1997-98 State Budget
Contains Many Plusses for University

By Joel Blumenthal

It may have been the latest state budget ever, but from the viewpoint of the University at Albany, the wait was worth it, as most of the campus’s 1997 Legislative priorities were included in the final package.

Final passage of the 1997-98 State Budget did not come until late July and SUNY’s System Administration will not comment on the budget until this afternoon (Sept. 3), when the Board of Trustees has reviewed the package.

Shortly after its passage, however, President Karen R. Hitchcock said, “The University at Albany is most grateful for the strong vote of confidence we received from the Governor and Legislature in the 1997-98 State Budget.

“Restoring the State University and Tuition Assistance Program budgets means that Albany will be able to continue providing its students the high-quality academic programs that are reflected by its ranking as one of the nation’s top public research universities,” Hitchcock said.

“And, the special investment that has been made in the future of the University at Albany will allow us to strengthen our roles as educator of New York State’s next generation of leaders and problem-solvers and catalyst for the Capital Region’s economy,” she continued.

The budget includes $10 million to add a third wing to the University’s Center for Environmental Sciences and Technology Management (CESTM) — which will house a pilot manufacturing/workforce training facility — and the promise of another $5 million if Albany and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, in partnership with MIT and Stanford University, succeed in attracting a Semiconductor Industry Association research center.

Funding of $125,000 was also authorized for the University to establish the Center for Minority Health Research Training and Education at the School of Public Health and legislative authorization was given for Capital Region caseworkers to participate in the State’s $2.5 million Caseworker Education Program, where they would obtain an advanced degree from the University’s School of Social Welfare. Another $100,000 was committed to new programs in international studies.

“The commitment to these important research and economic development initiatives from Governor George Pataki and the legisla-tive leadership of Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno and Assem-bly Speaker Sheldon Silver will play an integral role in our efforts to attract computer chip manufacturing plants to New York State and the Capital Region,” said Hitchcock. “The next generation of these plants typically will be capitalized at $2.5 billion each and provide jobs for thousands of technical and professional employees.”

According to David Gilbert, University Director of Government Relations, before the end of the year, the Governor and Legislature will settle on capitol additions to the budget. “We’re hoping some or all four of the projects on our list will be included in those additions,” he said. The projects are: $3.5 million for the first phase of the new Life Sciences building addition to the Uptown Campus; $5.6 million for the completion of the new library; $13 million for a new public safety/University services building; and $7 million for an athletic building for intramural use that would replace the “Bubble.”

As for this year’s success, Gilbert noted that “all of the projects for which we received funding can stand on their merits alone. The key to our success this year was getting our message out. President Hitchcock led the effort, and the results speak for themselves.”

Hitchcock also noted that state Senator Hugh Farley was instrumental in obtaining funds that will allow the University to expand its volunteer programs to assist human service agencies, via its Community Services Program, and that Senator Bruno obtained matching funds to allow the University’s Center for Advanced Thin Film Technology to purchase equipment valued at $1 million.

Aceto, Barlow, Roberts named Collins Fellows

Three long-time members of the University community joined an elite group of honored faculty at the end of last semester, becoming the 1997 Collins Fellows, an award created and named in 1987 for former President Evan R. Collins which recognizes outstanding service and commitment to the campus.

Professors Vincent Aceto of the School of Information Science and Policy, Judith Barlow of the Department of English, and Warren Roberts of the Department of History were honored during the Graduate Commencement at the Recreation and Convocation Center on May 18.

In his 38 years as a faculty member, Aceto has been acknowledged as a dedicated and popular teacher and has served as associate dean and interim dean of the School of Information Science and Policy. He also has directed several of its federally funded projects. He has been president and had other cabinet positions with the University Senate, and chaired four Senate council, and been chair or member on more than 30 special committees.

As a leader in his field he co-created and co-edited the Film Literature Index, the most comprehensive reference source of its kind. Aceto was the project director of a library and information services with IBM Corp. that generated more than $2 million and involved many of the Albany School’s graduate students. He served the ministries of education in Cyprus and Bangladesh and was Fulbright Scholar to the University of Dacca.

Judith Barlow joined the faculty in 1973 and in the departments of both English and women’s studies taught more than 25 different graduate and undergraduate courses, and been a respected mentor and student advisor. Since 1976 she has been a chair and/or member of more than 20 English department committees, and University-wide she has served similar posts on the Council on Promotions and Continuing Appointments and on the University Senate (elected), been a mentor for Students at Risk and a discussion leader for four years on the freshman orientation book discussion.

Externally she has been and continues to be a prolific editor and consultant to national and international publishers, literary organizations, and theater groups.

Warren Roberts joined the University faculty in 1963 and has been cited as “the” exemplar at the University of the model faculty member. A demanding yet popular instructor, he received the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching and been awarded the rank of Distinguished Teaching Professor.

His scholarship includes the authorship of several books and numerous articles on the cultural and intellectual history of 17th and 18th Century Europe. A resource not only on this general topic but in additon in Spanish and Italian studies, he has provided direct campus service to such disciplines as art, art history, political sciences and physics.

His service to the University also includes chairmanship of his department for several years, chairing search committees for two deanships, and chairmanship as well of the Undergraduate Academic Council's Academic Standing committee and the Distinguished Teaching Professor Committee. He has served on numerous committees as well that dealt with academic honesty, student honors, and tenure and personal appeals.

New and Interim Positions Announced

Carl Carlucci, Vice President for Finance and Business, has been promoted to the position of Executive Vice President. In doing so, she recognizes Carlucci’s “outstanding leadership and significant contributions in the reshaping the Division of Finance and Business to better support our core academic enterprise.”

Carlucci, a former secretary of the Ways and Mean Committee of the New York State Assembly, joined the University Administration in January of 1993 He had previously worked in higher administration as a vice president for administration at Brooklyn College (1986), an assistant to the president of SUNY at Stony Brook (1976-78), and as an assistant professor of public administration at Baruch College (1985-86).

The President also announced that two vice presidencies will undergo transition in the coming year. Jeanne Gullahorn, Vice President for Research and Dean of Graduate Studies since 1986, will be on leave during the coming year as the graduate dean in residence for the Council of Graduate Schools in Washington D.C. She accepted the President’s offer to as Special Assistant to the President upon her return to the University.

“I want to acknowledge with deep gratitude the outstanding leadership that Vice President Gullahorn has provided during a period of sustained growth in research and graduate education, and to wish her well in this exciting opportunity to provide significant national service,” said Hitchcock.

Daniel Wulff, former dean of the College of Science and Mathematics and professor of biological sciences, will serve as Interim Vice President for Research. The responsibility for International Programs and Graduate Studies and Admissions will now be assumed by the Division of Academic Affairs. A national search will be undertaken for a new vice president to lead these areas, with Provost Judy Genshaft chairing the search committee.

A national search is also being conducted for a new Vice President for Advancement. Christian Kersten, who led the division since 1988, has taken a similar post at Albany Law School. Paul Stec, assistant and then associate vice president since 1991, is now Interim Vice President. “Paul has administrative expertise, professional experience and a strong commitment to the mission and values that inform this great university,” the Presi-dent said. “He will provide excellent leadership during this interim period.”