College Council Minutes of Nov. 13, 2015

PRESENT                                              ABSENT
Ms. Darlene Baker                                Mr. James McMahon, chair, excused
Mr. Saleem Cheeks                              Mr. Brian McGrath, excused
Mr. Christopher Collins-McNeil         Mr. Gary Sluzar, excused
Mr. Richard Farfaglia 
Mr. Michael Goldych
Mr. Baye Muhammad
Mr. William Scriber

Ms. Deborah F. Stanley, President
Mr. Nick Lyons, Vice President for Finance and Administration
Mr. Howard Gordon, Executive Assistant to the President
Ms. Kristi Eck, Chief of Staff
Ms. Ellen McCloskey, Assistant to the President
Dr. Kristen Eichhorn, Faculty Fellow Ms. Ellen McCloskey, Assistant to the President
Ms. Joan Carroll, Faculty Assembly Chair Mr. Christopher Collins-McNeil, Student Association President
Ms. Julie Harrison Blissert, Director of  Communications and Marketing and College Council Recorder      

1.  Mr. Scriber called the meeting to order at 1:30 p.m. in Room 114 of the Marano Campus Center.

2.  The minutes of September 18, 2015, were unanimously approved.

3.  Student Association Report: Mr. Collins-McNeil reported that a contingent from Oswego was going to the SUNY Student Assembly in Rochester that afternoon to present a resolution to create identity caucuses. He read the resolution and asked the council to endorse it. Mr. Goldych so moved, Ms. Baker seconded, and the motion was approved unanimously. He reported that a trainer from the U.S. Student Association gave a workshop on advocacy; a $500,000 upgrade to WTOP-TV will be done over summer in part with $100,000 from donors; an OzFest survey is in progress for planning the May 6 event; he attended Net Impact training on racial equity and is working with the provost to diversify the curriculum; plans are underway to create student advisory councils for each school and police; and he mentioned a biannual Vote Oswego Project in cooperation with a political science professor, a town hall meeting with President Stanley, a promotional video on SA, an "SA 4 the Students" campaign, a student survey, SA purchasing moving online, efforts to make SUNY Student Assembly more independent, working with the Campus-City Relations Committee to vet landlords, SAPB events, Snapchat for SA, a proposed app for students to share rides, and the upcoming vote on the SA fee. Discussion included: recent events at the University of Missouri and a suggestion for the history curriculum, and a suggestion to involve the Board of Elections in the voter registration project.

4. President's Remarks: President Stanley reported on the SUNY Investment and Performance Fund proposals for $16 million for Oswego, SUNY Excels and campus Performance Improvement Plan to move SUNY to its goal of awarding 150,000 degrees per year, Middle States Commission on Higher Education Periodic Review Report due in 2017, SUNY's legislative focus and Stand with SUNY campaign, SUNY's budget process, StartUp-NY activity at SUNY Oswego and its need in Oswego County, how the college can help the community if Entergy closes its nuclear plant, the development campaign exceeding $38 million and plans for future campaigns, growth of research and sponsored program activity, active shooter training, chief diversity officer to replace interim officer by next fall, diverse hiring, diversity events, town hall meetings with students, the It's On Us campaign, Military Appreciation Night, Cruisin' the Campus at Thanksgiving and winter break, and December commencement to include an honorary degree awarded to Louis A. Borrelli Jr. '77. Discussion touched on Oswego County as the second leading electricity producer in the U.S., increasing Native American representation on campus, the rape investigation by SUNY Oswego police, and sexual assault on college campuses.

5.  Website Redevelopment Project: Ms. Blissert introduced Mr. Tim Nekritz and Mr. Rick Buck of her staff, who reported on the effort, nearing the end of phase I, to improve the college website using Drupal and Acquia. Improved are so far are site speed and durability, search engine optimization, security, and user experience and engagement. Future improvements will include personalization. Discussion involved the variability of content editors, server locations, accommodating mobile traffic, a cost calculator, social push, data sharing among offices, and comparison to other SUNYs.

6.  Faculty Report: Ms. Carroll reported on a proposed master's in strategic communication, graduate certificate in nursing and an accounting minor; approval of the 2019-20 calendar; academic administrative officer review of the School of Business dean in the spring and the president next fall; Oswego as a collaborative model in SUNY for developing Performance Fund proposals; and diversity and inclusion issues in faculty professional development. Discussion covered the need for uncomfortable conversations regarding diversity as in last year's Shine the Light on Oz campaign, and the demand for pharmacology doctoral degrees. 

7.  Old Business: None

8.  New Business: Mr. Goldych moved that the resolution below be approved to accept and submit the 2014-15 College Council Annual Report. Mr. Farfaglia seconded, and the council approved it unanimously.

Whereas, Article 8, Section 356 of the New York State Education Law details the powers and duties of Councils of state-operated institutions; and

Whereas, among the duties of Councils of state-operated institutions, as specified in item "i," Article 8, Section 356 of the New York State Education Law, is that each Council make an annual report to State University of New York Trustees on or before September first of each year; and

Whereas, the SUNY Oswego College Council has prepared its annual report for the year ending June 30, 2015; and

Whereas, The SUNY Oswego College Council has reviewed and voted to accept the annual report to the SUNY Board of Trustees;

NOW THEREFORE, it is hereby resolved:
Pursuant to and in accordance with Article 8, Section 356 of the New York State Education Law, the SUNY Oswego College Council submits the attached annual report to the State University of New York Board of Trustees on November 13, 2015.

See resolution (PDF, 30 KB)

Mr. Lyons drew members' attention to the Homecoming Challenge going on for five days.

Mr. Goldych reported that the men's ice hockey team raked leaves at his house as part of the annual statewide community-service project by SUNY Student-Athlete Advisory Councils to serve senior citizens.

The meeting adjourned at 3:30 p.m.