into 253 initiatives that will be reviewed by the University Strategic Planning Council. Fifty were summarized as strategic objectives.
Enrollment
Ms. Brown gave an update on recruitment, including challenges related to the delayed release of the simplified Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which has forced colleges and universities across the country to delay distribution of financial aid awards. As a result, SUNY Oneonta extended the deposit deadline for fall 2024 from May 1 to June 1, ramped up communication to and events for accepted students and families, and extended service hours for the Financial Aid office to answer questions from new and current students.
Ms. Brown reported that the SUNY system overall is down 5% in deposits, and the technology sector is the only sector that is seeing growth. She said SUNY Oneonta is behind by about 30% year over year, but the good news is that we are processing financial aid awards for new students and are on track to share aid packages with students and families beginning this evening.
Mr. Bernier asked how the Admitted Student Open House went. Ms. Brown said it was a great day and we received the same number of deposits that day as at last year’s event, which is a positive indicator.
New Academic Program Report
Dr. Morales-Diaz gave an overview of efforts to review and expand SUNY Oneonta’s academic offerings to align with our Regaining Momentum and Forward Momentum agendas and create a curriculum that is relevant, dynamic and future-oriented.
He said seven programs are moving through the process, with program announcements/letters of intent submitted to SUNY during the spring 2024 semester. These include:
- Undergraduate -- Music and Audio Technology; Interdisciplinary Studie; Accounting, Educational Psychology
- Graduate: Accounting 4+1; Community, Crime and Justice; Music and Entertainment Industry
More than a dozen additional programs are being considered for development.
Dr. Georgeson asked for a definition of “stackable” credentials and Dr. Morales-Diaz explained how they work, as a more contemporary alternative to traditional master’s degree programs by allowing students to earn a series of certificates or microcredentials, each focused on a particular skill or competency, and that together, could lead to a master’s degree.
University Council Bylaws
President Cardelle shared the revised University Council bylaws discussed at the November 2023 meeting and reviewed by SUNY legal counsel. Ms. Parisian made a motion to approve, and Dr. Georgeson seconded. The bylaws were approved by unanimous vote.
ACT Report
Dr. Georgeson reported that the fall ACT conference will be the weekend of September 27 in Saratoga Springs, NY.
Adjournment
Mr. Herzig adjourned the meeting at 4 p.m.