University at Albany
State University of New York
University Council
Minutes
May 10, 2013
A regular meeting of the University Council was held on May 10, 2013 in University Hall,
Room 306. Members present were: Michael Castellana (Chairman), Pierre Alric, Robert
Balachandran, Patricia Caldwell (by teleconference), J ohn Fallon, James Jackson, Abner
JeanPierre, and Michael Stein; also Gary Roth (Graduate Student Representative),
Christine Wagner (Faculty Representative), and Timothy Murphy (Alumni
Representative).
Also present were: President Robert J ones, Provost Susan Phillips, Vice Presidents
Stephen Beditz, James Dias, Catherine Herman, and Fardin Sanai; and Canon Kay
Hotaling , Vincent Delio (Chief of Staff); Assistant Vice President Robert Andrea, and
Diane Corbett, Director of Financial Aid.
Upon motion duly made and seconded (Balachandran/Stein) the minutes of the
previous meeting were approved as submitted. Moving to the President's report,
Dr. Jones reported that since his first Council meeting in March, he has been busy
interfacing with faculty, staff, students and various research groups. He commented
that he has now experienced his first student protest, having been presented a list of
demands by the Student Revolution Coalition. While some of their demands are
unrealistic, the group did raise a number of legitimate issues. Accordingly, the President
subsequently held a 1.5 hour meeting, to which all students were invited, to discuss
these matters in greater detail. The President stated that he planned to have quarterly
open forum meetings with all students invited, and do the same once a semester for
faculty and staff.
The President went on to comment on the progress of his Nine County Tour. He has
been on four visits since the last Council meeting: Schenectady, Albany, Washington
and Columbia counties. He finds these meetings very useful in several ways: they have
helped raise the University’s profile in the surrounding counties; they have helped
identify economic development opportunities in which the University might participate;
they have provided a means to connect with nonprofits in the area, especially those
serving depressed communities; and they have been helpful to the President in his role
as Co-chair of the Capital Region Economic Development Committee. The President
noted his next visit will be to Saratoga County on May 29.
The President noted that the first symposium of the Capital Region Research Alliance, a
collaboration between the University, Albany Medical Center and Rensselaer Polytechnic
Institute, recently took place. The symposium was very successful with over 100
partners participating. The goal of the Alliance is to foster increasing partnerships
across the region to enhance economic development, particularly in the area of
technology development and translational research.
The President stressed his emphasis on the University at Albany becoming an
increasingly engaged university. He mentioned that his former colleague, Andy Furco,
visited from University of Minnesota to talk to various groups on campus about the
need for engagement. The President intends to make community engagement a core
part of UAlbany’s mission.
The President went on to mention the May 8 recognition of our community engagement
partners, the University’s positive mention in the Princeton Review, and the success of
our men's lacrosse team which will be playing in the first round of the NCAA
championship tournament on Saturday.
In closing, the President informed the Council that the Medallion of the University, our
highest honor, will be bestowed upon former Council Chair Dan Tomson at the
undergraduate commencement ceremony on Sunday.
Moving on to other business, Chairman Castellana introduced the new student member
of the Council, Klara Botvinnik. Klara will be formally joining the Council at its first
meeting in the fall, but voluntarily attended this meeting to become familiar with the
operations of the Council. Pierre Alric also informed the Council that Trey Price, a
previous student representative to the Council, will next year be representing the entire
SUNY student body on the SUNY Board of Trustees, a prestigious assignment.
Moving to the faculty update, Prof. Wagner reported that University Senate elections
have concluded and all councils and committees are complete. J oette Stefl-Mabri is the
new vice chair and will be representing the Senate on the Council in the new academic
year.
Moving on to the Graduate Student update, Mr. Roth reported that the GSO is now out
of debt and has set aside a $6000 contingency reserve. Mr. Roth will continue as the
Graduate Student Representative on the Council in the coming academic year.
Mr. Roth then went on to comment upon a report on student debt compiled by GSO
(attached). Their research shows that many students lack financial literacy as well as
the ability to manage existing debt. He believes that the University would be able to
provide instruction and resources to help ameliorate the problem. He went on to
request assistance from the University in managing ancillary costs of attendance, and to
increase a student's ability to acquire services from the Financial Aid Office. He also
mentioned the levels of graduate assistant support, the number and duration of
assistantships and various other dimensions of this issue. A discussion followed (Stein,
Jackson, Phillips, J ones).
Moving to other business the Council welcomed Timothy Murphy who will serve as the
Alumni Association representative. Mr. Murphy provided a brief biography and
introduced the Association's annual report.
Moving to other business Chairman Castellana suggested that at this point the Council,
pursuant to its bylaws, undertake an election of officers. Pierre Alric was subsequently
elected Vice Chair and Pat Caldwell was elected Secretary.
Moving to old business Diane Corbett, Director of Financial Aid and Robert Andrea,
Assistant Vice President, offered a Power Point presentation on student financial aid and
student indebtedness, as well as SUNY's Smart Track program (attached). Student loan
default rates, on-line courses, and parental debt literacy were also discussed. Various
dimensions of the issues were discussed at length (Jackson, Stein, Phillips, J ones,
JeanPierre). President J ones noted that if the federal Pell Grant program is abolished
our campus, as well as many others, will be in serious trouble, as that program
supports a large number of our financial need students. Chairman Castellana remarked
that is important for the Council, as it decides its role, to be proactive on this issue.
Moving to other business, the next academic year's tentative meeting schedule was
discussed. It was agreed that meetings in early October, early December, late February
and early May would be appropriate. All agreed that Friday remains the best day to hold
the meetings. The potential to hold a meeting in New York City was also discussed.
Michael Stein, Abner J eanPierre and Gary Roth volunteered to work with the Division of
Student Success over the summer months regarding the adoption of a new code of
student conduct at the first meeting in the fall.
Moving to other business Provost Phillips offered a Power Point presentation (attached)
on online teaching and learning. A very lively discussion on the topic ensued covering
such dimensions as: massive open online courses, flipped classrooms, online and
blended courses, and the socialization students get in a classroom versus independent
study. (Castellana, Fallon, Caldwell, JeanPierre, Balachandran, Stein, Roth). Provost
Phillips offered that the issues raised, as well as academic integrity, are at the forefront
of the discussion of online learning. But notwithstanding the issues, online learning is
with us and the Open SUNY Program will accelerate its adoption across the University.
Moving onto other business Vice President Sanai reported on the efforts of University
Development. He thanked SEFCU for its generous support of the business plan
competition and further reported that the School of Business capital campaign is 85%
complete.
Moving on to other business, Vice Chair Alric introduced resolutions recognizing and
thanking Canon Kay Hotaling, Christine Wagner and Sorrell Chesin for their
contributions to the Council. Upon motion duly made and seconded Stein/J ackson) the
resolutions were unanimously approved.
There being no further business and upon motion duly made and seconded
(Balachandran/J ackson) and unanimously endorsed, the meeting adjourned at
4:22 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Stephen J. Beditz
Liaison to the University Council
