Remarks by UAlbany President George M. Philip
Fall Faculty Meeting
Campus Center Ballroom
Thursday, Oct. 15, 2009
2:30 p.m.
Thank you, Michael.
Good afternoon and welcome, everyone.
Reflect on success of the past weekend. Homecoming Weekend and Community Day
More than 15,000 visitors (parents, alumni, community members)
One Nobel prize-winner – Paul Krugman
One former U.S. Secretary of State – Colin Powell
Posthumously, one Presidential Medal of Freedom award-winner (Harvey Milk)
Thank faculty, staff and students for contributing to success of weekend.
Display of great pride by all constituents.
This is a year of many UAlbany anniversaries.
- 40th anniversary of Africana Studies program,
- 25th anniversaries of:
New York State Writers Institute and School of Public Health,
-10th anniversary of Division I athletics
-40th anniversary of the dedication of our Uptown Campus – as well as my graduation from
UAlbany.
These anniversaries are milestones in our development. Over the years, we have
experienced growing pains and challenges. Today we see how we have matured into a major
research university.
I first arrived at UAlbany as a freshman in the fall of 1965. Today, I have a keen awareness
and appreciation of our transformation from a state teachers college to a thriving research
university… Both our physical and academic landscapes are dramatically transformed.
In 1988, Freedom Quad marked the first construction project on the uptown campus since its
completion in the 1960’s.
In 1999, we celebrated the opening of the first new academic building – our Science Library.
We also added the RAAC, now referred to as SEFCU Arena, the new sculpture studio, the Life
Sciences Research building, our East Campus, our nanotechnology complex and most
recently, University Hall.
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We expanded to both the east and the west as we launched academic programs to meet new
needs and demands.
In 1985, we began the unique partnership between UAlbany and the New York State
Department of Health. This year, that partnership celebrates it’s 25th year as our School of
Public Health..
Our fast-growing, #1 ranked College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering began in 2001
and is now housed in the only research complex of its kind at any university in the world.
35 years ago, we launched a pioneering student exchange program with Moscow State
University.
Thanks to the work of faculty like Business School Professor, Sanjay Goel, this link remains
strong and vibrant. Today it is one of the countless international connections enhancing and
extending UAlbany’s reach.
In fact, later this month Professor Goel will travel to Russia to participate in a cyber-security
conference and further strengthen our partnership with Moscow State University.
As your president, I feel a tremendous sense of responsibility to build on this record of
accomplishment. My goal is to work with all of you to advance our great university to the
next level.
This semester, Provost Susan Phillips and I began a series of informal conversations with
faculty and staff.
Many of you have attended these sessions and there will be several more throughout the
semester. If you have not been to one, I encourage you to attend.
This is a wonderful opportunity for me to learn what is on your minds, share information and
answer any questions you might have.
In listening to your questions, several themes have emerged.
1.) THE BUDGET
Paterson’s latest announcement
Comptroller’s announcement yesterday that the State deficit could be as large as
$4.1 billion – more than $1.1. billion than the Governor is estimating
The challenge of the IFR’s – defining cash reserve
How will we absorb the cuts?
Soft hiring freeze
Withheld MC raises
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Energy savings
Limited travel
Delayed purchases
And more
Seeking new revenue opportunities
Also growing new revenues by building general studies/ summer
session and wintermester - continuing ed - professional development - /
distance learning
Redoubling efforts to attract research dollars
Fundraising – up 12 percent in past year, nearly $8 million in new
philanthropic commitments during 2008-2009
I’m one of five SUNY Presidents asked to serve on Chancellor’s Budge Task Force.
1.) Budget reductions
2.) Framing budget process for FY2011
3.) Linking strategic plan to budget recommendations for next 5-years
2.) In our conversations, you have asked about Chancellor Zimpher, what she means for
UAlbany and SUNY system.
Strong advocate -- Discuss her plans for strategic plan
Advocating for flexibility legislation to strengthen SUNY and its campuses
This summarizes what Provost Phillips and I have been discussing in these talks around
campus. I appreciate the opportunity to hear your concerns. In particular we’ll need your
best thinking as we enter into our Strategic Planning Process.
Soon, we will be announcing more information about this process – a process informed and
defined by our campus community.
The goal is to develop a new mission statement, strategic goals, and a multi-year blueprint
for achieving our shared objectives.
Many of you have already performed critical work to inform the process.
A few examples:
The Middle States Self-Study Report.
A comprehensive self-study of our University is required for re-accreditation by the Middle
State Commission on Higher Education.
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A draft document will be presented to our community in the near future for review and
comment. A Middle States representative will make a “pre-site visit” to campus on November
20.
Our “Action Plan to Advance Community Engagement” is now complete.
The plan presents five strategies and several action steps, as well as a mission and vision
statement, for community-engaged teaching, research and service. You can review the plan
on our website.
The report of the First-Year Experience Task Force is complete.
We know the success of our undergraduates is significantly influenced by their experiences
in their first year in college. This report will help us design a high-quality experience that
puts our first-year students on the path to success.
Guided by the Going Forward Plan, we are putting in place faculty development initiatives,
such as the program for Career, Leadership and University Excellence (CLUE). We are
focusing on ways to enhance the undergraduate academic and career-preparing experience.
Also feeding into our strategic planning process will be the work we did to further develop
the University brand, which highlights signature characteristics of UAlbany.
Our diversity agenda is also a significant element. Through visioning exercises, we have
developed a draft of a shared vision and definition of diversity at UAlbany. In the near future,
this will be distributed to the University community for your feedback.
Our strategic planning process will also be informed by the strategic plans for international
education, diversity and information technology services.
In all these efforts – with participation by many across the campus, we are taking a careful
look at what we are doing, what we can do better and how we can make ourselves stronger.
I want to thank all of you who participated in these past planning efforts. Your invaluable
service and commitment to the university is greatly appreciated.
As we conduct thoughtful planning and analysis critical to advancing UAlbany, we are not
standing still. We are moving forward, achieving results and aiming to accomplish even
more ambitious goals in the future.
Strengthening our student profile
This fall, we welcomed one of our most academically accomplished and ethnically diverse
freshman classes in recent history. The class featured an average high school GPA of 91,
with nearly one-third students of color.
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From a record 22,189 applications, the University enrolled 2,340 freshmen at a 47 percent
admit rate.
The lower admit rate, when compared with the 50.4 percent rate of 2008, is indicative of our
increased selectivity for high-achieving students.
22 percent of the Class of 2013 graduated in the top 10 percent of their high school class,
compared to 16 percent of 2008’s freshmen.
The mid-range of the class's SAT scores was 1090-1220, a full ten points higher than last
year's range of 1080-1210.
The University enrolled 253 Presidential Scholars, a 56 percent increase over last year, and
the Honors College enrolled 137 high-achieving students, 88 percent more than last year.
The strength of our entering class is recognition of the quality of our academic programs and
the breadth of opportunity students find at UAlbany.
In the future, we will build on this momentum and continue to strengthen our student profile.
Strengthening our research enterprise
Last year, you attracted a total of $342 million in research funding. This accomplishment
positions UAlbany in the top tier of the nation’s research universities. I’m pleased to
announce that in the last three years, our university has attracted nearly $1 billion in research
funding.
I’d like to site just a few examples of our research prowess…
UAlbany’sCenter for Legislative Development was awarded $9.3 million by the U.S. Agency
for International Development to bolster government reform in Lebanon.
The Center for the Elimination of Minority Health Disparities Director and Anthropology
Professor Larry Schell led an effort to secure a $6.8 million National Institutes of Health
Award for the Exploratory Center on Minority Health and Disparities in Smaller Cities.
Biology Professor Melinda Larsen received two National Institutes of Health grants totaling
$1.9 million for her work modeling salivary glands.
Computer Science Professor George Berg led a collaborative campus-wide effort to secure
$800,000 in NSF funding to support our pioneering Center for Financial Market Regulation.
School of Education Professor Deborah May was awarded an $800,000 grant from the U.S.
Department of Education to investigate the preparation of leadership personnel.
School of Social Welfare Professor Carolyn Smith was awarded a $435,000 subcontract from
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to investigate partner violence and child
maltreatment.
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School of Public Health researchers Janine M. Jurkowski and Kirsten K. Davison have received a
$1.1 million stimulus grant to address the national childhood obesity epidemic…
I commend you – our faculty – for your hard work to attract additional federal stimulus
dollars.
18 principal investigators have already won more than $5 million and many other applicants
await final word.
Today I’d like to extend a warm welcome to James Dias our interim VP for research.
Jim brings to the position valuable experience as both chair of the Department of Biomedical
Sciences at our School of Public Health and a research scientist at the New York State
Department of Health’s Wadsworth Center.
We look forward to his leadership in building grant-growing opportunities to further expand
our research enterprise.
UAlbany is Expanding its footprint.
The Nelson A. Rockefeller Institute of Government is coming home to UAlbany. This public
policy think tank – currently a SUNY system entity -- researches and publishes on a wide
range of public policy topics.
Upon transitioning back to the University, it will complement our public policy programs.
We have selected the internationally recognized architecture firm Perkins+Will to design the
new School of Business building. This will be a world-class facility for UAlbany students and
faculty.
We are working on plans to expand our Campus Center and develop a new 500-bed student
housing apartment complex, which will be self-supporting.
We are “renewing” and “improving” our aged physical plant on the Uptown and Downtown
campuses with critical maintenance funding of approximately $34 million a year – nearly $170
million over five years.
We are exploring new opportunities for UAlbany as New York State continues its planning
process for the future redevelopment of the 330-acre Harriman Campus right next door to us.
Our expanding footprint will create an even better environment for teaching, scholarship and
living at UAlbany.
We are advancing environmental sustainability at UAlbany.
This fall we opened two sustainability-themed residence halls and a renovated Indian Quad
Dining Hall featuring locally grown food and other healthy options.
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These are designed to educate and promote an atmosphere of environmental consciousness
and healthy living practices as part of our "UAlbany Green Scene" efforts.
The University remains steadfast in its commitment to reduce harmful carbon emissions both
on the nation’s roadways and across campus.
We have made a good start and we are committed to doing much more on this critical issue
of our times.
Our academic profile is growing and staying ahead of the curve.
We have an outstanding set of academic programs that are ranked among the top in the
nation.
Our College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering is launching the world’s first
comprehensive undergraduate degree programs in nanoscale science and nanoscale
engineering.
With the School of Business, it is also expanding UAlbany’s pioneering Nano+MBA program
with a new nanotechnology elective track for the evening MBA program.
We have launched a new master’s program in forensic accounting to meet the emerging
demand for forensic accountants and CPAs with forensic expertise.
We have a new criminal justice honors program and new minors in medical anthropology and
neuroscience.
As we have throughout our history, we will continue building the excellence of our academic
programs. Our faculty is the key to our excellence. Our top priority, once we weather this
economic downtown, is to build our faculty ranks.
We are strengthening our connections with our community.
There are so many ways we are engaged with our community. Here are a few of many
examples.
Corianne Scally [rhymes with Alley] of Geography and Planning is working with her students
to create a feasibility assessment and grant proposal for the development of a
University/Community Center in the Arbor Hill Community.
Loretta Pyles and students in the School of Social Welfare’s Community and Public Service
Program are conducting an evaluation of Equinox domestic violence services that will have an
impact on how domestic violence services are delivered in Albany.
Phil McCallion and Lisa Ferretti in the School of Social Welfare teamed up with students and
community residents to address and improve health outcomes for West Hill /Arbor Hill
residents.
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Our new Action Plan to Advance Community Engagement will provide a blueprint to further
strengthen our connections with our community.
I’m confident that together we can and will make UAlbany even stronger in all these ways.
Upcoming….
Next semester, we’ll be re-opening Husted Hall after its $20 million renovation. We are
looking forward to hosting a tour of this new space. Husted first opened in September 1909
as the Science Building. Soon it will begin its next century of service.
Next Thursday, October 22, at our annual Citizen Laureate dinner, The University at Albany
Foundation will honor former New York State Governor Hugh L. Carey. I hope you will join us
for this.
November 16 is the date for the New York State Writers Institute’s 25th Anniversary
Celebration.
In 1984, Governor Mario Cuomo signed into law the legislation creating the Writers Institute.
Mario Cuomo, along with historian and Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer Doris Kearns
Goodwin, will be on hand for an evening of reminiscence and celebration.
As this and our other celebrations remind us, UAlbany is making great progress. This is a
tribute to the talents and strengths of UAlbany faculty and staff. Together, we can and are
shaping an even stronger future for UAlbany.
As a closing note, I’d like to share with you a brief video. It is a sample of the kind of
programming being developed by UAlbany students and our Office of Communications and
Marketing for UAlbany TV, the TV channel which airs in our residence halls and Campus
Center.
[video airs]
Thank you once again for your service to the University. I greatly appreciate all you do each
and every day to advance the mission of our great University.
I’m happy to take any questions you have.
[After questions.]
I’d like to now introduce UUP UAlbany Chapter President Candace Merbler who has asked to say
a few words. But before giving her the stage, I want to thank Candy for her leadership and
dedication in making our Chapter at Albany so successful. She has been an invaluable partner in
moving the University forward.
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