Update from Farmingdale State College President John Nader, PhD |
November, 2017 |
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November, 2017 Programs Under Development - Thanks to the many faculty members and deans who have been at work to complete proposals for new academic programs. We had visits and discussions with external reviewers who've evaluated proposals for a Data Analytics degree and a Civil Engineering Technology degree. We've also had visits from an accreditation team and an accreditation liaison for our Aviation program and our School of Business, respectively. A number of other academic program proposals are nearing completion. Building and Grounds Upgrades - As you can see, we are undertaking a number of buildings, grounds and aesthetic improvements. In addition to the September opening of Conklin—a huge success with students—the women's softball facility is underway, walkways have been added and upgraded in the Great Mall, Books N' Beans has been remodeled and reopened. The MADD garden has been significantly spruced up. We are hoping to renovate and improve the Ward Hall Great Room. Needless to say, we are facing substantial space constraints and will need to closely examine the use of the space that is presently available. One of the goals of the newly adopted Strategic Plan is to "Upgrade and expand buildings, grounds and facilities to accommodate program innovation, expansion and student engagement." This is costly, inconvenient and needed for ongoing success. We continue to advocate for a new academic building and we have recently reviewed plans to renovate Roosevelt Hall. We await word on state funding for this project. Retention and Enrollment Growth - We experienced enrollment growth this semester, which came largely through improved retention. This means, in essence, that the College is meeting two of its principle goals simultaneously. That is to sustain steady growth while improving retention rates. Beverly Kahn recently provided data demonstrating the positive impact that our RAM program is having on retention rates. The very strong turnout at the recent Open House speaks to both the improving reputation of the College, the relevance of our programs, and our relative affordability. Data on the share of Open House attendees who apply and are admitted to the College indicates that in fall 2016 over 40% of students who attended open house applied to the College and had an acceptance rate which was far above the college-wide average. There are stresses that can accompany growth. That is part of the reason we focus on the quality and availability of campus space. Faculty Hiring Plan - Over the last three years, the College has made a concerted effort to recruit and hire more full-time faculty. Currently, there are over a dozen new faculty positions approved for the 2018-19 year. Thanks to all of you who've served on one or more of these search committees. Tobacco Use Policy - Thanks to Kevin Murphy and the Tobacco Use Policy Working Group for their prompt and thoughtful work. I anticipate that we will see a move to restricting smoking to a relatively small portion of the campus—perhaps the outer periphery. The Group recommended a policy change be accompanied by an educational campaign. SUNY Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Awards - Thanks to Dr. Veronica Henry for coordinating the recent nomination of Farmingdale State College for SUNY's campus-wide Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Award. The nominating document is impressive. Celebration of Scholarship - Seventy faculty members shared poster sessions during the recent College Celebration of Scholarship. It's quite remarkable to spend some time at the Celebration and see all of the great and interesting work being done by our faculty—often in conjunction with students. Thanks to Provost Laura Joseph and the Office of Academic Affairs for sponsoring the event for a second successful year. Athletics – Congratulations to the Women's Soccer team which captured the Skyline Conference Championship and competed in the NCAA regional tournament in Pittsburgh. The women lost 1–0 to Carnegie Mellon in a very competitive game. Web Site and College Promotion - We have substantially improved the web site adding the video and graphics linked here. We anticipate publishing Farmingdale's first College publication/magazine in February of 2018. President's Gala - Congratulations to Nancy Connors and the Farmingdale Foundation and Alumni Association Offices on a successful Gala with over 300 attendees. Thanks to their work the Gala has moved in the direction of recognizing an outstanding faculty or staff member, a supportive alumnus, a student and a vital business partner. This year we had four very deserving honorees: Dr. Veronica Henry '77, a highly regarded faculty member and member of the cabinet; Sal Ferro, alumnus who operates Alure Home Improvement—a national leader in its field; Messiah Gaymon, a Student Government leader and D3 LLC, which designs, engineers and manufactures displays for prestige clients like Estee Lauder, L'Oréal and Chanel. D3 employs 33 FSC grads in a workforce of about 130 people on Long Island. Finally, we are not without challenges and problems—some of which I've mentioned above. Overall, however, we are in a strong place and we remain focused on the goals and direction outlined when I arrived and those articulated in the strategic plan. As always, I welcome your thoughts and suggestions. I appreciate all the support, encouragement, and suggestions that the campus community provides. I wish each of you a joyous and peaceful Thanksgiving holiday. -John |
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