IMPROVING CAMPUS INFRASTRUCTURE
Some of the major improvements to infrastructure completed over the summer are very visible; others are not. Read in this issue about the many major projects completed by Physical Facilities and Information Technology Services, as well as the new programs offered by the University Center for Training and Development.
SCHOOL OF PHARMACY AND PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES OPENS NEW BUILDING
The opening of the new, $60-million School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University's Health Sciences Campus in Johnson City, N.Y., headlines this quarterly report, but there's also good news about collaborations, external funding and student successes. Read more in this issue.
SUCCESSFUL INITIATIVES SUPPORT STUDENTS
It takes donors at many levels to make Binghamton University successful, and in this issue of the quarterly report, you can read about a number of them. Whether it's AVANGRID offering full-tuition scholarships and capstone project support, or playing golf to benefit the Alumni Legacy Scholarship, the Division of Advancement works with Binghamton supporters.
BINGHAMTON RESEARCH FUNDING SETS RECORD
Binghamton University reported research expenditures totaling $47.5 million in 2017-18, an increase of about 19 percent from the previous fiscal year. The figure tops 2011-12, the campus’ all-time best year for research funding, when just over $40 million was reported. The new record, which follows several years of steady growth, is an important sign of the campus’ creativity and innovation. Healthcare research accounted for nearly a third of expenditures, with electronics packaging and systems engineering following at about 22 percent.
BAXTER THE BEARCAT BOOSTS SCHOOL SPIRIT
The Division of Student Affairs spent the summer hosting students and families for orientation and preparing for the opening of the fall semester. With some new people on board and some others with new duties, it has been a busy time. Not too busy, though, to show Binghamton University pride, as you'll read about the new Baxter the Bearcat Bench in the University Union in this issue.
STUDENT-ATHLETES CONTINUE TO SUCCEED ACADEMICALLY
Student-athletes continue to shine on and off the courts and fields. The Athletics Department sets high academic standards, and student-athletes surpass them across the board. Read about the accomplishments made by student-athletes in their sports and in the classroom – and check out the videos showcasing fall sports and the new women's head basketball coach, Bethann Shapiro Ord, in this issue.
HELPING TO MAKE THE CAMPUS MORE INCLUSIVE
The Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion works to educate and empower everyone on campus in ways that create a welcoming community. From the Udiversity Educational Institute, that holds trainings for students, faculty and staff, to the Multicultural Resource Center and Q Center, the division's offices that work to build bridges and support students though education and events such as Sundaze, part of its Welcome Week programming. Read about the division's recent initiatives in this report.
DONOR SUPPORT ADVANCES BINGHAMTON UNIVERSITY
The Binghamton University Foundation had a successful 2017-18 year, bringing in the second highest amount of cash ever in support of the University. Read the numbers in this issue of the quarterly report, and learn one way the Foundation celebrates its donors.
Student Support Services receives nearly $3M in federal grants
Binghamton University’s Student Support Services (SSS) program, a federally funded TRiO program that provides eligible students with academic, career and personal counseling; tutoring; and assistance obtaining financial aid, has received a five-year renewal grant totaling more than $1.8 million.
A second five-year grant totaling $1.1 million was also renewed to support students interested in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) fields.
Marty Wygmans, executive director of student services, said programs must meet numerous objectives to be successful in the competitive grant process. “Once you have funding, you receive points for meeting your objectives,” she said. “Having these ‘experience points’ helps going into the grant renewal process. On our original grant, existing programs like ours had to score at total of 106 or they wouldn’t be funded. We scored 104, plus had the maximum number of experience points (15), for a total of 119.”
Wygmans said the same process was followed for the STEM grant renewals, though the necessary point totals differed. “The STEM grant was only eligible for 11 experience points, and we received a perfect score for that renewal.”
Nearly 1,500 proposals were received for both grants, and the U.S. Department of Education funded 968 of them, Wygmans said. “And we got two of them.”
These grants promote academic success and personal growth for students who are first-generation, low-income or disabled. Accepted students are identified for the program based on their FAFSA, and invited to participate, said Wygmans. “The students are distributed between the two grant programs. For STEM students, they must have a declared interest in a STEM field.”
At Binghamton, the classic grant serves 400 students and the STEM grant serves 120 students.