President discusses NYSUNY2020 with Faculty Senate

President C. Peter Magrath provided the Faculty Senate with an overview of the NYSUNY 2020 Challenge Grant Program during its May 17 meeting.

“NYSUNY2020,” unveiled earlier this month by Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo and SUNY Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher, would provide $35 million in capital funding to the four university centers. The campuses will submit long-term economic and academic plans to receive the Phase 1 funding. Other possibilities, Magrath said, include a five-year rational tuition plan and differential tuition.

“If this legislation moves forward, it would be a big, big win for this University and good for the university centers,” Magrath said.

In other business, the Senate approved the following nominees to positions on the 2011-12 Faculty Senate Procedures Committee: Chair – Susan Strehle (English); Vice Chair – Alistar Lees (chemistry); and Secretary – Erin Rushton (Library). The Senate also approved guidelines for assessment of General Education and Evaluation Coordinating Committee procedures.

On May 10, the Senate voted to thank all faculty who have served to date on the Presidential Search Committee, to reaffirm those previously elected faculty representatives and to follow the same electoral process in selecting any replacements necessary.

According to Faculty Senate Executive Committee Chair Richard Lee, two faculty are no longer able to serve on the committee: Dawnie Steadman of anthropology because she is taking a position at the University of Tennessee, and Tim Perry of music, so he can oversee his department’s reaccreditation. A nomination and election process is underway.