All Residence Hall operations and costs, including debt service, are supported by the room rates paid by students. �Under the new guidelines, the University at Albany will retain all of its room rental income, in support of its residential operations and capital needs, as compared to subsidizing other campuses,� said Stephen Schafer, assistant director for Financial Management and Budget.

Dorm rates at Albany will not be affected until the 1988-99 year at the earliest, said Joel Blumenthal, associate vice president for University Relations, in the March 26 Daily Gazette. Currently, the SUNY rate for a standard double-bed room per student is $3,070 for the 1996-97 school year. Campuses are now allowed to set their standard double-bed room rate within a range of 15 percent above or below that base rate. Albany charges $3,412 this year, and will charge $3,488 in 1997-98.

�Schools will be making their own market-based decisions on what they charge for room and board,� said Blumenthal.

The guidelines will take effect July 1, 1997, with a three-year transition period for campuses needing assistance to meet the new guidelines, which ultimately aim at improving the quality of service for all residential students. The impetus for developing these guidelines was Rethinking SUNY, the University�s major planning document issued a little more than a year ago.

Subsequently, the Residence Halls Review Committee was formed to review the existing policies and procedures and propose a new financial and programmatic framework to enhance campus financial management, accountability and the quality of service to students.

Committee Co-Chair James Wassenaar, vice president for student services and dean of students at the State University College at Oswego, said the new guidelines are �the right thing to do. This approach is more responsive to our students and the needs of our unique programs. It enables campuses to respond to local conditions and markets. These new guidelines will encourage responsible and prudent management to achieve goals and efficiencies that will benefit our students.�

His co-chair, James Grant, vice president for administration at New Paltz, said, �The proposal should be a tremendous benefit for all the campuses. It will allow them to be truly self-sufficient and have control over their own destiny as it applies to residence life.� Upon sharing the guidelines among campus officials, Grant said, �Support for the proposal was virtually unanimous.�

The University operates approximately 67,700 beds, in 372 residence halls, at 26 State-operated campuses. The finance office at System Administration has established a base rate for space in a standard double-bed room. An average rate was developed by computing the projected overall operating costs of the residence halls.

Council members, community college trustees and staff from 49 State University campuses carried the University�s Pride and Excellence message to New York State legislators during State University Day. Among those meeting with lawmakers were eight State University Trustees and 39 campus presidents. Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno, Senator Kenneth P. LaValle, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Assemblyman Edward C. Sullivan addressed the University Day luncheon.

�As you know, the proposed Executive Budget would reduce State support for the core operating budget of the State-operated campuses by $64 Million, and for the community college operating aid by $1.5 million,� said Chancellor John W. Ryan in his keynote address at State University Day, making the case for the investment of additional revenue in the University. �In view of the present good news on unanticipated increases in State revenue, we should expect the Governor and legislative leadership to maintain State funding, not reduce the level.�

David L. Farren has been appointed Associate Vice Chancellor for Marketing and Enrollment Management by the State University Board of Trustees. Farren has experience serving higher and secondary education in domestic and international markets. This includes over 20 years experience in marketing while serving the education industry, most recently as business, industry, and government group sales manager for International Thomson Publishing Education Group in Albany.

Farren has also managed five worldwide regions for one company�s international reading program and set a record for first year growth among U.S. publishers. He has a B.A. from Williams College and a degree from Philips Exeter Academy.

Performing under par will have an entirely different connotation at SUNY Community College at Farmingdale if plans go through for a combined academic/business development park and golf course on its campus. Said Newsday: �The way Farmingdale President Frank Cipriani and his staff have it figured out, the school�s emphasis on practical technology would fit perfectly with a business incubator, and . . . from the revenues generated by turning a portion of the campus into a golf course-cum-horticultural laboratory.�