Increased Appropriations, No Tuition Hike in 1998-99
SUNY�s Board of Trustees on June 23 approved a 1998-99 fiscal year financial plan that distributes $1.585 billion, a 4.4 percent funding increase for the 34 state-operated and funded campuses. The increased funding reflects a $90 million increase in the state appropriation � including $66 million in additional tax support for University operations adopted in the State budget by the Governor and the Legislature. All campuses will receive an increased level of support over 1997-98 and no undergraduate tuition increases are forthcoming.
"Today�s Board of Trustees� action to increase funding for our state-operated campuses is the latest in a series of positive developments for the State University," Chancellor John W. Ryan said. "This is the best budget for the University system in nearly 15 years. It will allow us to improve on a fine history and tradition of academic excellence and accessibility."
In approving this year�s financial plan, the Trustees placed greater investment toward enhancing undergraduate education; enrollment and retention of students; academic quality in teaching and scholarship; and sponsored research programs; all in accordance with campus mission.
Eleven Students Awarded by SUNY for Excellence
Eleven University at Albany students were among 75 from 26 campuses system-wide honored by Chancellor Ryan with the 1998 Chancellor�s Award for Student Excellence in May.
"It is very important that we recognize students whose academic achievements bring credit to themselves and the entire State University," said Chancellor Ryan. "The Chancellor�s Award for Student Excellence, created last year, is meant to show that the University respects those with the courage, ability and will to succeed."
Nominated by the campuses, the award recipients have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement and have previously received national or international recognition for their efforts. Some of the honored students have won Fulbright, Goldwater, National Science Foundation and other distinguished scholarships. Some have been recognized for their achievements by Phi Theta Kappa, the national academic honor society for two-year colleges. Others are published authors.
The University at Albany honorees are listed below, with specific accomplishment, followed by the communities where they reside.
Chia-Fang Chen, Association of International Education, Japan Scholarship, Albany Carrie McHugh, Association of International Education, Japan Scholarship, Albany Susan Pedrick, Association of International Education, Japan Scholarship, Fonda Leonel Quezada, Association of International Education, Japan Scholarship, Albany John Ryan, Association of International Education, Japan Scholarship, Albany Yingmei Tang, Association of International Education, Japan Scholarship, Albany Chi Yang, Association of International Education, Japan Scholarship, Saratoga Glen Ferro, Wall Street Journal Award, Albany Matthew Rogers, Canadian Studies Graduate Fellowship in anthropology, Rensselaer Stacy Neidoff, B�rith Abraham and B�nai Zion Award in Hebrew, Albany Heidi Gundlach, Semi-Conductor Research Corporation Award, Scotia.
Governor George E. Pataki�s nomination of Celine Racine Paquette, EdD �80, to the Board of Trustees was approved by the State Senate on June 16. Paquette will serve a seven-year term.
Paquette is owner and operator of Paquette�s Insurance Agency in her native town of Champlain. She has served as a Clinton County legislator since 1996 and is currently deputy chair of that legislature.
She earned a bachelor�s degree in school nurse-teacher education at Plattsburgh in 1960 and a master�s in guidance and counseling and a doctorate in educational administration at Albany. She served as a school nurse-teacher in East Greenbush and as an instructor at several colleges. From 1966-84, she was assistant principal at Columbia High School in East Greenbush and district supervisor of health services and health education for the East Greenbush school system. From 1984-87, she was principal of Ticonderoga Middle School.
Paquette said: "I know the importance of a public higher education in our daily lives, having once been a SUNY student. I will do my best to work on behalf of all students in the SUNY system."
Governor Pataki on July 22 signed into law legislation broadening the powers of State University of New York law enforcement officers. Effective January 1999, the new law expands jurisdiction of the 504 State University officers on 27 campuses � who are presently limited to campus properties and adjoining roadways�and changes their status from "peace officers" to "police officers."
The bill was sponsored by Senator Stephen M. Saland and Assemblyman Ronald Canestrari of Cohoes. Council 82, the union that represents SUNY�s law enforcement officers, strongly supported the measure.
The bill grants SUNY officers the same powers and status of other police officers in New York. Campus officers will be legally allowed to pursue criminal investigations off-campus and assist local police forces. Officers are also given the additional power of "stop-and-frisk" and powers to execute bench warrants and transport persons in danger to themselves to mental health facilities. SUNY officers already have many of the same powers of police while patrolling campus properties.
"The measure will improve the working relationship between local police and State University law enforcement officers," said R. Bruce McBride, assistant vice chancellor for University Life and Public Safety. McBride noted that until the enactment of this measure, State University law enforcement members were not legally allowed to assist local police in law enforcement matters.
Each campus will be required to prepare a written protocol for mutual assistance with area law enforcement agencies. The change to university police will require training during the Fall Semester in topics related to the additional law enforcement powers.
SUNY Online Network Skyrockets
For the first time, SUNY students living in China are enrolled in online courses through the SUNY Learning Network, the first and most comprehensive multi-campus distance learning program in the world.
This fall, the Learning Network will double the online courses available to students working at home, in a neighborhood library, or at a personal computer across the globe. Two hundred courses will be offered, up from 98 this past spring, and 17 more SUNY campuses will now offer courses, bringing the total to 37. Enrollment has increased to more than 2,000 students, nearly four and a half times since 1996-97 when enrollment was 450 students.
Karen P. Swan, associate professor in Albany�s Department of Educational Theory and Practice, said, "The students love it and the SUNY Learning Network gives access to higher education to those who previously have not been able to fit college courses into their lives."
Swan, who has taught education and media courses via the SUNY Learning Network since 1997, also stated: "With an online course, the student turns on the computer when he or she is ready to learn. And, because students in an online course write their responses after reading what others have written, the discussions tend to be more thoughtful than some discussions in traditional classrooms."
The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation�s continuing financial support has greatly aided the Learning Network, including a new two-year, $1.3 million grant, bringing the Foundation�s total contribution to $2.6 million since the 1994-95 school year.