Binghamton University has always been a place of uncommon journeys. From its founding in a small building in Endicott to its national prominence as a doctoral research institution just a little more than 50 years later, the unquenchable thirst for discovery has guided Binghamton’s students, faculty and staff along many extraordinary journeys. Many of you, too, have joined in our quest for excellence and supported the vision to enhance our intellectual creativity, which can effect real, positive change in our communities.

Binghamton’s continued growth and success rest on our ability to maintain a balance of public and private support. Private gifts provide flexibility and help us enhance our standing as one of the best public universities in the nation. All of you have played a critical role in this effort, and I appreciate your generosity and your commitment to Binghamton.

In New York state, we have all felt the effects of a difficult and ongoing economic slump. In this environment, the University is working closely with community, state and national leaders to develop applications of our research discoveries that will help the economic recovery of the region.

In this annual report, you will read about students such as Seth Schneider ’01, ’03, who worked on research projects with engineering faculty member Ron Miles. This work, partially funded by a generous grant from a New York City-based private foundation, has promising potential for civilian and military applications, such as multidirectional hearing aids and the detection and tracking of troop and vehicular movements.

Retention and development of our faculty is critical to Binghamton’s future. Gifts such as that from Burton Koffman and his wife, Ruthanne Koffman ’82, ’84, who have established the Koffman Fellows Endowment for faculty research on finance and financial management, assist us in this effort. We thank them for their long-standing generosity.

This year saw the University’s acquisition of 22 acres on the east boundary of campus, the future home of the Innovative Technologies Complex. The ITC will house a wide range of research, engineering and technology transfer activities. We have begun renovating the existing building on this site and plan to eventually construct several more buildings on the property.

Private gifts from the Hoyt Foundation and the Gertrude E. Skelly Foundation this year support our master of social work in the School of Education and Human Development and the Baccalaureate Accelerated Track program in the Decker School of Nursing, respectively. Both programs will help to ease a growing shortage of qualified professionals in those fields and meet critical needs in our community.

A private gift from Howard and Mindy Unger, who both graduated from Binghamton in 1982, will facilitate the study of literary responses to the Holocaust in fiction, non-fiction and poetry. The gift will pay tribute to Howard Unger’s father, the only member of his family to survive the Holocaust.

David Schultz ’80, ’86 and his wife, Helene Levy Schultz ’81, ’83, have endowed two scholarships in memory of their former professors, Jack Kaminsky and Paul Smith, who had a significant impact on their personal and professional journeys.

The generosity of people like the Ungers, Schultzes and Marilyn Link, who recently endowed a scholarship for women in finance and also supports the Link Collection in our University Libraries, helps make Binghamton an uncommonly great university. The Link family and Link Foundation have been steadfast friends of the University since its earliest days, and we are grateful for their support.

Gifts from alumnus Mark Zurack ’78 and our friends at Giant Markets of Binghamton have helped to create an exciting new venture in the School of Management. The Binghamton University Equity Fund and Trading Room enable students to function as real-life investment analysts. This hands-on program, under the direction of Professor Dennis Lasser, will give our graduates the skills and experience they will need to succeed
in careers as money managers and investment brokers.

The students chosen to participate in the Equity Fund program are smart, talented and ambitious — qualities that are quite common at Binghamton. We remain one of the nation’s most selective public universities. We received more than 21,500 freshman and transfer applications this year, the third year in a row that applications set a record. The academic quality of our incoming students continues to rise, and we are pleased to have students from more than 90 nations as part of our campus family.

One student, Verrad Nyame ’04, is an outstanding young man who plans to become a research physician specializing in the molecular and genetic factors of degenerative illnesses. Nyame’s journey from his birthplace in Ghana to Binghamton and then on to medical school is evidence of his uncommon talents. We offer unique opportunities for our students in many areas: international experiences and study abroad, community service and internships, research and scholarly projects, and interdisciplinary studies. Our students continue to achieve great success in graduate and professional schools, as well as in the job market.

Our journey has also taken the University to Division I intercollegiate athletics, which is the top level of NCAA athletic competition. Playing in the America East Conference against schools such as Boston University, Northeastern University and the University of Vermont has broadened our national recognition and enables us to attract outstanding student-athletes.

The completion of the new Binghamton University Events Center early next year adds to the excitement in University athletics. This facility will host hundreds of academic, educational and community activities each year, in addition to athletic competitions and events. Commencement ceremonies will be held in the Events Center next spring, and thousands of athletes and their families from across New York state will use the center during the 2004 Empire State Games.

Our "Building the Legacy" initiative is helping to furnish and equip the Events Center, raise needed funds for athletic programs and support athletic scholarships. We greatly appreciate the enthusiastic response this initiative has received from alumni and friends across the country, members of the Greater Binghamton community and the
University Athletic Club.

With so many exciting things happening and with the support of our alumni and friends, the University is poised for even more discoveries and achievements. We are ready to embrace the future. I want to extend my personal thanks to all of you who are helping us on our extraordinary journeys.

Lois B. DeFleur
President