State University of New York
University at Albany
Spring Meeting of the Faculty
Wednesday, April 18, 2011
2:30 pm
MINUTES
1.
CALL TO ORDER
Senate Chair, Dr. Susanna Fessler welcomed those in attendance and called the meeting to
order. She referred to the documents available at the door which included the meeting’s agenda
and the minutes from the Fall Faculty meeting of October 26, 2011. Other informative materials
are available on the Senate web site.
2.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
The first order of business was to approve the minutes of the Fall Faculty Meeting. A motion to
approve the minutes was made and seconded. The minutes were approved as distributed by a
voice vote.
3.
MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR DECEASED COLLEAGUES
Dr. Fessler read the names of those colleagues who had died since the fall meeting. A moment
of silence was observed in their memory.
4.
REPORT TO THE FACULTY
Dr. Fessler introduced President George M. Philip, who delivered the following message to the
faculty:
President Philip greeted those in attendance and thanked them for pausing at this busy time to come
together. It is especially busy since work is in progress to finalize next year’s incoming class of
students, prepare our graduating students for the next chapter of their lives and tend to the everyday
responsibilities of our academic institution as we near the end of the spring semester.
During the week, nearly 1,300 accepted students and their families were hosted at our admissions’
open house. President Philip thanked the faculty and staff who participated and encouraged even
more participation in the future. Those efforts to welcome and introduce incoming students to the many
opportunities that exist play an important role in our recruitment efforts.
President Philip reported on the groundbreaking that took place the previous day for the new multi-
sports complex which has been a long time in the making. A $2 million campaign was launched to
name the football field after our beloved coach Bob Ford. Already alumni and former coaches have
contributed. The complex will better support our student athletes and recreational programs, which are
an important part of the UAlbany experience. The President thanked those who are helping to make
this project a reality.
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On April 19, the University will sign the United Nations Sustainability Declaration. This signifies our on-
going commitment to teach sustainable concepts, research environmental issues, and make the
campus greener. In honor of Earth & Wellness Day, a sustainable living fair will be held which is
designed to promote sustainable practices and personal wellness. All of these activities are a reflection
of our University’s many facets and of the exciting and important mission we share.
President Philip continued with an update on the state of our University and the progress being made in
carrying out our mission as a public research university.
The President was pleased to announce that a regular feature of previous faculty addresses has been
eliminated -- namely, the report on the latest state budget cuts. In the newly adopted state budget,
state assistance to the State University of New York was not cut for the first time in five years. Between
the rational tuition plan enacted last year and the state budget approved this year, we now have greater
predictability about available resources which strengthens our ability to plan. After some challenging
years, the University is now in a position to finally grow.
At our fall faculty meeting, we talked about the UAlbany Impact Plan – a five-year economic blueprint
for strengthening our academic, research and service mission. Guided by our strategic goals, it calls
for investment in new faculty and researchers in areas of strength and opportunity. It also calls for the
construction of a new academic and research complex.
While we remain in discussions with the Governor’s office to finalize our NYSUNY 2020 plan, we have
been moving ahead with faculty hiring. As you may have heard, we have been impressed by creative,
inspiring and transformational hiring proposals advanced across the University. The new state budget
includes $32.5 million to modernize our teaching, research and student support spaces across campus,
and to upgrade our central utilities. This brings our total capital investment to nearly $400 million in the
past five years.
This summer, the new residence hall complex, Liberty Terrace, located near Indian Pond, will come on
line just in time for the fall semester. We are improving the Indian Pond area with enhanced trails and
plantings, the installation of benches, an overlook and a footbridge. When completed this fall, it will be
an attractive environmental and recreational asset for our community. We plan to have an event there
to welcome everyone back to campus this fall.
We are also looking forward to the new School of Business building opening in Fall 2013. Our New
Data Center will be completed in 2014 and the Campus Center addition in 2015. While these projects
add tremendous value to our campus community, the capital needs across the University are many.
This past month, we had several sessions to present a new draft Facilities Master Plan to help guide
future capital improvements across the university for decades to come. We expect to complete the
plan later this year following campus feedback.
With our strategic plan, we are now in the initial implementation phase. Teams of faculty, staff and
students have been focusing on seven areas selected to be “first up” including:
1.
Undergraduate Academics;
2.
Student Engagement, Advising, Mentoring, and Support
3.
Student Recruitment and Enrollment
4.
Graduate Education
5.
Research
6.
Keeping Pace with Emerging Technologies, and
7.
Faculty and Instructional Development
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While a full progress report will be available at the end of the semester, President Philip highlighted a
few steps taken so far:
Proposed changes in the General Education program have been under discussion in the
Senate and are now moving toward implementation.
In the coming months, we’ll see a proposal to “enhance the availability and quality of
undergraduate writing instruction.”
A new academic support service – “Advising Plus” has been established. This service
connects students to the resources they need to succeed in their studies. Two new support
programs are now offered: One is for departmental academic advisors and the other a
mentoring program where faculty, staff, and students serve as mentors for new students.
A new group on Community College Connections focuses on student recruitment and
enrollment. This group aims to develop strategies to make it easier for the best community
college students to transfer to UAlbany. Just this morning we hosted Hudson Valley
Community College students whom we hope will become Great Danes.
Also underway is the design of a special unit for our educational offerings for Professional and
Continuing Education.
We are working to enhance the atmosphere of academic excellence on campus and to
showcase our students’ outstanding accomplishments.
We have been studying the needs of our non-tenure-track faculty, developing a mentoring
program for faculty, and designing better systems for pre- and post-award support.
We are also making progress on our objectives to design a set of metrics for assessing doctoral
program quality and to increase our research portfolio in order to keep pace with emerging
technologies, particularly those concerned with online teaching and learning. A full update will be
coming at the end of the semester on this first phase of implementation. We will also be mapping out
plans for the coming “year 2” of implementation. All of these initiatives are made possible because of
the more stable budget environment.
As we map a new way forward, UAlbany continues its prominence as a leading research university.
Our research and scholarship are yielding new knowledge and discovery, generating best practices and
spurring innovation. With research expenditures totaling $438 million in 2010-11, our faculty are:
Advancing novel approaches to treating disease
helping to improve governments and build democracies
improving education and public health systems
strengthening business and industry
creating a richer society through the arts and humanities.
President Philip highlighted recent projects in both research and scholarship:
An international effort, led by UAlbany climate scientist Mathias Vuille to address the impact of
shrinking Andes glaciers on water supplies in that region, and
An $8.7 million project designed to turn computer games into powerful learning tools, led by
College of Computing and Information Professor Tomek Strzalkowski and Jennifer Stromer-
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Galley in the Department of Communication.
Recognition of our RNA Institute’s potential economic benefits came in a $2-million award to
promote translational research. This award was from Governor Cuomo's "Open for Business"
grant competition.
Through the same program, $1 million was designated for the East Campus, home of our
School of Public Health and Cancer Research Center, to further develop a biotech hub in the
Capital Region.
The President highlighted additional UAlbany faculty success:
Sheila Curran Bernard of the Department of History wrote the script for a documentary film,
Slavery by Another Name – one of only 16 American documentary films selected to compete at
the 2012 Sundance Film Festival.
The 34th Annual Photography Regional exhibition, currently underway, was curated by our own
Danny Goodwin of the Department of Art. It is being exhibited at the Sage Colleges Opalka
Gallery.
Distinguished Teaching Professor Jeffrey Berman was chosen as one of the 300 best
professors of undergraduate students in America.
Meredith Weiss of the Department of Political Science was selected to receive a Chancellor’s
Award for Internationalization for her project on “Diversity and Development in Southeast Asia.”
President Philip also highlighted some of the initiatives that have distinguished our students:
Prestigious national recognition went to student Sheila Smith, a sophomore majoring in
nanoengineering. She is a 2012 Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship recipient.
UAlbany continues to have a tremendous impact through community service. For the second
year in a row, we were named to the U.S. President's Higher Education Community Service
Honor Roll. This designation recognizes students, faculty and staff for meaningful service that
achieves measurable results.
Three UAlbany programs were highlighted: the Communities for Healthy Living program
initiated by the School of Public Health; the Middle Earth Peer Assistance Program; and the
Urban and Regional Planning Program in Arbor Hill and the South End.
More national recognition came from the Newman's Own Foundation for the UAlbany student
group Reclassifying All Children Equally or R.A.C.E. for short.
R.A.C.E. and its partner organization - Big Brothers and Big Sisters of the Capital Region --
received $10,000 from Newman's Own to help expand mentoring services for our region’s at-
risk youth.
A few weeks ago, our students undertook a very delicate mission. The Five Quad Student
Volunteer Ambulance Service transferred two 3,000-year-old Egyptian mummies from their
home at the Albany Institute of History & Art to Albany Medical Center to undergo X-rays and
CAT scans. The Chronicle of Higher Education has interviewed the students about their
experience which will be featured in an upcoming article.
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Last year alone, nearly 7,400 UAlbany students participated in community service through volunteer
work, courses and internships. The collective force of UAlbany faculty, staff and students is making an
impact at home and around the globe.
President Philip invited everyone to attend a special forum at the end of the week on Community-
Engaged Scholarship in Research Universities. He said it would be a wonderful opportunity to further
explore ways our research and learning can benefit our communities.
President Philip reflected on a speech he gave when he assumed the position of UAlbany's interim
president in November 2007. One of his messages at that time was to take pride in the University and
to seek out ways to share that pride. What we communicate about UAlbany has a very tangible impact
on our institutional success. Each of us plays a role in shaping how we are regarded in our community
and in the world.
The President commented on the University’s growth since he was a student and throughout his
professional career. He said the UAlbany has developed and grown in truly remarkable ways:
From 1 campus to 3 over two counties
From less than 6,000 to more than 18,000 students
From a newly minted University Center to major Research Powerhouse with nine colleges and
schools.
As UAlbany's president, President Philip said he has had the privilege and opportunity to meet many of
our accomplished alumni who speak fondly of their time here and the faculty who made a difference in
their lives. So many of our alumni are grateful for the foundation our University provided. President
Philip said UAlbany had provided him with two great educations; the first being his undergraduate and
graduate degrees and the second, coming later in life, the experience of serving as President. During
this time, he has developed a much deeper appreciation for the impact and reach this University has on
the world around us. President Philip said he was grateful to everyone for his learning experience as
the president. While a search is under way for UAlbany's next president, and when his successor
arrives, he said he would leave with tremendous pride about all that has been accomplished and with
tremendous optimism about UAlbany's future. He said it has been a great privilege to work with
everyone.
President Philip introduced Arthur Rushforth and Bryant Barksdale from the Student Association who
made a special presentation recognizing the great work of two faculty members. Mr. Barksdale spoke
on behalf of the Student Association to present the Outstanding Faculty Award which has been in the
works for the past three years. The award goes to a faculty member who goes above and beyond what
is required of them here at the university and who has made significant contributions to enhance the
quality of life for students at UAlbany. There were over 57 nominations received in the past month
which were reviewed by a committee of nine students. The names of the nominees were kept
anonymous in order to eliminate any favoritism. This year’s recipient is Dr. Ewin McNay, Assistant
Professor in the Psychology Department who specializes in behavioral neuroscience. Dr. McNay was
nominated by five students. Students commented that Dr. McNay has greatly enhanced the life of
students on campus. He has allowed them to make discoveries and advancements in research for
both Alzheimers and Diabetes. Dr. McNay’s students have won the University Research Excellence
Awards and received top awards in biology and psychology. The students that have worked with Dr.
McNay have presented both nationally and internationally. Dr. McNay is the faculty advisor and mentor
to students in the neuroscience club on campus. Mr. Barksdale said it was his distinct pleasure to
present the award to Dr. McNay.
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Mr. Barksdale recognized Student Association Senate Chairman, Arthur Rushforth who presented the
Student Association Award for Excellence in Teaching. Mr. Rushforth said the award is given to a
faculty member who has shown dedication both inside and outside the classroom. The last time the
award was presented was in 1988. This year’s recipient, Paul Morgan, Jr., is an adjunct professor in
the School of Business. Dr. Morgan’s students commented that he is supportive both in and out of the
classroom and goes the extra mile to help his students, putting them first. Dr. Morgan’s lectures
include real life cases worked on as a law clerk. Dr. Morgan’s creative teaching methods and positive
attitudes have helped many students achieve academic success. Mr. Rushforth said it was his
pleasure to present Paul Morgan Jr. with the 2011-2012 Award for Excellence in Teaching.
5.
OTHER BUSINESS
Dr. Fessler said there was no old business from the fall faculty meeting but took the opportunity
to update the faculty on the presidential search process. Most news of the search is on the
presidential search web page. A link to the page can be found on the University home page.
The most recent news is that an ad for the position has been posted in a number of periodicals.
The search committee conducted two listening sessions in the past month and half to gather
feedback from the faculty and UAlbany community about the most important characteristics of a
presidential candidate. The committee is scheduled to meet once in May and once in June. It
is hoped that candidates will be met at a meeting in late June or sometime in July.
6.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no additional business, a motion to adjourn was made and seconded, and the
meeting was adjourned.
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