President’s Report to Academic and Professional Faculty
Read President Donald P. Christian’s October 2016 Report to Academic and Professional Faculty.
I hope that each of you is settling into the rhythm of a semester that is proving fast-paced, with many events and activities and great student interest in the affairs of the campus and the broader world. In this report, I will update you on recent happenings, work in progress, and several upcoming events.
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
- Budget – Work is under way to generate ideas to consider for increasing revenue and decreasing expenditures for 2017-18 and beyond; Budget Forum Friday, Oct. 14, 1-3 p.m.
- Enrollment – Final figures for this semester show undergraduate enrollment slightly higher than last year, graduate enrollment down appreciably as a result of declines in several programs.
- Open House, Oct. 29 – I strongly encourage broad faculty participation in our student recruitment open house activities on Oct. 29. More information to follow.
- Diversity and Inclusion Plan – Feedback and ideas, including from open forums, have been reviewed by the task force, which is developing a further draft, to be reviewed by the President/Cabinet for submission of a final draft to SUNY by Nov. 1.
- Alumni Reunion – This weekend (Oct. 14-16); opportunities exist for faculty and staff participation.
- Black Studies and Related Updates – Several administrators and Dr. Major Coleman (Black Studies Department Chair) met recently with students to update them about progress in rebuilding the department after the loss of several faculty the previous year, along with related diversity and inclusion initiatives; we will continue to meet periodically with these students.
- Black Solidarity Day – Faculty are encouraged to support student involvement (Nov. 7) by not scheduling tests, quizzes, or presentations that day.
- Construction Update – We should have clarity by next month about completion date for the science building; faculty will likely move in to offices at the start of the semester, classes held if labs can be equipped in time. Plans are being finalized for Bevier Hall renovation; design work continues on Engineering Innovation Hub.
- Free Speech – Faculty task force prepared resources on free speech issues to help inform the campus community; Jonathan Haidt event on Sept. 29 was well attended and generated extensive discussion; rescheduled Cliff Kincaid-Steve Rendall debate on media and politics to be held Oct. 20.
- Security Report and Fire Safety Report – The 2016 Annual Security Report and Fire Safety Report, including Clery Statistics and detailed compendium of campus safety actions, is available online.
- Upcoming Events:
Budget. At the budget forum on Friday of this week (1:00-3:00 p.m., LC 100), Vice Presidents and I will provide information on our current budget and the necessity of reducing expenditures and increasing revenue (recognizing that enrollment-driven tuition is overwhelmingly our primary revenue source) to correct an imbalance in our current budget. Our presentation will highlight increases in expenditures (including increased instructional costs) that have exceeded growth in tuition revenue (despite recent tuition increases); the constraints and ground rules that must guide our budget process and decisions; and several ideas that have been identified as possible steps to correct our budget shortfall. None of these ideas is cast in stone, and they are being shared to spur thinking in the community about other steps we might consider. We will respond to questions from the audience, and engage in discussion and brainstorming about possible actions to address this issue. Decisions will be made in spring 2017 for implementation in 17-18.
Enrollment. Final figures for fall semester show undergraduate enrollment slightly higher than last year. Our incoming first-year and transfer undergraduate student populations have the highest percentage and number of students from historically underrepresented groups in our institution’s history. Additionally, both the first-year and transfer applicant pools were academically very competitive and thus we were able to enroll one of the largest groups of new students while maintaining our selective admissions standards.
Graduate enrollment is down appreciably through drops in several programs. Plans are in development to reverse graduate enrollment trends as much as possible and as soon as possible. We are also watching spring semester transfer enrollments closely, given the declining enrollments at all area community colleges. Part of our ability to maintain strong transfer enrollments has been our ability to meet instructional needs in majors popular with transfers and – through construction of Ridgeview Hall – to offer more housing for transfer students than in the past. With Bevier residence hall going offline for renovation at the end of this semester until August 2017, our ability to offer housing for transfer students joining us this spring will be constrained. Because of our housing constraints and the higher tuition that graduate students pay, we cannot increase undergraduate enrollment enough to offset declines in graduate enrollment and tuition revenue.
Open House. Our fall Open House for prospective students and parents will be held Oct. 29. I encourage faculty and staff to participate fully, and thank you in advance for your efforts to make this event a success. Your willingness to help prospective students and their parents learn about the diverse and high-quality offerings at New Paltz is critical. As should be clear from the above notes on budget and enrollment, meeting our numerical targets for incoming students is critical for our continuing programmatic and financial success. Attracting bright and engaged students is essential to the high standards and quality of academic life that we have built and continue to grow. I routinely hear the stories of how your outreach and engagement – both at open houses and during other visits throughout the year – make such a difference in leading so many students to choose New Paltz over other colleges and universities. Thank you!
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Plan. The task force has shared a draft plan with faculty, staff, and students and has received numerous suggestions and ideas in response, including at the three open forums held for community input. Members are considering that input as they develop a next draft, to be submitted for my and Cabinet’s review as we work to submit a final plan for SUNY review and approval by Nov. 1.
The initial draft that I reviewed is ambitious, and builds on the many ongoing initiatives, strengths, and values of New Paltz that are so apparent in our work. The plan also recognizes that New Paltz, like all of higher education, has much more to do. I appreciate that the task force has recognized the clear distinctions that must be drawn between “diversity” and “inclusion,” and is developing a plan that emphasizes inclusion as a primary value. As I indicated in my State of the College address, the looming SUNY deadline likely will mean that many elements of the plan we submit and the actions it guides will remain general, to be refined and amplified subsequently. I reiterate – and will continue to do so – that our success in becoming the inclusive, equitable, and diverse institution we want to be requires careful attention by the entire community, and cannot fall on the shoulders of a few offices or individuals. That commitment, perhaps more than the specifics of a plan, will drive our progress.
Alumni Reunion. The 2016 Alumni Reunion is this weekend, Oct. 14-16. We are expecting the largest attendance in recent years (374 registered to date), reflecting growing success in our strategic plan priority of more effectively engaging our alumni. You can view the schedule of events at www.newpaltz.edu/alumni/reunion. Events are free for faculty and staff, but registration is required for most organized events and some events are currently full. Emeritus Joseph C. Paparone and Director of Design Print and Mail Services, Mary Kastner ’71, along with Distinguished Alumni Service Award Honoree Robert Thorn ’66 and Alumni Professional Achievement Award Honoree Col. Joseph D. Davidson ’90. I also want to thank the many faculty members and staff who are hosting events this weekend, ranging from Geraldine Hughes’ highly anticipated performance of “Belfast Blues,” to a Psychology Department open house in newly renovated Wooster Hall. It is inspiring to see our campus come together in these ways!
Black Studies and Related Updates. Several administrators, Dr. Major Coleman (Black Studies Department Chair) and other faculty members met regularly last year to work collaboratively to rebuild the Black Studies Department after the loss of several faculty the previous year. This group also met regularly with student leaders of the Black Studies Student Organization and the Black Student Union to share progress and work collaboratively with the students on these priorities, including on related diversity/inclusion initiatives. Several administrators and Dr. Coleman met with students again last month, and will continue to keep this dialogue open throughout the year. The progress included:
- hiring two new tenure-track faculty through national searches along with a visiting faculty member;
- authorizing a tenure-track search this year for a remaining vacant faculty position;
- hiring Mark Rumnit as Director of the Scholars Mentorship Program following his interim leadership of the program;
- hiring a new staff member in the Admissions Office dedicated to recruiting in the New York City boroughs;
- administrative commitment to provide lunches for visiting prospective students from minority-serving high schools;
- development and presentation of a skit about difference and microaggressions in the “Realities” programming at new student orientation;
- the creation of a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion website linked from the College’s homepage along with a website devoted to the institutional commitment, the history, a timeline and updates about the rebuilding of Black Studies, also linked from the homepage;
- the formation and growth of a faculty/staff of color group;
- the inclusion of students of color in the admissions recruitment process,
- and steps being taken to encourage teaching faculty to support student participation in Black Solidarity Day (see below).
Of course, many elements of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion plan align with areas of interest that we’ve heard about from students, including developing and implementing strategies to diversify the faculty throughout the institution.
Black Solidarity Day. Black Solidarity Day is observed on the first Monday of November, the day before Election Day (November 7 this year). Founded in 1969 and observed at New Paltz since 1971, Black Solidarity Day invites people of African and African American descent and supporters throughout the country to abstain from participating in their regular activities. This peaceful absence demonstrates opposition to racism, as well as social and civil injustices, on a global level.
During the week of Nov. 7, we encourage faculty across all disciplines to consider incorporating materials or discussions that explore African and African American contributions. Please also consider encouraging student participation in appropriate extra-curricular programming (talks, seminars, panels, movie screenings, etc.). Students who choose to participate in Black Solidarity Day should notify their professors beforehand and will not be held accountable for absence on that day.
As a reminder, in observance of Black Solidarity Day we ask that faculty refrain from administering tests, quizzes or graded assignments of any kind on that day. Faculty who may have inadvertently scheduled graded work for Nov. 7 are asked to revise the course schedule, or if that is not possible, to work with individual students to make alternate arrangements.
Construction Update. By next month, any lingering uncertainties about the completion date for the science building should be resolved. Faculty offices will likely relocate there for the start of spring semester, and classes will be held in the new building if it is possible to equip and organize laboratories in time (building users will receive specific guidance next month). Because of the dramatic growth in STEM majors since this building was planned and designed, we have had to adjust plans for its use. The Mathematics Department has chosen to remain in the Faculty Office Building, rather than move into quarters in the new science building that would be cramped at the start. This will allow us to relocate the School of Science and Engineering Dean’s office complex there, and provide more space for the other departments (Geology, Geography, Physics and Astronomy, Computer Science) that will occupy the building.
Renovation of Bevier Residence Hall will begin immediately at the end of this semester. The complete floor-to-ceiling, wall-to-wall project will be completed in time for student moving-in day in August 2017. This will be the third residence hall renovation that we undertake and complete in this way, a task that other SUNY campuses have said is not feasible! We will continue incentives that encourage students living in triples this fall not to “de-triple,” to reduce the impact of the Bevier renovation on our student housing capacity.
Design work continues on the Engineering Innovation Hub, adjusting plans so that the project remains within budget. This building, to be located along the Mohonk Walk just east of Resnick Engineering Building, will house our mechanical engineering programs, 3D printing initiatives including the Hudson Valley Advanced Manufacturing Center, and space for the START-UP New York Program. This building is funded largely by a competitive grant through the NYSUNY2020 initiative, which was dedicated specifically to supporting growth of academic programs (such as engineering) that have promise of translating directly into economic development.
Free Speech. Many students, faculty, and staff attended the Jonathan Haidt lecture on Sept. 29 and have participated in the considerable discussion generated by his presentation, titled “How two incompatible sacred values are driving conflict and confusion in American universities.” The faculty task force that proposed inviting Dr. Haidt is planning a follow-up event to foster further discussion on his presentation about free speech, viewpoint diversity, and social-justice actions on college and university campuses.
I am grateful to the task force for developing a set of resources about the main issues and controversies concerning free speech on college campuses. That material, which includes links to SUNY New Paltz policies relevant to speech on campus, was shared by email last week and is posted on the President’s webpage. This resource guide is intended to have lasting relevance to ongoing conversations about free expression on our campus. I hope that material will also help prepare students and other members of our community to approach the October 20 Cliff Kincaid-Steve Rendall debate on media and politics in the spirit of listening, learning, and responding civilly to differing views and positions, even those we may disagree with.
Security Report and Fire Safety Report. Recent incidents on college campuses across the nation continue to heighten our awareness of safety and security issues. The 2016 Annual Security Report & Fire Safety Report (for calendar year 2015) is now available online. This report is published by the University Police Department in compliance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Statistics Act. The report includes a summary of the impressive depth and breadth of structures, policies, activities, and processes in place to enhance safety and security for members of our campus community and for visitors. Our policies comply with federal regulations set forth in the Clery Act and the Higher Education Opportunity Act, including the recent Violence Against Women Amendments. The Annual Security Report also includes crime statistics for the previous three calendar years as well as the previous three years of fire statistics for campus residence buildings, and a description of the fire equipment in each residence hall.
Upcoming Events:
- Distinguished Speaker Series: Dr. Holly Atkinson will speak on “Health and Human Rights,” Nov. 3. Dr. Atkinson is the senior on-air medical correspondent and chief medical editor of HealthiNation, the leading digital consumer health video network. Dr. Atkinson is also assistant professor of Medicine and co-director of the Advancing Idealism in Medicine Program at Mt. Sinai School of Medicine and adjunct professor of Public Health at Weill Medical College of Cornell University.
- Memorial Service for President Emeritus John Neumaier, Nov. 5. Dr. Neumaier, president from 1968 to 1972, passed away in June at age 94. He led the College through some of the most turbulent times ever for U.S. colleges and universities and the nation. As President, Dr. Neumaier helped complete the College’s transformation from a teacher’s college into a center for liberal arts and graduate studies, and introduced initiatives to provide greater educational opportunities for African-Americans and other minorities, and oversaw the expansion of international education. This afternoon memorial service will honor his memory and his contributions to SUNY New Paltz.
I look forward to seeing you at this week’s meeting, where I will be happy to respond to your questions.
Sincerely,
Donald P. Christian
President