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.
Enhanced Center for Learning and Teaching to launch
A teacher who loves working with young, bright people who thrives on face time with students will step into the lead role for Binghamton University’s Center for Learning and Teaching on June 1. James Pitarresi, distinguished teaching professor of mechanical engineering, has been appointed by Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Donald Nieman as assistant provost and executive director of what will be a revitalized and enhanced center focused on providing faculty with the support they need to experiment with new approaches to teaching that enhance student learning.
Pitarresi, who will continue to teach, will step down as chair of the Department of Mechanical Engineering to assume the new position.
“I love teaching for all the reasons we talk about, seeing the ‘I get it’ moment in their eyes,” he said. “This will be a way for me to extend beyond that and support others who are new or in mid-career who want to change the way they teach.”
The CLT emerges in a wonderful combination of visions from the provost and the Road Map’s Advancing Learning Team, said Donald Loewen, vice provost for undergraduate education. “Don (Nieman) has an incredible commitment to this. In the past, CLT has not had the resources to provide the robust support to faculty that we really need. We haven’t been able to do that comprehensively as a campus. The faculty support has largely been functioning through the good will, energy and vision of faculty volunteers through the Institute for Student-Centered Learning (ISCL) and the like.”
Recognizing that the lack of support is not ideal, Loewen said the objective in “beefing up” the CLT is to make it a faculty-centric institution again, with central support.
“The Road Map process was good for us in that it got us talking about what could happen with a reinvigorated CLT,” Loewen said.” Almost all of the things we were talking about in our Advancing Learning team flowed through the CLT.
“By hiring James, we have a wonderful opportunity to bring those things together and have the CLT be a meeting point for all of those challenge and opportunities,” said Loewen.