Sept 27 2023

Sept. 27, 2023
Alumni Hall Executive Conference Room
SUNY Oneonta
DRAFT

Present

Dr. Diane Georgeson
Ms. Stacie Haynes
Ms. Debra Parisian
Ms. Emily DeStefano
Mr. Daniel Sniezek
Mr. Gary Herzig

Presiding

Mr. Gary Herzig

University Administrators

Mr. Paul Adamo, Vice President for College Advancement
Ms. Karen Brown, Assistant Vice President of Enrollment
Mr. Dirk Budd, University Police Chief
Dr. Alberto Cardelle, University President
Ms. Dia Carleton, Chief Human Resources Officer
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, Deputy Chief of Staff and Director of Executive Communications

Presenters, Invitees, Observers

Mr. Mark English, Director of Customer Support
Dr. Keith Jones, Presiding Officer of the Faculty and Chair of the University Senate

Call to Order

Mr. Herzig called the meeting to order at 4:39 p.m.

Approval of Minutes

Ms. Parisian made a motion to approve the minutes of April 26, 2023, seconded by Ms. Haynes. The minutes were approved by unanimous vote.

Chair’s Report

Mr. Herzig shared news of recent external recognition of SUNY Oneonta for quality and value by national magazines and referenced a recent Regional Innovation Council meeting where President Cardelle made the point, “As the local community goes, so goes the institution.” Mr. Herzig said it was heartening to see that the university is taking a leadership role in solving problems that Oneonta – like many other rural communities across the state – faces.

President’s Report

President Cardelle thanked everyone for attending the Alumni Hall ribbon cutting that preceded the Council meeting and said the university was fortunate to have had the opportunity to showcase the institution for our SUNY partners and to host SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. for an announcement about transformation funding that will help many SUNY schools, including Oneonta, strengthen pathways for transfer students from community colleges. Other updates included:

  • plans to spend new one-time SUNY transformation funding over the next two-three years to support workforce development training to support education and health care services in the region; strengthen and support transfer student enrollment; and kick off a Heritage Language Institute to celebrate bilingual students and provide additional support for English language learners;
  • investment of new, recurring funds in strengthening mental health support services by hiring additional counselors and increasing peer education and other programming
  • the opening of the Red Dragon Food Pantry, which will provide a variety of food and personal care items to students and employees;
  • the successful conclusion on June 30, 2023, of the Grow Thrive Live capitol campaign, which exceeded its $25 million goal and raised more than $33 million;
  • Regional Innovation Council collective initiatives, including the Springbrook STEP workforce education program, the What’s Upstate website, the Rural Education Collaborative, the One Hart nursing collaboration with Hartwick College, and the Bassett CARES collaborative initiative to offer jobs within the Bassett Healthcare Network and loan repayment stipends to up to 50 SUNY Oneonta and Hartwick students;
  • an overview of rising external rankings and recognition by Money magazine, Forbes, U.S. News and World Report, and Insight Into Diversity magazine;
  • an update on the SUNY Athletic Conference, which lost Brockport and Geneseo but is working to recruit two more schools; and
  • an overview of university strategic planning efforts, which have started this semester with a collective 10-year visioning process and will continue with discussions of the projects that will be needed to realize the strategic vision.

Enrollment Update

Ms. Karen Brown gave an update on enrollment challenges in higher education, particularly for small private colleges and regional public universities and said that, despite the challenging recruitment landscape and negative narrative in the media, SUNY Oneonta is seeing strong enrollment numbers and positive energy on campus.

She reported consistency in overall undergraduate enrollment, and many improvements in new student enrollment, including an increase in enrollment of out-of-state students, racial diversity and first-generation students; and the largest Educational Opportunity Program class on record.

She shared 2023-24 plans and strategies to maintain the positive momentum, including the university’s 2023-2025 New Student Enrolment Plan, SUNY enrollment initiatives, and a new Transfer Pathways program in partnership with several community colleges.
Mr. Herzig referenced a national trend of under-participation in college by males and asked if SUNY Oneonta is doing anything to address this. Ms. Brown said Oneonta saw gains in the percentage of male first-year students, from last year to this year, perhaps correlated with growth in our Business Administration program. Dr. Cardelle mentioned a new program called Kings of Excellence that supports retention.

Appraisal of Faculty

Dr. Morales-Diaz gave an overview of the Renewal, Tenure and Promotion (RTP) process, which changed in fall 2022. Tenure-track faculty are reviewed for contract renewals every two years and before continuing appointment and promotion decisions, and tenure and promotion to associate professor are now tied together. He announced that as of Sept.1, 2023, five faculty members had been newly promoted to associate professor, one to professor and one to associate librarian.

Student Activities and Housing: Residence Life Update

Dr. Tracy Johnson gave an overview of efforts by the three majors areas of the Division of Student Affairs – Holistic Health and Wellness; Student Experience, Engagement and Leadership; and Residential Experience and Housing – to operate as one streamlined system aimed at:

  • increasing student satisfaction;
  • increasing student retention, persistence and completion, and
  • increasing the level of student involvement and engagement to strategically focus on a sense of belonging.

She reported an increase in first-year housing applications, said the campus residence halls were at 93% capacity, and gave an overview of opening-year student engagement data, including:

  • 1,116 events held across campus in the first month of the 2023-24 academic year;
  • 26,456 students in attendance at the 437 events where attendance was taken;
  • 1,780 students checking in at the club eXpo event; and
  • Activities Council event feedback surveys indicating an average rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars, with 94% of students saying they would attend the event again.

In terms of student care and well-being, she reported that:

  • In 2022-23, Counseling and Psychological Services served 565 students and Health Services served 2,091 students.
  • Students who participated in extra-curricular activities returned at a higher rate on average than those who didn’t participate in activities.
  • Since its inception in 2008 through 2022, the Student Emergency Fund has supported nearly 500 students with over $400,000 in emergency funding.

Mr. Sniezek thanked Dr. Johnson for her division’s work to make students feel like they belong, and Ms. Haynes said the range of programs and activities being offered was “incredible.”

University Challenges: Staff and Faculty Recruiting

Ms. Dia Carleton gave an overview of challenges in recruiting. She said the average length of service for current employees is 11 years and shared the good news that Oneonta’s turnover rate has been lower than the average rate for the higher education sector.

Challenges include failed searches; barriers to hiring for New York State Civil Service positions, including low salaries, inadequate position testing and complex rules for hiring and promotion; a multigenerational work force with an increasing range of needs.
Strategies to address these challenges have included an increased presence on social media, more descriptive job ads with salary ranges included; and an increased Employee Relations role in searches, which is reducing the time to hire and response times.

She reported that racial ethnicity diversity among university employees was 10% in 2022-2023, the highest SUNY Oneonta has had and said the university is trying to increase diversity in applicant pools and increase search committee education and oversight. Both the Civil Service Employees Association and United University Professions recently ratified new contracts, Ms. Carleton said, and SUNY Oneonta set its own minimum salary for assistant professors this year, more than $10,000 above the UUP minimum, to be more competitive.

Vice Chair and ACT Liaison

Mr. Sniezek made a motion to approve the slate of officers (Mr. Bernier as vice chair and Dr. Georgeson as the ACT liaison) and Ms. Haynes seconded. The Council approved both by unanimous vote.

Formation of Special Committees

President Cardelle introduced the idea of forming two special Council committees, one to review and revised the University Council bylaws, and one to participate in the university’s strategic planning process and be a conduit the Council. He said he would send more detailed committee description to Council members via Mr. Herzig so that members could indicate their interest.

Good of the Order

Dr. Georgeson said this year’s ACT Conference is planned for Oct.13-14 at the Crowne Plaza in Albany, but the agenda has not been shared yet. Mr. Sniezek encouraged Dr. Cardelle and the council members to attend.

Adjournment

Mr. Herzig adjourned the meeting at 6:30 p.m.

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