2014-2015 University Senate
Monday, February 9, 2015
2:45 pm, Assembly Hall
Joette Stefl-Mabry, Chair
MINUTES
Present:
Cohen, Marc; Cruz, Jose; Earle, Keith; Fessler, Susanna; Ford, Michael; Fox, Cynthia; Goldfarb, Boris;
Gulatee, Yenisel; Hogan, Steve; Janiszewski, Caitlin; Jaromin, Michael; Jerison, Michael; Jones, Robert J;
Kearney, Ann; Kressner, Ilka; Markisello, Daniel; McCaffrey, David; Moore, Chris; Neori, Klil;
Petry, Greta; Rorissa, Abebe; Rosenswig, Robert; Schmidt, John; Sherman, Keith; Slade, Leonard;
Stellar, James; Tucker, Ian; Vuille, Mathias; Webb, Raymond; Yuan, Xiaojun; Zemel, Alan
Guests:
Chaiken, Seth; Murray, Ann Marie; Cortesi, Guy; Winchester, Kathie; Forsythe, Celine; Malatesta, JoAnne;
Casserly, Mary; O’Neil, Natalie; Jewell, Carol; Faerman, Sue; Hedberg, Bill; Tchernev, Alex
The meeting convened at 2:49 pm.
Due to inclement weather Vice Chair Cynthia Fox stood in for Joette Stefl-Mabry to chair the meeting. As quorum
was not met at the start of the meeting it was agreed that the President and Provost would report, and afterward a
second count would be taken. A second count was taken, Vice Chair Fox announced the absence of quorum, and the
meeting was adjourned.
PRESIDENT’S REPORT – ROBERT J. JONES (pending review)
(Pending)
PROVOST’S REPORT – JAMES R. STELLAR
Provost Stellar emphasized that he had made the right decision in joining the University at Albany as Provost and
hopes the UAlbany community feels the same. A couple of things, the Provost shared, drove him to make this decision.
The first is that from the outside view this is a great institution. This rests squarely on the shoulders of the faculty, who
are the institution over time, responsible for the daily work in the classrooms, labs and creative scholarship. Provost
Stellar knew this by reputation, and now that he is here thinks even more highly of the institution as he starts to learn
some of the details. The Provost stated the other thing he liked about the University at Albany when he first came here
was that we have great students, full of spirit.
The mission of bringing the students together with the faculty at the price the public charges is critical. Provost Stellar
shared he had spent most of his life in private institutions. In 2009 the Provost joined the other public university
system in New York – CUNY – and felt it was a great relief to not have that burden in helping America educate its
citizens. So, ‘hats off’ to the University community because the Provost stressed he knows the difference and how hard
it is to live within the tuition parameters that make it possible for students to attend here and not create debt.
Provost Stellar emphasized he places a value on facing out – first to the students through programs that get them into
the communities, as with the President’s stake in community engagement, into field specific internships, study abroad,
undergraduate research, etc. All these are things that complement the strong academic programs we have here and at
other places. They produce a heightened retention. It is not good enough to graduate 65% of the students, and in the
future that will not be viewed as acceptable. We are not behind anybody, but we can do better, and the industries tell us
it is very important that our students be employable when they graduate. All of this needs to be discussed, and the
Provost stated he would like to do this with you as a team.
The big part of the Provost’s orientation to the deans and staff would finish the end of this week 2. Provost Stellar
invited the community to come find him the week afterward to talk, because he thinks the interaction can lead to an
increase in our creativity. The newness to this position can be used as an advantage to create a dynamic, get the word
out and recruit so that more people know how great this place is. Let us do on the academic fields what we seem to be
doing on the basketball court. We have serious, exciting challenges that the President laid out. Few provosts get to
participate in the start of 2 new colleges, and that is just the beginning. This is going to be a challenging and great time,
and Provost Stellar stated he is looking forward to working with you to make UAlbany become better because we all
made it so as a team.
A re-count was taken, and it was determined quorum still had not been reached. As a result, no action could be taken,
and the meeting was adjourned. Thanks were extended to those in attendance.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 3:20 p.m.
Respectfully submitted by
Elisa Lopez, Recorder
