SUNY to Save Millions with Improved Bond Rating

Citing promise of an improved student-market position for SUNY institutions in the next decade, on Oct. 13 Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s Investor Service raised its ratings for State University of New York Educational Facilities Bonds and Dormitory Authority Facilities Bonds. Immediate returns on the rating were forthcoming, when on Oct. 14 $9 million were saved on interest payments on refinanced SUNY bonds in a bond sale allowing $103 million in new construction and renovation projects on SUNY campuses.

The rating agencies also recognized SUNY’s improved financial picture, its balanced budgets, stable outlook, and the goals of the its strategic plan, “Rethinking SUNY.”

“SUNY’s credit rating is the highest for State appropriation-backed credits,” said Governor George Pataki, who noted that the better SUNY rating was also part of a better assessment of the state’s financial health by S&P. “This shows the bond raters consider SUNY to be on sound financial footing and were impressed with the ‘Rethinking SUNY’ strategy being implemented by its Board of Trustees.”

SUNY Board of Trustees Chairman Thomas F. Egan added, “We are extremely pleased that these credit rating agencies have recognized the dramatic improvements we have made in stabilizing and strengthening the fiscal outlook for the State University.”

In a prepared statement, Moody’s officials said, “SUNY’s four-year college and university campuses will likely strengthen their student market position in the next decade as New York’s demographics improve and the system retains its strong pricing advantage. As the sole provider of affordable public education for the entire state of New York outside of New York City, SUNY has no in-state public competitors and has a powerful price advantage over its private-sector competitors.”

“The success of the Oct. 14 bond sale demonstrates that Governor Pataki’s policies to lower the cost of government are working to benefit the taxpayers,” Chairman Murphy said. “It recognizes that under Governor Pataki, the State’s financial picture has improved.”

The University at Albany will have facilities financed from the Oct. 14 bond sale as follows: provide emergency primary voltage feeder and duct bank, $884,000: class/office lighting conservation in various buildings, $2 million; fire alarm system replacement, $665,000; and provide interior finishes for new Science Library, $146,000

UB Trying to Spruce Up

The University at Buffalo has announced that it is investing $100 million over ten years in its South Campus and will spearhead new efforts to bolster housing, safety, education and economic development in the neighborhoods surrounding it. The “South Campus Master Plan” and the University Community Initiative, a collaborative partnership led by UB, the City of Buffalo and the Town of Amherst to stabilize, rebuild and revitalize the neighborhoods surrounding the campus, represent one of the most ambitious community-development initiatives in Western New York.

UB’s goals are for the South Campus include a premier health-sciences education and research center, and an improved campus physical appearance, recreational facilities and quality of life for students.

New $21 Million Lab for Chemistry

Governor Pataki was among those participating in a ribbon-cutting ceremony in mid October for the Edwin C. Jahn Laboratory, a new $21.3 million research facility on the State University College of Environmental Science and Forestry campus in Syracuse. Under construction for three years, the laboratory is an environmentally safe, high-tech facility that planners say will carry the college’s chemistry program well into the next century.

Buffalo Property Leasing Bill Approved with Qualms

The Governor’s office confirmed the approval of the University at Buffalo property leasing bill. This and a bill authorizing the University at Albany to enter into leases were the sole property leasing measures to pass the Legislature during the 1997 session. Though approval of Albany’s bill had come quickly from Governor Pataki, the Buffalo bill had proven to be more problematic because of certain provisions which were absent from the Albany legislation.

In the Governor’s approval message on the Buffalo leasing proposal, he said, “While I fully support the sponsors’ goal of giving SUNY the management flexibility necessary to create high-quality and affordable housing for students attending the University at Buffalo, I approve this bill with considerable hesitation.” He criticized bill provisions that restrict Buffalo’s ability to employ non-State personnel on the leased property, while the collective bargaining agreements permit such employment, and provisions that make the prevailing wage law requirements applicable to all contracts entered into under the chapter law.

The Governor further stated that he was troubled by the inclusion of bill language that limited the University’s management flexibility while the bill’s intent was to provide the Trustees with greater flexibility. The issues of concern cited by the Governor prevented passage of other campus leasing bills during the 1997 session. What bearing the approval of the Buffalo bill will have on those proposals during the 1998 session remains to be seen.

Five Community Colleges Get Tuition Cap Waiver

After careful study and strong recommendations from the campus presidents, proposals to waive for 1997-1998 the State University’s $2,500 community college tuition rate cap for five campuses, were forwarded to the Board of Trustees by its Finance Committee at a Oct. 17 meeting in New York City.

In acting on these campus requests, the committee made it clear that this is a “one-time action to allow a college time to respond to its unique financial circumstances.” At the last Board meeting, the Trustees reaffirmed the $2,500 tuition cap while voicing strong support for keeping tuition low at the community colleges. They also stated that any waiver must be short-lived. Tuition rates at State University community colleges currently average $2,300 annually.

In proposing the waivers, the committee said tuition would be limited to no more than $100 above the cap. Jamestown (which received a waiver from the Board last year), Erie, Genesee, Mohawk Valley and Tompkins-Cortland, would therefore not be able to exceed an annual tuition of $2,600 for the 1997-98 academic year.

$10 Million to Prevent Earthquake Loss

The University at Buffalo’s National Center for Earthquake Engineering Research (NCEER) has been awarded a $10 million grant by the National Science Foundation to support a Center for Advanced Technologies in Earthquake Loss Reduction. The five-year grant will support the study of advanced and emerging technologies to minimize earthquake damage and losses nationwide. B’s earthquake research facility is affiliated with seven other universities, including Cornell.

Resigning to Get in the Running

Jean A. Scott, interim president of the College at Potsdam, has announced her resignation upon the appointment of a successor to serve until a new president is appointed. She will resume her duties as Potsdam’s vice president for enrollment and student services. In informing Chancellor John W. Ryan of her decision, Scott indicated she will submit her credentials to the SUNY Potsdam presidential search committee for consideration to fill the permanent position.

“The reason for my decision is simple,” Scott said. “I have been advised that I may be a candidate for the Potsdam presidency only if I resign the position of interim president.”

Fraternity Revoked

College of Technology at Canton President Joseph L. Kennedy has revoked the charter of the Delta Kappa Sigma fraternity for violating the college’s Zero Tolerance Policy on alcohol and violence. The closure comes after charges of drinking by underage students and reports of fights at a recent fraternity-sponsored gathering. Delta Kappa Sigma must close its house on Old DeKalb Road, remove letters from the house exterior and members must return to the college residence halls, according to a statement from SUNY Canton.

This is the first time a Greek organization has been disciplined under a stringent new set of rules recommended by a task force and adopted in May by the College Council.

The 64 schools that make up the SUNY system are now electronically accessible to college-bound students around the world via College View’s CD-ROM and Web site. College View enables students to search for information on over 3,700 accredited two and four-year colleges and universities, apply online to institutions, and research financial aid, scholarship and career opportunities.

Nineteen State University of New York campuses now offer virtual tours on the College View system, including the four university centers. State University of New York Chancellor John W. Ryan said, “Because several of our campuses have already experienced positive results with CollegeView, we are excited about expanding this effort to additional campuses.”

U.N.'s Bertini to Keynote College Awards Banquet on Nov. 10

Catherine Bertini ’71, executive director of the United Nations’ World Food Programme, will be the keynote speaker and an award recipient on Monday, Nov. 10, at the 1997 awards banquet of the University’s Nelson A. Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy.

Bertini, who graduated from the University in 1971 with a bachelor’s degree in political science, has directed the World Food Programme (WFP) from its headquarters in Rome since 1992. WFP is the largest international food aid organization in the world. Prior to joining WFP, Bertini was the U.S. assistant secretary of agriculture for food and consumer services.

The banquet will be held at The Century House in Latham, starting at 6:30 p.m. Anyone who would like to attend should contact Florence Bolton at 442-5121.

One graduate of each of Rockefeller College four schools is being honored at the banquet. Bertini is being honored by the Graduate School of Public Affairs.

Elie S. Ward, executive director of Statewide Youth Advocacy, Inc. in Albany since 1992, is being honored by the School of Social Welfare, where she earned her master’s degree in 1988. Before joining Statewide Youth Advocacy, Inc. in 1990 as deputy director for policy, she was director of program planning and development at Berkshire Farm Center and Services for Youth in Canaan.

John Laub, a professor at Northeastern University’s College of Criminal Justice, is the recipient of the 1997 award from the School of Criminal Justice. Laub is the co-author of Crime in the Making: Pathways and Turning Points Through Life, recipient of the Outstanding Book Award in 1995 from the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences. He received his master’s degree in 1976 and his doctorate in 1980 from the School of Criminal Justice.

Duane Watson, assistant director for preservation at The Research Libraries, New York Public Library, since 1994, is the recipient of the 1997 award from the School of Information Science and Policy. Watson received his master’s degree in library science in 1981; he also received a master’s in English from the University in 1967. Watson has worked at the New York Public Library since 1986; prior to that, he was a school librarian, English teacher and department chair.