To:             The Plattsburgh State University Community
From:         Ray Guydosh
Date:         February 2, 2001
Subject:     SUNY University Faculty Senate Meeting

I recently had the honor of representing Plattsburgh State at the Winter Meeting of the SUNY University Faculty Senate in New Paltz. The University Senate is composed of one to three faculty members chosen by the faculty of each SUNY campus. It meets three times each year. Between meetings, the Senate's business is conducted by an Executive Committee of Senate officers and of representatives from each campus type.

As the Winter meeting began, the Senators heard several presentations.

Associate Provost Christine Haile spoke about a new system, called SUNY Connect, which would make all library materials from the entire SUNY system accessible (orderable) to all members of the university community using the internet.

Brian Stenson, Vice Chancellor for Finance and Business, presented a review of the Chancellor's and Governor's proposed budget. I assume that by now you have read summaries of that budget proposal in other sources.

Chancellor Robert L. King reviewed his vision for the University. Chancellor King's presentation paralleled that of his speech of December 19, 2000 in New York City, which is available on the web. King and Stenson both commented on how much more favorable than usual the Governor's SUNY budget request would be and how the SUNY deficit resulting from hospital funding would be on the way to solution. Unfortunately, there is still a difference between what SUNY originally proposed (let alone what would be acceptable) and what the Governor presented.

Provost Peter Salins delivered a few remarks and responded to questions. Both Chancellor King and Provost Salins commented on the Trustee's General Education Program. Their view was that a larger issue instead is transferability within the system, a concern echoed by a representative of the Student Association. Salins promised a solution by year's end to the "incomplete" general education requirements brought by community college students upon transfer to four-year programs.

Various University Senate Committee Chairs reported on business being dealt with by committees. Some of this business was present as proposed resolutions.

The University Senate passed resolutions (1) adding the convener of the association of campus Faculty Senates as a non-voting, ex-officio member of the University Faculty Senate, (2) reaffirming the University Senate's policy on not endorsing political candidates, (3) urging each local campus and campus Faculty Senate to adopt a policy on [the privacy of] electronic communication, (4) calling on SUNY to create a Vice- Chancellor for Student Life, and (5) opposing any form of multi-campus assessment in SUNY.

In one other resolution, the University Faculty Senate indicated that it "endorses in principle the Chancellor’s Vision Statement and the Trustees' Budget Request." Three of us spoke against the Senate's doing that. It has become a growing practice of the current University Senate leadership to vigorously commend any actions by the Chancellor or Board of Trustees that are not completely irresponsible. And I do understand the principle of shaping behavior.

However, one University Senator suggested that, while he understood the rationale for the resolution, he would have felt better if the both the whereas and resolved sections were not quite so glowing in their praise. Those were my feelings, as well. The resolution did get slightly toned down through some amendments. However, I also indicated to the Senate that I could not personally support a resolution in which I would appear to have "endorsed in principle" a budget request that the Chancellor himself described as deficient. In the end, two of us Senators voted against the resolution, which nonetheless passed.

The above is a summary of the major features of the meeting. I have details of much of the above material available on my website for you to check:

Feel free to email me with any questions. As always, thanks for choosing me as your representative.