Room 301, Netzer Administration Building
SUNY Oneonta
Present
Mr. Joseph Bernier
Dr. David Brenner
Mr. Patrick Brown
Dr. Diane Georgeson
Ms. Debra Parisian
Mr. Kevin Pyrch
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 Student Development
Dr. Leamor Kahanov, Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs
Dr. Barbara Jean Morris, President
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
Mr. Ed Aluck, Alumni Observer
Call to Order
Mr. Brown called the meeting to order at 4:03 p.m.
Approval of Minutes of April 20, 2020
Upon motion of Dr. Brenner, seconded by Mr. Bernier, Council approved by unanimous vote the minutes of the April 20, 2020 meeting.
Chair’s Report
Mr. Brown expressed concern that a lack of discipline and control over COVID-19 has led SUNY Oneonta’s reputation to decline. He requested information needed for him to be an ambassador for the college.
President’s Report
Dr. Morris outlined the process of adopting the college’s Fall 2020 Re-start Plan, including approval from the Mohawk Regional Control Room, the New York State Department of Health and previous Chancellor Kristina Johnson. The plan put 97% of our classes online. The 3% offered in-person were labs, music and theatre instruction. The college implemented wastewater testing to monitor the presence of COVID-19 within a certain area. COVID-19 cases increased within the campus community rapidly, triggering enactment of a contingency plan, requiring most students who had tested negative to return home for remote and students who tested positive to remain on campus until being released by the Otsego County Department of Health. It also mandated students and employees remaining on campus to be tested weekly. Pooled testing is provided weekly in the Alumni Field House. During the crisis, the Governor’s Office provided the college nine additional healthcare providers and contract tracers for the department of health. Among the lessons learned were: the need for hotlines for those wanting test results and those with other questions was urgent; the college lacked the medical staff needed to address the crisis; more properly trained volunteers were needed for all areas; getting volunteer fitted for PPE in advance was critical; and that the involvement of Institutional Research and Information Technology Services in logistics planning had been insufficient. Dr. Morris also shared how proud she was of the staff that stepped up in a time of need to work outside of their job descriptions. She added that is engaged in retrospective planning with Cabinet, Student Association and all labor unions.
Dr. Morris reassured Council that the enrollment numbers still look good at 6,211 undergraduates and 530 graduate students currently enrolled for the 2020-2021 academic year.
In response from a question from Mr. Brown, Dr. Morris stated that she cannot answer what Hartwick did better than SUNY Oneonta to have fewer COVID-19 cases. She feels that the epidemiologist needs to answer that question as they study the cases.
In a response to a question from Dr. Georgeson, Dr. Morris explained that medical staff, such as Todd Bitterman and nursing staff were a part of the Fall 2020 Re-start Plan development process.
In a response to a question from Mr. Pyrch, Dr. Morris explained that Upstate Medical is responsible for the form used in connection with on-campus COVID-19 screening.
Approval of College Council Annual Report
Upon motion of Ms. Parisian, seconded by Mr. Bernier, Council approved by unanimous vote its 2019-2020 annual report.
Progress on $25 Million Goal Toward Grow. Thrive. Live. Fundraising Campaign
Mr. Adamo discussed the current five-year campaign running from July 1, 2018-June 30, 2023 is to raise $25 million, double the last campaign. The campaign co-chairs are Pat and Linda McCann along side the Foundation Staff at SUNY Oneonta. Since the spring of 2020, Mr. Adamo explained that the aggressive fundraising continued and realigned the initial public phase of Grow, Thrive, Live to help students through gifts and grants for the priorities such as, Student Emergency Fund, Student Success Scholarship Fund, Fund for Oneonta, unrestricted endowment, creation of new scholarship and funds, and additions to existing scholarships.
College Council Vice Chair Selection
Upon motion of Ms. Parisian, seconded by Dr. Georgeson, Council approved by unanimous vote the selection of Mr. Bernier as vice chair.
ACT Representative Selection
Upon motion of Ms. Parisian, seconded by Mr. Bernier, Council approved by unanimous vote the selection of Dr. Georgeson as ACT representative.
Good of the Order
In response to a question from Mr. Bernier, Dr. Morris stated that she has been accommodating to meeting requests and correspondence from the mayor of the City of Oneonta.
Adjournment
Upon motion by Ms. Parisian, seconded by Mr. Bernier, Mr. Brown adjourned the meeting at 5:52 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Christina Miller
Administrative Assistant, Office of the President