October 2005 Board Report

Board Report: October 2005

by Stephen J. Ciesinski '70, Chairman, Board of Trustees

Dear Friends of Union:

The October meeting of the Board of Trustees was memorable not just for the traditional fall rituals -- including a thrilling last-minute football win, victories by both women's and men's soccer to cap their undefeated league records, and a convincing 4-1 victory by women's field hockey over Vassar. The light rain did not at all dampen the high spirits of an upbeat Union alumni body who attended Homecoming Weekend.

As you now know, the Board selected Dr. Stephen C. Ainlay, a highly respected academician and administrator, as the 18th president of Union College. The Board welcomed Stephen as President-elect on Saturday, Oct. 22. He will assume the presidency in June 2006.

Stephen was selected upon the unanimous recommendation of the Presidential Search Committee chaired by Frank Messa '73. I commend Frank and the rest of the members of the search committee -- consisting of trustees, alumni, faculty and a recent graduate -- for a job well done.

Dr. Ainlay has a distinguished record as Professor of Sociology and Vice President of Academic Affairs and Dean of Faculty at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts.

In our interviews with Stephen, he clearly demonstrated that he shares both our strong commitment to the traditional liberal arts and the sciences and engineering, and our passion for innovation in education. He is a big believer and supporter of college athletics, and strongly values the integration of intellectual and social life on campus. Throughout his career, he has been a leader in efforts to enhance diversity in campus culture, faculty hiring and student recruitment.

Stephen Ainlay, I'm delighted to report, is the ideal person for advancing our cause. You can learn more about Stephen on the College's web site.

Homecoming Weekend

Among the highlights of Homecoming Weekend was a special ceremony on Saturday at which Prof. Gil Harlow received the College's Founders Medal. Gil, professor emeritus of civil engineering, arrived at Union in 1940 and has made tremendous contributions to the College even after "retiring" in 1984. He is believed to be the longest serving department chair, from 1950 to 1979. Besides being a gracious host and mentor to hundreds of students, faculty and alumni, Gil will long be remembered for his foresighted thinking in replanting the campus as Dutch Elm disease was beginning to take its toll. Thanks in large part to Gil, we have one of the most beautiful campuses in America.

Committee reports

There was other news from the Board's committee meetings:

Academic Affairs: The board reviewed a new General Education curriculum, developed and approved by the faculty, that will enable students to analyze and integrate knowledge across widely ranging disciplines, to communicate the results of their learning, and to develop the essential skill of lifelong learning. The new GedEd begins with a first-year seminar that emphasizes critical reading and writing, and includes a sophomore seminar focused on research skills and a three-course cluster that creates a structure for students to bridge information on a common topic from diverse perspectives.

The trustees discussed a periodic review by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, which was praised by the accrediting commission for initiatives including the Minervas, Converging Technologies, General Education and advising. We are delighted that the reviewing team recommended that the Commission reaffirm the College's accreditation without conditions.

Among the new administrative appointments, Cherrice Traver, a faculty member since 1986, has been named Dean of Engineering and Computer Science. Margaret Tongue has been named director of postgraduate fellowships, in charge of recruiting and supporting students who apply for prestigious honors. Mary Carroll, professor of chemistry, a long-time advocate of undergraduate research, has been named director of undergraduate research, formalizing Union's strong commitment to faculty-student collaboration. Melinda Lawson, visiting assistant professor of history, has been appointed assistant director of advising. Christine Henseler, assistant professor of Spanish, has been named associate director of academic programs.

The trustees were pleased to learn of a number of recognitions of faculty and students including the Stillman Prize for excellence in teaching to Prof. Charles Batson, the Phi Beta Kappa Award for general education to Michelle Elyse Koo '08, and the Hollander Prize for music to Sarah Bills '06 and Sarah Serbun '06.

Among personnel matters, Ann Anderson was promoted to professor of mechanical engineering.

Student Affairs and Admissions: The Union community was saddened by the death in August of Jerome Karl Kessler '08. Karl, the eighth member of his family to attend Union, was remembered at a campus memorial service for his brilliance and humor. "Union is a big part of our family life," said Karl's father, Donald.

The Minervas, now in their second year, are gaining momentum. As evidence, a number of the houses have personalized their common areas (witness a large fish over the fireplace in Golub House) and students are "hanging out." There are a number of regular events, including a Tuesday night coffeehouse at Sorum House, and houses have formed intramural teams for fall term. This fall, first-years in each house gathered to discuss a book they had read. Beuth and Golub hosted the authors of their respective books. Sorum House held an Afghan dinner during discussion of The Kite Runner.

A new program called Peer Assistants for Learning (PALs) is offering student-to-student help with time management and other challenges that come with a challenging academic workload. The group, coordinated through the dean of undergraduate education and dean of students, is also organizing workshops on college living through the Minerva Houses.

President Underwood has formed a committee headed by Dean of Students Steve Leavitt that will consider ideas for enhancing students' satisfaction in the Union experience. There is an anecdotal sense that students do not feel as strong a tie as they might by the time they graduate, and this committee will gather information and solicit ideas for adjustments.

All incoming students took a required on-line program called AlcoholEdu, aimed at discouraging high risk behavior associated with drinking. While it is early in the year and difficult to predict, we expect that this program will help reduce the number of unfortunate incidents associated with alcohol.

We are pleased that vandalism was down 25 percent in first-year halls. While any vandalism is unacceptable, we are pleased with the progress. We attribute this to stronger first-year communities, more staff presence and increased documentation of conduct violations.

I must throw in a plug for all of our athletic squads and scholar-athletes. The academic demands of Union are high, yet our teams consistently perform at a superior level and our students perform equally well in the classroom. Please check out the "Athletics" section of our website for much more detailed information about the fall programs.

Admissions, Financial Aid, Communications: In admissions, the College is joining two organizations that will help bolster our racial and international diversity. The Posse Foundation is a community-based mentoring group that specialized in leadership training through elite private colleges. The Davis United World College provides travel and scholarship support to students from some of the finest secondary schools in the world.

We have been fortunate to be able to control our financial aid budget and get positive results in the form of outstanding classes. We will continue to pay careful attention to maximizing the quality and diversity of the student body, and to do so in a fiscally responsible manner. The financial aid office and the finance office are considering projections in financial aid for the Class of 2010 and beyond.

The Office of Communications is completing an integrated marketing plan that is designed to unify the Union brand, enhance academic reputation and image, and bring efficiencies and effectiveness to communications, recruiting and fundraising efforts. A draft of the plan resulted from a series of focus groups with select faculty, students, staff, parents, alumni and government and business leaders.

The College continues to garner significant media attention from New York State funding achievements including the College's role in a $5.5 million partnership with Superpower Inc. and Schenectady County Community College. Union's contribution will involve faculty and student research on Superpower's breakthrough superconductor technology.

Union recently was selected to host the 2008 Frontiers in Higher Education Conference, one of the largest and most respected conferences on engineering and science education. The event, organized by Dean of Engineering Cherrice Traver and Director of Communications Bill Schwarz, will bring significant attention to the College from numerous highly placed academics around the world.

The Web Office, which sees each year more than two million visitors taking 22 million page views, is proceeding toward a content management system that will further enhance Union's electronic experience as a seamless two-way communication that is attractive, easy to use and content rich.

Investments: The College's investment committee has again done a wonderful job in maximizing our return on investments. For the 12-month period ended June 30, 2005, the total return on the College's endowment was 11 percent, outperforming the composite index by nearly 1 percent. The market value of the total endowment and similar funds was about $298 million.

College Relations: I am pleased to report that overall fundraising for 2004-05 increased 43 percent to more than $17 million. The Union Fund raised nearly $4 million with a participation rate of 40 percent. We have entered the second year of the five-year public phase of the You Are Union campaign, which is on track and nearing the halfway point toward $200 million. A few recent campaign highlights: two more Minervas (Sorum and an anonymous gift) were endowed, bringing to five the number of Houses endowed; Jim Taylor '66 and John Taylor '74 have graciously donated toward the soon-to-be-built Taylor Music Building; the Yunich Chair in economics was established; and the Viniar Athletic Center, made possible by David Viniar '76, is a wonderful new home to our basketball teams. Our campaign goal for 2005-06 is $27 million, a challenging but achievable goal that I'm sure we'll reach with help from our generous friends.

Facilities and Environment: Work is beginning on a spectacular new athletic fitness center at Alumni Gymnasium. The project, to be completed in time for spring term, will offer students and other members of the campus community a vastly improved facility. Student reaction to cosmetic improvements at Reamer Campus Center has been overwhelmingly positive. New colors, interior finishes, furniture, floor tile, carpet and lighting have made the building much more attractive and functional. Plans for the Taylor Music Building are at the final stages before construction, and faculty in visual arts and dance have begun planning for a renovation of their quarters as soon as the music building is done.

If you missed Homecoming, I hope to welcome you back to campus soon. The enthusiasm among everyone at Union these days is contagious. We are ready to welcome our 18th president, and we are poised to enter a very exciting time indeed.

Steve Ciesinski '70
Chairman, Board of Trustees

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About Union Mission Statement History of Union Office of the President Board of Trustees Presidents of Union College Union Notables Exhibit Traditions of Union What to do AroundU? The Union Campus Great Grads of Union	Board Report: October 2005 by Stephen J. Ciesinski '70, Chairman, Board of Trustees Dear Friends of Union: The October meeting of the Board of Trustees was memorable not just for the traditional fall rituals -- including a thrilling last-minute football win, victories by both women's and men's soccer to cap their undefeated league records, and a convincing 4-1 victory by women's field hockey over Vassar. The light rain did not at all dampen the high spirits of an upbeat Union alumni body who attended Homecoming Weekend. As you now know, the Board selected Dr. Stephen C. Ainlay, a highly respected academician and administrator, as the 18th president of Union College. The Board welcomed Stephen as President-elect on Saturday, Oct. 22. He will assume the presidency in June 2006. Stephen was selected upon the unanimous recommendation of the Presidential Search Committee chaired by Frank Messa '73. I commend Frank and the rest of the members of the search committee -- consisting of trustees, alumni, faculty and a recent graduate -- for a job well done. Dr. Ainlay has a distinguished record as Professor of Sociology and Vice President of Academic Affairs and Dean of Faculty at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts. In our interviews with Stephen, he clearly demonstrated that he shares both our strong commitment to the traditional liberal arts and the sciences and engineering, and our passion for innovation in education. He is a big believer and supporter of college athletics, and strongly values the integration of intellectual and social life on campus. Throughout his career, he has been a leader in efforts to enhance diversity in campus culture, faculty hiring and student recruitment. Stephen Ainlay, I'm delighted to report, is the ideal person for advancing our cause. You can learn more about Stephen on the College's web site. Homecoming Weekend Among the highlights of Homecoming Weekend was a special ceremony on Saturday at which Prof. Gil Harlow received the College's Founders Medal. Gil, professor emeritus of civil engineering, arrived at Union in 1940 and has made tremendous contributions to the College even after "retiring" in 1984. He is believed to be the longest serving department chair, from 1950 to 1979. Besides being a gracious host and mentor to hundreds of students, faculty and alumni, Gil will long be remembered for his foresighted thinking in replanting the campus as Dutch Elm disease was beginning to take its toll. Thanks in large part to Gil, we have one of the most beautiful campuses in America. Committee reports There was other news from the Board's committee meetings: Academic Affairs: The board reviewed a new General Education curriculum, developed and approved by the faculty, that will enable students to analyze and integrate knowledge across widely ranging disciplines, to communicate the results of their learning, and to develop the essential skill of lifelong learning. The new GedEd begins with a first-year seminar that emphasizes critical reading and writing, and includes a sophomore seminar focused on research skills and a three-course cluster that creates a structure for students to bridge information on a common topic from diverse perspectives. The trustees discussed a periodic review by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, which was praised by the accrediting commission for initiatives including the Minervas, Converging Technologies, General Education and advising. We are delighted that the reviewing team recommended that the Commission reaffirm the College's accreditation without conditions. Among the new administrative appointments, Cherrice Traver, a faculty member since 1986, has been named Dean of Engineering and Computer Science. Margaret Tongue has been named director of postgraduate fellowships, in charge of recruiting and supporting students who apply for prestigious honors. Mary Carroll, professor of chemistry, a long-time advocate of undergraduate research, has been named director of undergraduate research, formalizing Union's strong commitment to faculty-student collaboration. Melinda Lawson, visiting assistant professor of history, has been appointed assistant director of advising. Christine Henseler, assistant professor of Spanish, has been named associate director of academic programs. The trustees were pleased to learn of a number of recognitions of faculty and students including the Stillman Prize for excellence in teaching to Prof. Charles Batson, the Phi Beta Kappa Award for general education to Michelle Elyse Koo '08, and the Hollander Prize for music to Sarah Bills '06 and Sarah Serbun '06. Among personnel matters, Ann Anderson was promoted to professor of mechanical engineering. Student Affairs and Admissions: The Union community was saddened by the death in August of Jerome Karl Kessler '08. Karl, the eighth member of his family to attend Union, was remembered at a campus memorial service for his brilliance and humor. "Union is a big part of our family life," said Karl's father, Donald. The Minervas, now in their second year, are gaining momentum. As evidence, a number of the houses have personalized their common areas (witness a large fish over the fireplace in Golub House) and students are "hanging out." There are a number of regular events, including a Tuesday night coffeehouse at Sorum House, and houses have formed intramural teams for fall term. This fall, first-years in each house gathered to discuss a book they had read. Beuth and Golub hosted the authors of their respective books. Sorum House held an Afghan dinner during discussion of The Kite Runner. A new program called Peer Assistants for Learning (PALs) is offering student-to-student help with time management and other challenges that come with a challenging academic workload. The group, coordinated through the dean of undergraduate education and dean of students, is also organizing workshops on college living through the Minerva Houses. President Underwood has formed a committee headed by Dean of Students Steve Leavitt that will consider ideas for enhancing students' satisfaction in the Union experience. There is an anecdotal sense that students do not feel as strong a tie as they might by the time they graduate, and this committee will gather information and solicit ideas for adjustments. All incoming students took a required on-line program called AlcoholEdu, aimed at discouraging high risk behavior associated with drinking. While it is early in the year and difficult to predict, we expect that this program will help reduce the number of unfortunate incidents associated with alcohol. We are pleased that vandalism was down 25 percent in first-year halls. While any vandalism is unacceptable, we are pleased with the progress. We attribute this to stronger first-year communities, more staff presence and increased documentation of conduct violations. I must throw in a plug for all of our athletic squads and scholar-athletes. The academic demands of Union are high, yet our teams consistently perform at a superior level and our students perform equally well in the classroom. Please check out the "Athletics" section of our website for much more detailed information about the fall programs. Admissions, Financial Aid, Communications: In admissions, the College is joining two organizations that will help bolster our racial and international diversity. The Posse Foundation is a community-based mentoring group that specialized in leadership training through elite private colleges. The Davis United World College provides travel and scholarship support to students from some of the finest secondary schools in the world. We have been fortunate to be able to control our financial aid budget and get positive results in the form of outstanding classes. We will continue to pay careful attention to maximizing the quality and diversity of the student body, and to do so in a fiscally responsible manner. The financial aid office and the finance office are considering projections in financial aid for the Class of 2010 and beyond. The Office of Communications is completing an integrated marketing plan that is designed to unify the Union brand, enhance academic reputation and image, and bring efficiencies and effectiveness to communications, recruiting and fundraising efforts. A draft of the plan resulted from a series of focus groups with select faculty, students, staff, parents, alumni and government and business leaders. The College continues to garner significant media attention from New York State funding achievements including the College's role in a $5.5 million partnership with Superpower Inc. and Schenectady County Community College. Union's contribution will involve faculty and student research on Superpower's breakthrough superconductor technology. Union recently was selected to host the 2008 Frontiers in Higher Education Conference, one of the largest and most respected conferences on engineering and science education. The event, organized by Dean of Engineering Cherrice Traver and Director of Communications Bill Schwarz, will bring significant attention to the College from numerous highly placed academics around the world. The Web Office, which sees each year more than two million visitors taking 22 million page views, is proceeding toward a content management system that will further enhance Union's electronic experience as a seamless two-way communication that is attractive, easy to use and content rich. Investments: The College's investment committee has again done a wonderful job in maximizing our return on investments. For the 12-month period ended June 30, 2005, the total return on the College's endowment was 11 percent, outperforming the composite index by nearly 1 percent. The market value of the total endowment and similar funds was about $298 million. College Relations: I am pleased to report that overall fundraising for 2004-05 increased 43 percent to more than $17 million. The Union Fund raised nearly $4 million with a participation rate of 40 percent. We have entered the second year of the five-year public phase of the You Are Union campaign, which is on track and nearing the halfway point toward $200 million. A few recent campaign highlights: two more Minervas (Sorum and an anonymous gift) were endowed, bringing to five the number of Houses endowed; Jim Taylor '66 and John Taylor '74 have graciously donated toward the soon-to-be-built Taylor Music Building; the Yunich Chair in economics was established; and the Viniar Athletic Center, made possible by David Viniar '76, is a wonderful new home to our basketball teams. Our campaign goal for 2005-06 is $27 million, a challenging but achievable goal that I'm sure we'll reach with help from our generous friends. Facilities and Environment: Work is beginning on a spectacular new athletic fitness center at Alumni Gymnasium. The project, to be completed in time for spring term, will offer students and other members of the campus community a vastly improved facility. Student reaction to cosmetic improvements at Reamer Campus Center has been overwhelmingly positive. New colors, interior finishes, furniture, floor tile, carpet and lighting have made the building much more attractive and functional. Plans for the Taylor Music Building are at the final stages before construction, and faculty in visual arts and dance have begun planning for a renovation of their quarters as soon as the music building is done. If you missed Homecoming, I hope to welcome you back to campus soon. The enthusiasm among everyone at Union these days is contagious. We are ready to welcome our 18th president, and we are poised to enter a very exciting time indeed. Steve Ciesinski '70 Chairman, Board of Trustees
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