Chair: Susan Camp

Recorded: Kimberly Kenney

I. Approval of Agenda
The agenda was approved unanimously.

II. Approval of Minutes of General Faculty Meeting of May 5th, 2008

The minutes were approved unanimously.

III. President's Report – D. Stanley

President Stanley began her report with the progress made in student enrollment for this semester. For the 2008-2009 year, there are 7122 full-time students enrolled. This is “robust” but not continuing to grow. There are less part-time students enrolled than in previous years, only 1100 in 2008. President Stanley attributed this to a declining economy.  She does hope to solicit more part-time students with the opening of the Metro-Center in downtown Syracuse. Nonetheless, the application base has increased exponentially in the past years, with over 9,900 applicants for the Fall 2008 semester. SUNY Oswego has moved many recruiting resources downstate to attract students from that area.  Along the same lines, Oswego has become more selective this year than in previous years. This year, we reached 60% acceptance in the top two selectivity groupings, with higher SAT scores.
SUNY Oswego has reached a milestone in terms of application acceptance. The school is now at a less than 50% acceptance rate (48% to be exact). Regionally, there are less students accepted from Oswego and contiguous counties, and more students accepted from the counties farther away. This may have attributed to the high number of students occupying the residence halls. There are over 4000 students living on campus. The office of Residence Life and Housing opened up Sheldon Hall rooms to upper class students and temporarily had to “triple” students into double rooms. However, the “triples” are being sorted out as soon as a space becomes available. President Stanley hopes that the opening of the new housing by Glimmerglass in upcoming years will absorb some of the crunch for residents.

The University has hired 61 new employees, which is ten more than last year. Of the 61, sixteen are from underrepresented groups.
Perhaps the most important part of President Stanley’s report to the Assembly was the discussion on the SUNY budget cut. The current budget cut stands at $113.6 million. This is broken down into $26.6M reduction in utilities, $30M unfunded enrollment, $7M unfunded negotiated salaries, $38.8M from the initial 2.9% reduction, and $11.2M from May expenditure reductions. There was an additional proposed cut of $96.3 million in 2008. This would bring the total state reduction to $630 million.

A Campus President’s Budget Working Group has been formed. Chairman Hayden is working with the Board of Trustees and system administration officials for recommendations to the Governor and Budget Division on efforts to mitigate the $96.3 million cut.  What is impacting these solutions is that the 2008-2009 fiscal year is already underway, with enrollment and staffing determined. There is a multi-year deficit for New York State predicted.
President Stanley then outlined the financial plan for the 2008-2009 SUNY Oswego fiscal year. The budget is at $56,986,800, with a net reduction of $848,500 in energy reduction cuts. There is still a five year capital construction plan for academics including maintenance of academic buildings (proposed budget $110M), a strategic initiative for construction of the sciences facilities of $69.5M and a $25M member item also for the sciences project. The five year capital plan for residence hall is $76M.

President Stanley also gave credit to the busy and successful year last year. In the 2007-2008 school year a Software Engineering Degree was developed, the School of Communication, Media and the Arts formed, the Professional Development Center opened, and the Metro Center opening.
The President was excited to announce the success of the Inspiring Horizons Campaign. Over $23.9 million was raised, along with many milestones: the first million and multi-million dollar bequest, the first million dollar gift, 60 new scholarships, a $9 million endowment, the first donor supported fellowship and donor supported capital projects, as well as the first speakers summit.
President Stanley ended her report looking ahead to the semester. This spring, Elizabeth Kolbert, author of the book for the Oswego Reading Initiative, will attend Oswego to discuss her book, Sonya Sanchez will speak at the school, and college colors day is September 26th.  Also, the Lewis O’Donnell Media Summit is on October 22nd, along with many performances by “ke-nekt” and others. She wishes everyone a great semester.

IV.FA Senate - M. Ryniker

Professor Ryniker announced that she and Joan Carroll will be attending the Senate Plenary in Potsdam next month.

V. UUP Report- C. Spector

Chuck Spector showed the Assembly a video clip of a rally in Albany against taking SUNY money. He then informed the Assembly of the recent actions of the union. They had Advocacy Days in Albany, a legislative luncheon, a UUP-sponsored Legislation, and UUP-sponsored television advertisements, shown mainly in Albany with the law-makers, all to raise awareness and action against the state taking money from the SUNY system.
On campus, Chuck invited all faculty members to a Fall Picnic on September 19th. He also mentioned a possible Winter Reception and the possibility of another Spring Retiree Reception.
Since some members are not getting enough funding for projects, etc., Chuck mentioned the Join Labor Management Funds program.  For further information, check  HYPERLINK "http://www.uupinfo.org" www.uupinfo.org. Chuck also mentioned the IDAP grants; there is about $30,000 to be given away to 20 full-time and 4 part-time faculty members.
Chuck then announced that he would not be running for re-election at the end of his term. For any members interested in filling the position, there will be a New Leaders Workshop at the Syracuse Sheraton on October 17th and 18th.

VI. Chair Report - S. Camp            

The Chair of Faculty Assembly began her report to the faculty by informing them that the “@oswego.edu” email was now an official means of college communication. The Chair then reported that many faculty members have been invited to serve on the Budget Advisory Task Force. Since the establishment, it has met three times.  Campus Concept Committee continues to work on visioning for the Hewitt Quad.  Any faculty that is not involved in the visioning but should be, please let Dr. Camp know.  Finally, Dr. Camp informed the faculty that several of the FA council members are waiting to meet with Nancy Willie-Schiff, the Assistant Vice-Chancellor for Undergraduate Programs next week.

VII. Unfinished Business

There was no unfinished business.

VIII. New Business

There was no new business.

The meeting was adjourned at 5:07 P.M.