University Senate
UNIVERSITY AT ALBANY
STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK
UNIVERSITY SENATE
Monday, December 9, 1991
Campus Center Assembly Hall
3:30p.m.
AGENDA
1.
Approval of Minutes:
University Senate, November 18, 1991
2.
President's Report
3.
SUNY-wide Senate Report
Paul Wallace
Vincent Aceto
4.
Chair's Report
5.
Council Reports
a.
CPCA
Ronald Bosco
b.
EPC
Robert Sanders
c.
GAC
Audrey Champagne
d.
UAC
Cyril Knoblauch
e.
RES
Alain Kaloyeros
f.
usc
Peter Bloniarz
g.
CAFE
Michael Sattinger
h.
SAC
Steven Thomson
i.
ucc
Shirley Jones
6.
Old Business
7.
New Business
8.
Adjournment
Administration 259
Albany, New York 12222
518/442-5406
UNIVERSJTY SENA'l'F
AT1'ENDANCI<: ·
Meetin~ of: :::0k'.R/J2fMde Iff!
Present:
UNIVERSITY SENATE
December 9, 1991
V. ~ceto, J. Berman, P. Bloniarz, R. Bosco, A. Champagne, L. Childs, R.
Craig, G. DeSole, R. Don, S. Faerman, E. Fagan, R. Felson, R. Frost, H.
Ghiradella, R. Gibson, C. Goldberg, J. Green, J. Gullahorn, R. Hardt, K.
Hitchcock, R. Hoyt, J. Kiepper, C. Knoblauch, W. Lanford, M. Livingston, S.
Lyman, A. Macario, H. Mendelsohn, S. Messner, J. Parker, D. Reeb, M.
Sattinger, E. Scatton, J. Schulz, M. Sherman, L. Slnith, J. Southwick, A.
Solomon, D. Strogatz, H. P. Swygert, S. Tannenbaum, S. Thomson, T.
Turner, L. Videka-Sherman, G. Walker, P. Wallace, W. Weitz, D. Windham,
S. Zevin
Chair Turner called the meeting to order at 3:43p.m.
1.
Approval of Minutes
Senator Gibson moved approval of the November 18, 1991, Senate minutes as
distributed. The motion was seconded and carried.
2.
President's Report
President Swygert reported that the Chancellor's Option Paper was distributed to a
number of people on campus. The paper outlines the options to SUNY in respect
to the underfunding for the system. President Swygert included an outline on how
the University at Albany will proceed with the distribution of the paper. There is a
need for stabilization of State support for SUNY and a su~gestion for tuition
reform, said the President. Even though there is hostility m the Legislature over
differential tuition, the President feels that this could help the University to gain
some freedom from the ups and downs of the bud~et. A decline in State support is
predictable for the next two academic years, he said. The Legislature is now
considering a multi-year budget. The University needs to handle matters differently
before the difference is imposed upon us. The differential tuition is just one way to
change, the President said, while closings and reorganizations will not show a
savings for a couple of years. What will also make a difference is the University at
Albany's new library project. This is the kind of initiative that will have to take
place more and more throughout the SUNY system, he said. The University at
Albany will be called upon to be a regional university because of this project.
The Chancellor's five options include a stand-still option, said the President. The
entire system will suffer with this option. Another option is a tuition policy, which is
expected to move upward. A moderate tuition increase can mean: 1) a diverse
student body will not be in jeapordy and 2) retention of some of the extra tuition
collected. The four university centers combined provide 38 percent of all
undergraduate instruction in the SUNY system, reported the President.
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The Search Committee for the Dean of the School of Education hopes to interview
candidates during the first week of the spring semester, reported the President.
According to Dr. DeLong, Chair of the Search Committee for the Vice President for
Research, four finalists will be on campus this week and next week,
President Swygert noted. Faculty concerns were taken into consideration during the
selection process.
President Swygert noted that Dr. Hall, Chair of the Search Committee for the Vice
President for University Advancement, has met with the four finalists for this
position.
Vice President Hitchcock will be speaking to the Deans concerning faculty
recruitment for the next academic year, reported the President.
The 1994-95 academic calendar has been sent to EPC for their advice, noted the
President. The calendar raises a difficult question -- in order to meet the required
instruction days, the 1994-95 academic year will have to begin before Labor Day and
travel days before and after holidays will have to be eliminated.
The Task Force on the Mission Statement has met several times and expects to
submit a draft report by the end of the calendar year, President Swygert said. The
draft will be shared with the Senate. The President hopes for a good and informal
discussion on the draft.
The announcement of the Capital Campaign will be made on December 10 at the
Alumni House, President Swygert said. The Chair for the Capital Campaign is Gary
Allen, '70, President of Key Bank NY. The goal is $55 million. This campaign will
~ive the University a chance to help ourselves and will restate our values as an
mstitution, he said.
3.
SUNY-wide Senate Report
Senators Aceto and Wallace had nothing to report.
4.
Chair's Report
The Committee to review the New York State Theatre Institute has submitted a
report to the President, reported Chair Turner.
The subject of confidentiality at Council meetings was raised at an Executive
Committee meeting, noted Chair Turner. He charged a sub-committee to set up
guidelines concerning this issue. Guidelines were approved at the November 25
Executive Committee meeting and were distributed to Council Chairs. Copies of
the guidelines are available in the Senate Office, Chair Turner said.
Chair Turner received a memorandum from the University Faculty Senate Student
Life Committee requesting assistance in publicizing the recognition program
"Enhancing the Spirit of Campus Community." Nominations can be submitted to
Chair Turner.
Chair Turner also received a State operated planning report from the SUNY -wide
Senate. Copies of the report are available in the Senate Office. The report asks for
suggestions on the financial plan. Chair Turner encouraged the Senators to submit
specific instances of the cuts on this campus to him so that he can take them to a
meeting in January.
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5.
The second newsletter will be distributed next semester, Chair Turner said. He
invited the Council Chairs and all Senators to submit articles to him before the
holiday break.
Council Reports
a.
CPCA: Senator Bosco had nothing to report.
b.
EPC: Chair Sanders was unable to attend but submitted the following
written report. The Council on Educational Policies met on Thursday, December 5.
The Long Range Planning Committee reported as its agenda 1) a response to the
role of the campus as a regional center that President Swygert 1s advocating, and 2)
a study of the aging of the faculty on this campus, potential for retirements over
time, and issues of faculty retention and faculty development. The Council also
began a discussion of its charge and its committee structure that will continue next
semester.
President Swygert noted that EPC was formally given the 1994~95 academic
calendar for consideration.
c.
GAC: Senator Champagne noted that the committees have reviewed and
made recommendations on over 20 cases; most were related to residency. The
committee and EPC will be reviewing the residency policy. Another item of
business is the resubmission on the Ph.D. in Philosophy program.
d.
UAC: The next meeting is scheduled for December 16, reported Senator
Knoblauch. The curriculum committee will report its recommendations on the
General Education program at this time. The Council has also begun discussion on
caps in majors.
e.
RES: There was no report.
f.
LISC: The Council has been given the plans for the new library, reported
Senator Bloniarz. The Council discussed what they would like to see m the library.
The Computer Science Department is working on networking plans for the campus
and extendin~ networking to classrooms and the downtown campus. The Council
received a bnefing on the upgrade 6f the library automation system. The next
Council meeting is scheduled for December 13.
g.
CAFE: Senator Sattinger had nothing to report.
h.
SAC: Senator Thomson reported that the University Community Relations
committee has worked hard in trying to improve the kinds of activities and behavior
of students living in the community. Tom Gebhardt and the committee should be
recognized for their work. The University community should be sensitive to the fact
that students have been experiencing a great deal of financial stress this year.
President Swygert noted that the Senate should acknowledge the Mayor's letter
which appears in today's paper.
i.
UCC: Senator Ho,Yt reported for Senator Jones. The Council is meeting
regularly with campus off1cials, he said. Relations have improved with the students
and the community over the last semester. The next meeting is scheduled for
February 5, 1992.
6.
Old Business
There was no Old Business.
7.
New Business
President Swygert reported that the University is in great shape. He cited the
following examples: 1) there is a committee at work to define the mission of the
University; 2) undergraduate applications have increased and they are very strong;
and 3) the Graduate Student Organization (GSO) is operating and proceeding in
positive and productive ways. The President urged all Senators to stay positive.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 4:43 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
_ _:::::r(Jc~v lbid~4/
Joan Schulz
~e:!...--
Secretary
Office of the President
UNIVERSITY AT ALBANY
STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK
December 2, 1991
TO:
University Faculty and Staff
Administration 246
Albany, New York 12222
518/442-5400
Fax: 518/442-5418
I am pleased to invite all members of the University faculty and staff to stop
by and join me for an informal Holiday Toast and Holiday Sing in the University Art
Gallery on Thursday, December 12, from 3:30 to 5:00p.m. Refreshments will be
available, and the University Chamber Singers will both perform and lead the
singing of carols.
Please bring this invitation to the attention of all faculty and staff. I also
request that supervisors work with staff to stagger office coverage so that everyone
who wishes to attend can do so.
I look forward to seeing you on December 12.
·p$~
H. Patrick S~
President
