April 26 2023

April 26, 2023
Morris Conference Center, Le Cafe
SUNY Oneonta
DRAFT

Present

Mr. Joseph Bernier
Maj. Gen. Anthony German
Ms. Stacie Haynes
Ms. Debra Parisian
Mx. Aolat Salami
Mr. Gary Herzig
Mr. William Rivera

Presiding

Mr. Gary Herzig

University Administrators

Mr. Paul Adamo, Vice President for University Advancement
Mr. Dirk Budd, University Police Chief
Dr. Alberto Cardelle, President
Ms. Dia Carleton, Chief Human Resources Officer
Dr. Tracy Johnson, Vice President for Student Affairs
Ms. Danielle McMullen, Chief of Staff and Director of Community Development and Government Relations
Ms. Lisa Miller, Senior Communication and Marketing Officer
Dr. Enrique Morales-Diaz, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Ms. Julie Piscitello, Vice President of Finance and Administration
Dr. Bernadette Tiapo, Chief Diversity Officer
Ms. Karyn Wendrow, Deputy Chief of Staff and Director of Executive Communications

Presenters, Invitees, Observers

Mr. Ed Aluck, Alumni Representative
Ms. Emily DeStefano, incoming Student Association president
Mr. Mark English, Director of Customer Support, Information Technology Services
Dr. Keith Jones, Presiding Officer of the Faculty and Chair of the College Senate
Dr. Eileen Morgan-Zayachek, Associate Provost for Academic Programs
Dr. Theresa Russo, Special Assistant to the Provost
Mr. Raphael Web, Instructional Support Technician

Call to Order

Mr. Herzig called the meeting to order at 2:33 p.m.

Approval of Minutes

Mr. Bernier made a motion to approve the minutes of Jan. 26, 2023, seconded by Maj. Gen. Anthony German. The minutes were approved by unanimous vote.

Chair’s Report

Mr. Herzig introduced two new council members: Mr. William Rivera, Crisis Intervention Manager at Opportunities for Otsego, and Ms. Emily DeStefano, a rising senior majoring in Business Economics and SUNY Oneonta’s Student Association president for the 2023-24 term. After welcoming another member who joined the council earlier in the year, Ms. Stacie Haynes, executive director of the Susquehanna SPCA, Mr. Herzig introduced himself and said he is excited to be a part of the council.

President’s Report

President Cardelle gave a recap of significant recent events, including:

  • SUNY Chancellor John King’s visit to SUNY Oneonta, which included a tour of the Student Learning Center and Center for Racial Justice and Inclusive Excellence, and informal meetings with three groups of students and university leaders;
  • the Middle States Commission on Higher Education campus visit, which was the culmination of the university’s reaccreditation process; and
  • community relations work, including the official launch of the Regional Innovation Council on March 15 at the B-Side Ballroom in Oneonta, and a media event at Sidney Junior-Senior High School in celebration of SUNY Oneonta’s teacher pipeline partnership with the school district.
  • He also mentioned the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program, which is not new but has become an annual effort for SUNY Oneonta accounting students trained to prepare simple income tax returns for campus and community members at no charge.

President Cardelle gave an update on progress related to the Regaining Momentum agenda, including:

  • establishing a School of Graduate Education and beginning a search for a graduate dean, with the long-term goal of increasing graduate enrollment;
  • increased funding for the Making Cent$ student financial literacy program;
  • the launch of the Real Talk Faculty Academy, a three-year program focused on inclusive pedagogy and inclusive service; and
  • Project Connect, a new program that connects students with mental health services and provides peer-to-peer support.

President Cardelle also shared several notable institutional and student accomplishments:

  • SUNY Oneonta is now the host of the SUNY COIL (Collaborative Online International Learning) network and New York State History Day, an annual event that brought middle and high school students from all over the state to Oneonta in April for project presentations, judging and awards.
  • SUNY Oneonta recently joined the American Talent Initiative, a collective of colleges and universities across the country committed to improving college access and success for lower-income students.
  • SUNY Oneonta recently earned a STARS Silver Rating in recognition of its sustainability efforts.
  • SUNY Oneonta’s Model United Nations team won the Outstanding Delegation Award, the highest possible honor, at the 2023 National Model UN conference in New York City.
  • The On-Mark marketing club was ranked among the Top 10 Collegiate Chapters of the Year at the 2023 American Marketing Association International Collegiate Conference in New Orleans.
  • Several Meteorology students and faculty were interviewed on The Weather Channel, which sent a correspondent to Oneonta to cover a powerful Nor’easter in March.
  • Six theatre students and director Kiara Pipino, associate professor of acting, directing and movement, traveled to Cape Cod in February to present their production of "Nordost" at the Kennedy Center Region I Festival.

Dr. Cardelle shared updates on employee recruitment and enrollment management. With the tight labor market nationally, employee recruitment continues to be a challenge and an ongoing area of focus. Cardelle said the university had 81 active searches and has completed 134 searches since September, with applicant pools averaging around 12 candidates. Mr. Bernier asked how the recent Counseling Center searches have fared and Dr. Johnson reported that two staff are expected to be hired soon.

Dr. Cardelle shared SUNY systemwide enrollment data indicating an enrollment decline within SUNY Oneonta’s sector from 2019-2022 and gave an overview of recent recruitment efforts at SUNY Oneonta, including 28 events for fall 2023 admitted students, Office of Admissions phone calls to nearly 3,000 admitted students and parents, digital advertising campaigns aimed at prospective transfer and out-of-state students, and an increased investment in scholarships. As of April 25, SUNY Oneonta was significantly ahead in applicants, admissions and deposits and Dr. Cardelle said he was confident that the university would reach its fall 2023 first-year enrollment target of 1,150.

Resolutions

Mr. Herzig introduced a resolution of appreciation honoring Mx. Aolat Salami, who served on the Council for the past year and will graduate in May. Mx. Salami will stay in Oneonta for a year before beginning law school. Mr. Bernier made a motion to approve the resolution, Mr. Rivera seconded the motion, and the motion was unanimously approved.

Mr. Adamo introduced a proposal to name Fitzelle Hall Room 248 the Ring-O’Dea Complex, in recognition of the generosity of retired Professor of Economics William O’Dea and in memory of the late Professor of Economics David W. Ring. In support of the university’s Grow.Thrive.Live fundraising campaign, O’Dea signed a pledge for a $25,000 charitable gift to be split between two scholarships: the William F. and Rita M. O’Dea Fund for Economics Applied Learning and the Dr. David W. Ring Scholarship for Economics Majors. The two faculty once shared an office in the space that is now a supply closet in the renovated Fitzelle Hall. Both helped students understand complex economics theories and applications and referred to their shared office as “the Ring O’Dea Complex” as a play on words. Mr. Bernier made a motion to approve the resolution, Ms. Parisian seconded, and the resolution was unanimously passed.

Dr. Cardelle introduced a resolution to change the name of the organization to University Council of the State University to New York at Oneonta, consistent with SUNY Oneonta’s recent designation as a university rather than a college. Ms. Parisian made a motion and Mr. Rivera seconded. It passed by unanimous vote.

Budget Presentation

Ms. Piscitello said the university has made great progress in closing its structural budget gap for the current year, but projects that there will continue to be an operating deficit and is working on long-term plans to achieve balance over time. She presented six five-year enrollment and core operating budget outlook scenarios, each with different variables for undergraduate and graduate enrollments. Mr. Bernier asked what the current cash reserve is; Ms. Piscitello said it is projected at more than $22 million.

Ms. Piscitello shared SUNY Oneonta’s financial health measures, a set of ratios developed by SUNY based on data from SUNY’s audited financial statements. The composite financial score is based on the primary reserve ratio (strength of reserves), equity ratio (capital resources) and net income ratio (financial efficiency, ability to operate within your means). SUNY Oneonta’s composite score stayed in the “financially responsible” range of 1.5 to 3.0 but improved from 1.5 to 2.3. Mr. Bernier asked how the other comprehensives rated; Ms. Piscitello said SUNY has not shared that information.

Ms. Piscitello also discussed preliminary 2023-24 cost-of-attendance figures, which cannot be finalized until the state budget is passed.

Middle States Update

Drs. Morgan-Zayachek and Russo reported on the recent Middle States accreditation team site visit and said the university successfully met the standards and requirements for reaccreditation, receiving “collegial advice” for each of the seven standards and one recommendation for improvement for Standard V: Educational Effectiveness Assessment.

She also mentioned several institutional achievements that were recognized by the accreditation team, including:

  • strong graduation and retention rates;
  • demonstrated “care and concern” for the student body;
  • abundance of curricular and co-curricular learning experiences;
  • student satisfaction;
  • inclusive process for revising the SUNY Oneonta mission statement and developing the Regaining Momentum agenda;
  • successful diversification of the university’s executive leadership; and
  • distinctive programs at the Cooperstown Campus: the Cooperstown Graduate Program in Museum Studies and the Biological Field Station facility/Lake Management graduate program.

Areas of improvement identified were in assessment and integrated planning, governance structures, building onboarding systems, assessing campus leadership and creating succession plans, and broadening participation in shared governance bodies and committees.

Ms. Morgan Zayachek said the next step would be a June 6 team chair presentation to the commission to reaffirm our accreditation, after which the commission will determine if any further action is needed.

ACT Report

ACT representative Diane Georgeson was not present but left a report. Mr. Herzig said forms for ACT scholarship nominations have been sent out, and the annual ACT conference will be held Oct. 13-15 in Albany.

Good of the Order

Dr. Cardelle mentioned SUNY Oneonta three student Chancellor’s Award for Excellence, six faculty and staff Chancellor’s Award recipients, and Dr. George Hovis, who attained the rank of SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor.

Adjournment

Mr. Bernier motion to adjourn, seconded by Mr. Rivera. The meeting was adjourned at 4:04 p.m.

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