SUNY Applications Up for 1998-99, Last Spring
Applications to SUNY campuses are running 3 percent ahead of last year for full-time entering freshmen. The results could produce yields that rival last fall�s record growth in first-time students, when 57,882 full-time freshmen entered SUNY, 26,719 at the State-operated campuses, and 31,135 at the community colleges.
Last year, first-time full-time enrollment increased by a record of six percent. The community college application trend is not available until later in the year, with applications usually surging just before the term begins. Also, many community colleges process their applications locally, thus system wide information on applicants remains limited until the early fall. System Administration does not release any campus specific information until it is finalized in the fall.
University at Albany applications, at the time of this assessment, were running about even with a year ago. 1997-98 applications, however, were up 7.5 percent over 1996-97.
SUNY also reported that results for Spring 1998, or the semester currently underway, are now complete and the campuses, both State-operated and community colleges, enjoyed increases. Overall, the number of applicants increased by nearly 700, or more than 4 percent compared to last year, with increased transfers from within SUNY.
Associate Vice Chancellor David Farren in a briefing to the State University Board of Trustees said, "The feedback we are getting from the campuses is that the number of applications are up, and several campuses are closely watching how fast they are growing."
The growth in applications may be credited to several factors including more targeted recruitment by the campuses. Additional efforts include: wide-spread use of CD-ROMS with New York State high schools featuring individual campuses; and increased advertising and mailings, with the 1-800 information line operators are now fielding twice the number of inquiries they did a year ago.
One weak area is the application flow from the North Country. The ice storm in January brought to a halt the flow of applications and transcripts from the high schools in the affected areas. To help stimulate new activity, Chancellor Ryan has sent a letter to high school seniors in the affected counties reassuring them that there is still time to apply to SUNY campuses of their choice. He also highlighted the efforts of the North Country campuses in helping communities overcome the devastation of the ice storm. SUNY officials say that expectations are that applications will rebound from this area.
SUNY to be Represented �Up There�
The NASA space shuttle mission scheduled for later this year will be commanded by Lt. Col. Eileen Collins, a State University Community College at Corning alumna. The mission will launch the Advanced X-Ray Astrophysics Facility-1, a new space telescope.
Software Policy Clarified
The State University of New York has issued the official policy regarding software development and ownership practices within SUNY. The policy covers the various aspects of ownership, administration, and promotion that may result upon the creation of computer software within the University.
According to the document, title to computer software and software support materials developed by faculty, employees, and students of the State University of New York or employees of the Research Foundation shall belong solely to the State University of New York or the Research Foundation, unless specifically outlined conditions are met.
The policy addresses only computer software and software support materials. It does not include literary, instructional, dramatic, musical, or artistic works created by faculty, employees, or students of the State University of New York
"The adoption of the software policy by the SUNY Board of Trustees brings the issue of intellectual property - and specifically software - in line with the overall SUNY patent policy," said Eugene Schuler, director of technology development for the Office for Research.
"It has clarified how software is to be treated. Now it will be administered in the same method as patented inventions, whose policy has been in place in 1988."