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Car-mencement and More - Thanks to the efforts of dozens of our faculty, staff, and students, Car-mencement was an enormous success. Over 500 students in vehicles participated. We have received
a great deal of favorable feedback with many people suggesting we make this an annual
fun event. The concept grew out of my discussions with many members of the Class of
2020. In addition, many academic areas held their own virtual events for students
including STS, Applied Psychology, and others. We were also able to hold our annual
IEEE Scholarship Awards remotely. Other areas, including the Disability Services Center,
Bioscience, Dental Hygiene, and the RAM program created their own end of the year
videos. The College also produced our Farmingdale Strong video.
Student Emergency Fund - This fund, which the College Foundation established during the early days of the
COVID crisis, has accumulated nearly $85,000. A matching gift of $50,000 from the
SUNY Impact Foundation is expected soon. A small committee established broad criteria
and is now reviewing about 200 applications for assistance. The Fund has received
donations from over 180 individuals and institutional givers.
CARES Awards - FSC will distribute approximately $3.2 million in direct aid to students as a result
of the CARES Act. A big thank you to a small committee that helped establish the criteria
to be used in distributing the aid. The largest awards will go to Pell eligible students
for whom the estimated family contribution to educational expenses is zero. Our formula
allowed us to award CARES funding to about half of our eligible student population.
Student Athletes - The 2014 cohort student-athlete graduation rate was 74%, which is well above the
overall College rate for the same period. The student athletes academic success rate
was 94% based on NCAA criteria. The 94% includes graduates as well as those who transferred
or left the College in good academic standing.
Congratulations - Professor Marj Issapour was selected to participate in the Women of Renewable Industries
and Sustainable Energy NY Capital Region Webinar entitled New York Offshore Wind:
Meet the Women Driving the Next Generation of Renewable Energy.
Data Galore - Thanks to Pat Lind-Gonzalez and Kathy Beier for providing two recent reports that
may be of interest to the campus. These are our Six Months After Graduation Survey
and our Demographic/Diversity Data. A few highlights, taken directly from Pat's brief
summary of the survey, follow:
- 92% of respondents are working and/or continuing their education. Most, (89%), are
solely working (54%) or working while continuing their education (35%). Three percent
are concentrating solely on their education.
- 74% of employed respondents are very satisfied (34%) or satisfied (40%) with preparation
for employment that they received at Farmingdale State College.
- The percentage of satisfied graduates has steadily increased from 53% among 2015-16
graduates to 74% among 2018-19 graduates.
- More than one-third (39%) of baccalaureate graduates are continuing or plan to continue
their education in another formal degree program.
And from the Demographic/Diversity Data (again, from Pat's summary):
- While the percentage of students receiving a Pell grant is down slightly to 34% from
34.5% the prior year, the six-year graduation rate of students receiving a Pell grant
increased to 53% from 48% with the prior cohort.
- The percentage of students who are first generation to college is 30%, down from 32%
in 2018.
- The percentage of students who identify as minority continued to increase to 45%.
Similarly, the percentage of under-represented minorities increased to 35%.
- The six-year graduation rate among baccalaureate students increased to 56% overall
from 55% with the prior cohort. Graduation rates increased among Hispanic/Latino students,
Black/African American students, and white students, but declined among Asian students.
- The first-year retention rates among baccalaureate students decreased to 80% from
84% the prior year. Retention rates declined among students from all minorities while
they increased among white students.
This will be a most unusual summer for the College. We will continue to communicate
with the campus about the fall semester. More information is forthcoming. I appreciate
your diligence through these difficult months.
I hope everyone finds the time to safely relax and take pleasure in the things you
most enjoy during this time of year.
John Nader
President
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