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ARP Funding- Farmingdale recently distributed over $6 million in aid to 4,450 students with funds
received through the American Recovery Plan. Campus use of some funds are prescribed.
For example, we are developing and prioritizing $600,000 in projects in the area of
campus mental health. Vice President Sunil Samuel has organized a group to explore
programming possibilities. We hope to gain approval for funding to expand distance
learning, course development, upgrading the Medical Laboratory Science lab classrooms
and the Whitman Help Desk, along with other technological improvements.
TheDream.US- Farmingdale State College and TheDream.US, the nation’s largest college access and
success program for immigrant youth, recently announced a new partnership that provides
scholarships for New York immigrant youth to achieve their higher education dreams.
This is particularly impressive because Farmingdale is the first Dream.US Partner
College on Long Island and the first institution within the State University of New
York system. The partnership is consistent with SUNY’s and Farmingdale State College’s
long-standing commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and to delivering high
quality opportunity programs. The College has committed to recruiting and serving
at least ten Dreamers each year as a part of this agreement.
Giving Back- Dr. Charles Adair, Dean of Arts and Sciences, has made a very generous donation
of $100,000 to the Farmingdale Foundation in memory of his late wife Violet, a Farmingdale
alum and first-generation college student who received a Biotechnology-Horticulture
degree here. The fund is set up in a way so that first generation college students
like Violet can receive scholarships indefinitely. This gift will help our students
for years to come and is an ongoing tribute to both Violet and Charles and their dedication
to students.
Campus Compact Scholarships- Four FSC students were recently selected to receive the Civic Innovation Scholarship
from Campus Compact. Although the guidelines indicated that only one student per campus
would be selected for the scholarship, we are thrilled that the following FSC students
were chosen. Aeon Blake (Business Management major Newman Civic Fellow) Project: Survey
of FSC Student Club Officers to incentivize minority student representation in these
roles; Nicholas Bosenbeck (CPIS) Project: Highlight racial inequity in the community
to increase voter mobilization; Sidra Naru (CPIS)Project: Needs assessment survey
of East Asian and South Asian FSC students; and Ashley Martinez (VIS COM) Project:
Racial equity in career development and job search strategies. Thanks to Assistant
Provost Jennifer Bryer and Nexus Center Executive Director Rena Varghese for leading
the effort to have our students recognized.
SUNY Student Satisfaction Survey- Thanks to Pat Lind-Gonzalez, Institutional Research, for compiling the data from
the most recent Student Satisfaction Survey. The SUNY Student Satisfaction Survey
replaced the Student Opinion Survey, which has been administered on a triannual basis.
In Spring 2021, the SSS was sent to degree-seeking undergraduate students 18 years
or older. The response rate was 14% vs. 19% in 2018. Pat will compare the scores for
2021 with those of the 2018 survey and with the scores earned by other SUNY institutions.
We also received hundreds of comments from students. In the near future, a summary
of key results will be sent to the campus.
Life Savers- Congratulations to five University Police Officers. SUNY recently announced the
recipients of the 2021 University Police Awards. FSC officers received recognition
in The Life Saving Awards category. These awards went to Police Officers Elizabeth
Malenovsky, Matthew Fitzharris, Joseph Tucker, Andrew Sousa, and Stephen Beckwith.
The recognition earned by our officers was the result of two incidents in which University
Police directly aided in saving lives.
Campus Safety- The College recently added a Safety Concern Reporting Form that is readily available
through Contact Us on the FSC home page or the UP webpage. This was the result of
suggestions and broad input from multiple groups on campus. The form is quite short
and easy to complete. Of course, in the event of an immediate emergency, please contact
University Police directly at 2111. Incidentally, Niche.com—a widely used site that
serves as a college guide—gave FSC a grade of A for Safety.
Holiday Hangout- Thanks to all who helped in organizing the Holiday Hangout. It was a safe and, we
hope, very enjoyable celebration that we may continue. Trade Services, Grounds, Moving
and Storage, and Custodial got into the spirit and went above and beyond to provide
a festive setting for all to enjoy. Thanks also to Aramark for serving up a creative
menu. Special thanks go to Carolyn Fedder, Andreia Ramos, and Dorothy Hughes for coordinating
the event.
My very best wishes for a happy and safe holiday and a healthy new year.
John Nader
President
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