Quick story jumps Remarks by President DeFleur University Growth The Undergraduate Experience The Graduate Experience Research for the Public Good Institutional Advancement/ Community Outreach
Maureen White, executive assistant to the president, talks with Thomas Kelly, vice president for external affairs, during a break in Tuesday’s University Forum. (Photographty by Evangelos Dousmanis)

Faculty and staff listen intently during Tuesday’s University Forum session. From left, in foreground, Connie E. Corey, associate director of environmental health and safety; background row left to right, Katharine Krebs, director of international programs; H. Stephen Straight, vice provost for academic affairs; Molly M. Nearing, senior facilitator from the Center for Quality; and Susan Holden, keyboard specialist from the Center for Quality. (Photography by Evangelos Dousmanis)

BY ANITA KNOPP DOLL AND SANDRA PANICCIA

The events of September 11 and the resulting economic downtown will present difficult challenges for Binghamton University in the coming years. But while they may slow the University’s progress towards its goals, the University will not veer from its intended path.

That was the message of University President Lois B. DeFleur and the five vice presidents to the campus community at University Forum 2002 this week. More than 550 faculty and staff members were expected to attend the two half-day briefings Tuesday and Thursday to learn about University initiatives and challenges.

This year’s forum was organized around five key themes: University growth, the undergraduate experience, the graduate experience, research for the public good, and institutional advancement and community outreach.
In her opening remarks, DeFleur said the campus, like the rest of the nation, has felt the losses of September 11. At least 15 alumni were killed, and more than 30 members of the University community lost family members. The attack also is affecting student college choices, travel issues for international students and funding priorities for research, she said.

As a result of the state’s economic downtown, the SUNY trustees have proposed no increase in state funding for 2002-2003. At the present time, SUNY is not included in the state’s early retirement incentive program and no tuition increase is proposed.

A flat budget would effectively mean about a 5 percent reduction for Binghamton, because of inflation costs and already negotiated salary increases, DeFleur said.

“There is no doubt that 2002-2003 will be a difficult year,” she said. “We must continue to work efficiently, utilizing our resources even more effectively. The University has been working to find additional savings in energy conservation, and we will be looking carefully at everything we do to find savings. But we are not planning any layoffs of permanent employees.”

DeFleur said most analysts expect the impact of September 11 to last two to three years. “Thus, our fundamental vision for the University will not change substantially, but we will have to move more slowly in working to achieve our objectives.”
Unlike previous downturns, SUNY schools now retain the tuition and fees they collect, which DeFleur said gives Binghamton greater flexibility to manage its enrollment and resources.

DeFleur said the University is still committed to increasing enrollment to 15,000, but given the current restrictions in resources, the growth must be done slowly. DeFleur said the fall admissions target will be only 100 above the current enrollment.

“I know that Binghamton’s size and future growth are often discussed, but in order to maintain our broad mission in instruction, research and public service,” DeFleur said. “I believe the University must continue the process of slowly increasing its size.” In public higher education, she said institutional size affects the synergy of academic offerings and faculty recruitment, alumni support, research funding and recognition.

A 20 percent increase in the number of high school graduates in New York state in the next decade is also expected to increase demand. In addition, other SUNY centers are expanding (Albany plans to increase from 17,000 to 20,000 and Buffalo from 24,000 to 26,700)

She said Binghamton’s size has spurred questions about whether it should continue to develop as a national research institution or become a regional largely undergraduate university. “I want to make it clear that I believe very strongly in Binghamton’s role as one of the finest undergraduate institutions in the nation as well as a doctoral research institution,” she said.

DeFleur said the University is at a critical juncture in its history. “We have a unique history and culture,” she said, “but we are also part of a rapidly changing educational environment — one that is at once more interdependent and more competitive. In order for Binghamton to succeed in this environment, we must both change as well as build on our historic strengths.”

University Growth
Anthony Ferrara, vice president for administration, said steady enrollment increases in the past decade have been matched by increases in faculty and staff, financial support and facilities. The state portion of the University’s support has shrunk, however, from 52 percent in 1991 to 43 percent in 2001, increasing the need to find outside sources of support.

New construction and renovation of facilities has been targeted to meet demand for residential housing, research initiatives, new technology, and library and teaching needs. The University increased its total square footage in the last decade from 3.9 million square feet to 4.3 million square feet. Within the next three years it will grow to 4.99 million in the next three years.
A new residential housing complex between Hinman and College-in-the-Woods is expected to provide housing for an additional 1,100 students, Ferrara said.

He said the University is close to completing the purchase of the NYSEG property on the Vestal Parkway to house a new research and engineering complex. The purchase has been approved by the SUNY Trustees, the NYSEG board of directors and the New York Public Service Commission. The contract is currently being reviewed by the State Attorney General’s Office and the State Comptroller. In the meantime, he said the University is working to upgrade its science buildings and enhanced classrooms.

The Undergraduate Experience
Rodger Summers, vice president for student affairs, said BU must continue to look for ways to attract new students in an increasingly competitive environment, and to meet their expectations once they arrive.

Describing BU’s competition as schools such as Cornell, NYU, Syracuse and other SUNY university centers, Summers said BU’s ability to easily attract these students is being heavily challenged. To grow enrollments while maintaining selectivity, he said the University is relying on a more personalized recruiting approach that uses electronic communications and individually targeted messages.

He said the University uses extensive demographic and student survey data to understand the characteristics of future student populations and to determine their educational expectations. This information is then translated into campus programs that allow BU to remain competitive and attractive.

Summers said the University continues to enhance the undergraduate experience with specially designed courses, offering outside-the-classroom experiences, honors recognition, experiential learning through programs such as Discovery, the Center for Excellence in Student Leadership and the Peer Education and Training program. The University is also striving to enhance undergraduate research opportunities, Summers said.

The Graduate Experience
Provost Mary Ann Swain said BU has steadily increased its graduate enrollment and is pursuing several new initiatives to raise the number even higher.

The University is looking to initiate new graduate programs in several areas: biomedical anthropology (MS); philosophy’s social political, ethical and legal program (MA, PhD); materials science (MS,PhD); materials engineering (MS,PhD); bioengineering (MS, PhD) and social work (MSW).

It is also looking to expand 3/2 programs that combine three years of undergraduate work with two years of master’s work in an accelerated program. Among the programs already under way or being considered: Harpur (BS/BA)/School of Management (MBA); philosophy, biology, computer science; electrical engineering; and computer engineering (BS)/electrical engineering (MS).

And the University is developing new post-baccalaureate certificate programs in teaching, global studies, women’s studies, biological science and nursing.

Among the biggest challenges BU faces in attracting new graduate students is the level of stipends it offers. Swain said the University has increased the stipends for six programs this year and plans to increase support for four to six additional programs next year.

The Graduate School is also working to enhance graduate student options in academe and out by offering graduate level courses on university teaching, workshops on topics like public speaking and interviewing, mentoring, and assistance in career development.

Research for the Public Good
Frances E. Carr, vice president for research, said graduate research and scholarship are vital to the University’s future and represent an area of growth for the University and economic growth for the community.
Carr said the University is faced with the challenge of reaching the optimum size to effectively compete as a doctoral-granting institution. To overcome this limitation, the University strives for synergy and partnerships that can maximize resources and benefits.

Carr reported that research partnerships have provided the catalyst for the area’s economic resurgence with eight new faculty inventions this year with patents pending; and two companies incubated. BU’s Center for Advanced Technology is expected to generate or retain 500 jobs.

Carr reported that 2001 marked a record year with $23.5 million in sponsored research. This marks the third consecutive year of double-digit growth over the past five years.

Institutional Advancement/Community Outreach
Thomas Kelley, vice president for external affairs, said the University has made important strides in the last decade to increase the level of external support.

The success of the University’s first-ever comprehensive gifts campaign (see story page 1) in surpassing its goal well ahead of schedule will help set the stage for future fundraising. The campaign, which thus far has raised $38.4 million, generated several important “firsts” for the campus including the role of alumni as the lead donor group and the annual fund exceeding $1 million mark.

“These are important building blocks on which future campaigns will be constructed,” Kelly said. “And they are signs that our fundraising efforts are maturing.”

The University will wrap up the Believe in Binghamton campaign on June 30 and is planning a celebration at Homecoming in October. Planning will then begin on the next comprehensive gifts campaign. Private fundraising is particularly crucial in maintaining the University’s commitment to excellence, particularly in a time of declining resources, Kelly said. Among the current fundraising needs are furnishing the University Union addition, the Field House and the proposed research and engineering complex in the former NYSEG building.

Kelly said the University is also working on several fronts to enhance BU’s visibility in the state and region. Marketing task teams, organized by the Office of Communications and Marketing, are looking at marketing issues related to community relations, development and alumni affairs, graphic identity and branding, national recognition and peer institutions, research and economic development, and undergraduate and graduate enrollment.