Once again, I’m pleased to offer this update on recent activities and college initiatives.
Inauguration and Foundation Gala
I want to start off by thanking you all for your participation in the college’s inauguration activities on Thursday and Friday, Oct. 24 and 25. Both the annual Foundation gala and installation ceremony itself were a wonderful success.
I’m pleased to share that nearly 750 attendees joined us for the installation ceremony, including faculty, staff and students; state, local, and SUNY officials; college and university delegates and many representatives from local business and community organizations, as well as alumni, personal friends and members of my family from Trinidad.
As I have said before, in many ways this was not just my inauguration, but also a special moment for the entire institution — a historic event that allowed us to celebrate our heritage while looking toward the future and the continued success of our college with the implementation of the new strategic plan. My sincerest thanks to all those who participated, especially the faculty, staff, planning committee and volunteers who worked hard to make sure everything ran smoothly.
Thanks also to the many attendees who contributed to the gala, a sold-out event that drew 330 supporters. All proceeds from the annual fundraising dinner benefit the President’s Innovation Fund, which has existed since 1999 to fund special projects and this year will be used to support the six priorities of the strategic plan.
You can view the Times Union SEEN galleries for the Inauguration and the Gala online, along with the full installation ceremony video for anyone who couldn’t attend.
Thank you all once again for your ongoing support. It’s my honor and privilege to serve as the seventh president of this great college, and I look forward to the positive changes we will bring about together.
Enrollment Update
On Friday, the Office of Planning and Research reported final fall enrollment figures – including total paid headcount and full-time equivalent (FTE) enrollment of new, transfer, returning and non-matriculated students; a comparison to budget projections; and part of term enrollment – to deans, department chairs and executive team members. Year over year, we saw a 3.6% decline in FTE compared to Fall 2018, which puts us 1.8% behind our budget projection for the current year.
At this point, we must focus on growth for upcoming enrollment periods. Registration for both intersession and spring classes is already underway, so please reach out to students to begin planning and course scheduling now, and please also provide referrals to academic support services to those in need.
Again, I ask that you encourage prospective students and families you know to attend upcoming Admissions events such as our Open House on Saturday, Nov. 16. We also have Instant Admission events on Wednesday, Nov. 20 and Dec. 11 at our Troy campus and on Wednesday, Dec. 4 at the Albany Center for Education (ACE) extension center.
Some changes are coming to our Intersession schedule this year. The start date for intersession classes has been moved from late December to Thursday, Jan. 2 to provide additional time for students to register with fall grades in hand. In addition, we have added new courses and sections to the schedule to increase student choice and overall enrollment. Please spread the word.
As we actively recruit for intersession, spring, and fall 2020, please continue to share your ideas with me.
New Transfer Agreements with UAlbany
On Monday, Oct. 21, University at Albany President Havidán Rodríguez and I signed new partnership agreements between our two institutions that will enhance access, quality and advisement for transfer students. Given the challenges of decreasing enrollment, retention and graduation rates nationally in higher education, these collaborations will support students to reach the finish line with a four-year degree.
The Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) program assures UAlbany acceptance to Hudson Valley students pursuing their associate degree. Students will receive transition support services during their two years at Hudson Valley, and must maintain GPA minimums and meet guidelines specific to their academic programs.
We also formalized the Pathways Program, which offers those students not initially accepted to UAlbany to enter a guaranteed transfer process, which includes the completion of two full-time consecutive semesters at Hudson Valley and meeting specific UAlbany academic requirements.
We will begin having implementation team meetings with UAlbany colleagues early this month to ensure a smooth launch of these very important programs.
Student Support Services
As part of our ongoing efforts to enhance student support and retention, I’m pleased to share that the Learning Assistance Center is offering math tutoring at three additional locations this semester:
- Williams Hall, conference room near room 126, on Mondays from 2 to 4 p.m. and Wednesdays from 4 to 6 p.m.
- Hudson Hall, room 114, on Mondays from 2 to 4 p.m. and Thursdays from 3 to 5 p.m.
- Albany Center for Education (ACE), 30 North Russell Road, Albany, on Tuesdays from 5 to 7 p.m.
Please contact Marcy Pendergast, the director of the college Learning Centers, if you have any questions.
International Activities
As I’ve mentioned in my previous updates, we are currently exploring multiple opportunities to expand our offerings for international students. I’m pleased to say these initiatives are moving forward.
Coordinator for International Student Services Dr. Jay Deitchman and Admissions Counselor Elise Chan traveled to Barbados and Trinidad on a recruitment trip in mid-October. They presented at college fairs in both countries, visited local high schools, and made connections with many students and educators who were interested in working with the college.
Executive Director of External Affairs and Government Relations Regina LaGatta, Jay Deitchman, Dean of STEM Dr. Jonathan Ashdown and Interim Department Chair for Automotive, Manufacturing and Electrical Engineering Technology George Raneri will travel to Costa Rica this week, Nov. 5-9. They will continue to work on the initiatives we started during our trip last spring, visiting high schools and higher education institutions, meeting with business and industry representatives and making presentations.
Regina will join Ombudswoman of Costa Rica Dr. Catalina Crespo Sancho to visit rural regions of the country and explore opportunities for ESL partnerships. Meanwhile, Jonathan and George will present workshops at an Automotive Congress event, where they will highlight our recently developed electric vehicle train the trainer program for automotive inspectors, which was developed at the request of the Corporacion Educativa Automotriz (CEA) in Costa Rica and will be made available to other institutions as well. The CEA plans on sending a group of instructors to the college during the summer of 2020 to complete the five-day intensive training program. Additionally, Jay will give a presentation on community colleges at the EducationUSA Advising Center in San Jose. We expect that this trip will be highly productive and beneficial to our efforts at international recruitment.
Strategic Plan
As part of the strategic plan, the Board of Trustees has approved the college’s first-ever set of core values during its Tuesday, Oct. 22 meeting. These guiding principles are: Leadership, Excellence, Accessibility, Diversity and Service (LEADS), and you’ll hear more about them as we finalize the plan.
In addition, the Academic Senate approved revised mission and vision statements put forth by its Planning Committee on Monday, Oct. 28. Both statements will be presented to the Board of Trustees on Tuesday, Nov. 26.
The Strategic Plan Steering Committee met the same day to discuss benchmarks and key performance indicators tied to the new plan. Finally, Director of Strategic Planning Dennis Wax is currently arranging meetings with campus leaders to discuss implementation strategies.
Food Insecurity Resources
As we approach the winter months and look forward to our holiday celebrations, let’s also take the opportunity to be mindful of how we support those in need.
You may be aware that Governor Cuomo has implemented the No Student Goes Hungry program, which requires every public college and university in New York State to establish a food pantry for student use by the end of the fall semester. In addition, SUNY recently conducted an online survey to assess burden and impact of food insecurity on public college campuses in New York State. Of 108 Hudson Valley students who responded, more than half indicated they had experienced food insecurity at some point during their college careers, yet only one third indicated that they knew how to receive assistance from the college’s food pantry, and less than one quarter said that they had received food or other items from the pantry in the past.
I encourage all of you to make sure students are aware that our food pantry is available to them, no questions asked. Our food pantry is located in the Student Activities office, has been in operation for more than 20 years and provides food to nearly 60 students each month. In 2011, the Student Senate established an annual budget to support the food pantry and to ensure that non-perishable food items and hygiene products were readily available. Items are also regularly donated by employees and students at college events. If you wish to contribute non-perishable items or hygiene products to the pantry at any time, your generosity would be welcomed.
Upcoming Events
Coffee with the President — I hope that you can attend our next Coffee with the President event on Thursday, Nov. 7 at 8:30 a.m. in the Center for Advanced Manufacturing Skills (CAMS) lobby. This informal gathering is a great way to share ideas or concerns with me, to meet fellow colleagues and students and also tour our newest building. Please also encourage students to attend if possible.
Thanksgiving Celebration — We are keeping our new tradition of a college Thanksgiving celebration alive for its second year. All students, faculty, and staff are invited to enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving lunch buffet on Tuesday, Nov. 26. There is no cost to attend, however, please bring a non-perishable food item to help stock the college food pantry for the winter months.
ESL Community Event — As we continue to expand our ESL and ESOL offerings and increase enrollment, the college will be hosting a community discussion on Friday, Dec. 6. Multiple organizations that work closely with populations in need of ESL and ESOL services have been invited to participate and learn more about college offerings, including low-cost ESL/ESOL classes, on- and off-campus ESL/ESOL support, ESL instruction at the EOC at no cost to those who qualify, financial aid and scholarship opportunities, student support services, and the New York State Dream Act. For more information, contact Chief Diversity Officer Ainsley Thomas.
Thank you all, and my best wishes as we continue the semester.
Published: Tue, 05 Nov 2019 13:10:43 +0000 by d.kennedy1