February 2007 Board Report

Board Report: February 2007

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

Dear Friends of Union:

The Board of Trustees met on Feb. 9 and 10 on a weekend that featured the adoption of the College's Strategic Plan, the approval of the comprehensive fee for 2007/08, the approval for tenure of seven distinguished faculty members and a tour of our elegant new Taylor Music Center. During the evenings, trustees were also able to cheer on our student-athletes at many contests, including a hard-fought 3-3 tie with national hockey power Cornell, and a 67-58 win over Rensselaer that put women's basketball into a playoff berth for the Liberty League Championship.

The Board unanimously affirmed a remarkable document, "A Strategic Plan for Union College," made possible by the work of the Strategic Planning Group co-chaired by Trustee John E. Kelly III '76 and Therese McCarty, interim vice president for academic affairs and dean of the faculty. This is the culmination of nearly two years of hard work and reflection, which was begun by Interim President Jim Underwood. As President Stephen C. Ainlay said, "This report offers a vision and plan for Union . that can serve to unify us further, give coherence to our educational mission, point to elements that differentiate us, and move us into the future." I join President Ainlay in expressing my deep gratitude to the faculty, students, staff, alumni, and trustees of the planning group and to the many other dedicated members of the Union community who contributed to the development of this exceptionally well-crafted plan.

Our vision, outlined in the plan, is clear: "Union College will be a leader in educating students to be engaged, innovative, and ethical contributors to an increasingly diverse, global, and technologically complex society."

We have accomplished a great deal in the preparation of the plan, but much more work remains as we begin the implementation process. In the coming weeks, we will have a number of campus meetings to solicit input on implementation, an effort that will be led by the Planning and Priorities Group.

You can read the plan at www.union.edu/strategic.

The Board took a tour of the new Taylor Music Center, a spectacular new facility in the renovated North Colonnade made possible in large part by a generous gift from Jim '66 and John '74 Taylor. The centerpiece of the building is Emerson Hall, a 100-seat hall equipped with teaching space and state-of-the-art recording technology that will be used by the College's Choir, Orchestra and Jazz Ensemble. Surrounding the hall are practice rooms, high-tech classrooms and faculty offices. The building also features 13 Steinway pianos and a prestigious ranking as an "all-Steinway" program. During our tour, the trustees were treated to a brief piano recital by Adam Young '07, a talented musician who has truly found a welcoming home at the Taylor. Professor Hilary Tann put it well: ""It's a beautiful, functional building. But it has a little extra. It has grace. It has elegance." The new building will be formally celebrated at an event this spring.

The Board was pleased to receive a report and note of thanks from Zachary Lazovic '07, chair of the Theme House Consortium, and 88 of his fellow students. There are 11 Theme Houses at Union, and it was gratifying to learn about the many ways they contribute to the academic, social and residential life of Union. Among the many events, Language House A recently hosted "Crepes Night," ARTS House is holding "Open Mic Nights," Ozone House continues their popular organic lunches, and Symposium held a "Cuban Dance Night."

The College has received a grant of $500,000 from the National Science Foundation for the Converging Technology Scholars program to support students who will be encouraged to take an interdisciplinary approach to their studies. The program, which will support two groups of 10 students over five years, is designed to attract and retain talented students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. It is being directed by Ann Anderson of Mechanical Engineering, and Christina Tonnesen-Friedman of Mathematics.

This past fall, the College welcomed four first-year international students from Russia, Mexico, India and Sweden as part of the prestigious Davis Scholars Program, which provides scholarships for graduates of United World College. The program has students at 65 of the top American colleges and universities.

We are pleased that our first Posse class of 10 students from the Boston area has completed a successful fall term. We have just finished selecting 11 students for next year's class. The Posse Foundation trains student leaders from public high schools to form multicultural teams for enrollment at top colleges.

The Board approved a comprehensive fee increase of 5 percent to $46,245 for 2007-2008. This fee, which covers tuition, room, board and other fees, allows students to take extra courses at no additional cost as long as they meet requirements. The College and the Board remain committed to keeping a Union education accessible to all. We have also approved a financial aid budget of $28.8 million, about one-fourth of the annual budget and the highest financial aid budget in school history.

The board was pleased to approve the tenure and promotion to associate professor of seven very fine faculty members. They are: Kristin Bidoshi, Modern Languages; John Cramsie, History; Tomas Dvorak, Economics; Chris Fernandes, Electrical and Computer Engineering; Chad Orzel, Physics; Stephen Romero, Psychology; and Christina Tonnesen-Friedman, Mathematics. The board also approved the promotion to senior lecturer of Linda Almstead, Computer Science; and Barbara Pytel, Biology.

The Board is delighted to welcome three new term trustees: Adrian C. Jay '98, Douglass E. Karp '97 and Stanley O'Brien '74. They will be joining the board at our spring meeting.

As part of our effort to maximize safety, 10 Campus Safety officers were trained this winter under the Campus Public Safety Officer Program. After this training, an intensive 300-hour program of classroom and physical sessions, our officers will have the legal authority to detain suspects pending the arrival of local police. The need for such training was recommended by our Campus Safety Committee.

Admissions has set another record, with applications rising into the high 4,000s. As of our board meeting, applications were 15 percent ahead of the same time last year. There is also data that shows Union is receiving more applications per class spot (8) than the average for our core competitors (7.7), indicating that the College is attracting the attention of a quality audience. These good numbers are the result of years of College-wide efforts including expanded travel, communications initiatives, publications, and, of course, enhanced outreach by our proud alumni.

The College continues to pursue its goal of increased diversity. The interim dean of arts and sciences and a dozen faculty members have been working since the fall on ways to recruit and retain faculty and students from underrepresented groups. President Ainlay and Dean McCarty joined other presidents and deans at a forum hosted by the Consortium for Higher Achievement and Success to explore pedagogical techniques to assure the success of underrepresented students. Plans are under way for a symposium, made possible by a four-college grant from the Mellon Foundation, that will share best practices for faculty recruitment and retention.

The Office of Communications is marshalling a campus-wide project that will result in a new publication titled "We Are Union." The colorful book articulates the themes of our community (which are, of course, central elements to the Strategic Plan) and profiles members of the community who personify those themes. Plans are to distribute this on campus, and also with accepted students who are candidates for the incoming class.

The College's web staff has been busy with a number of important projects: implementing a new content management system that will expand and improve our already great web site, supporting the new Marketplace of Ideas (a campus exchange that brings together people with shared interests) and implementing an expanded calendar and event system that will provide a comprehensive look at the many exciting things happening on campus.

The media relations staff works closely with senior staff and faculty to place stories that promote the College. Among recent placements, the Boston Globe did a story that featured Union's Theme Houses, a number of outlets covered the inauguration last fall of Stephen C. Ainlay, and our faculty were widely quoted as expert sources.

Thanks to the generosity of many, the College had cash receipts of $4.2 million as of November 30, up $600,000 from the previous year. That brings the campaign total in gifts and pledges to $117.3 million. There are also more than $3.8 million in estate dollars in probate, which would bring the total to about $121 million, well toward the goal of $200 million. On behalf of the Trustees, I thank you for your continued support of the College through the You are Union campaign.

College Relations has produced a video, "Welcome Back to Union," that is being shown to rave reviews in 20 cities over the year. The video introduces President Ainlay, and builds pride in what is unique about Union. The College has won a prestigious Silver Award from the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education for the 2005 Homecoming and Family Weekend Program. This is well deserved and not at all surprising to those of us who attend these events. The Alumni Affairs staff - and the whole College - do a phenomenal job in welcoming alumni and families.

There is a real enthusiasm among those of us connected with Union. We have a new president who has a boundless energy for Union. Many of you have been meeting him as he travels around the country speaking to alumni clubs and groups. We have new buildings and programs that are the envy of any college. And now we have an exciting new plan that will chart our future course. I hope you will come back to campus for ReUnion on June 1 and 2 to see all of it for yourselves.

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: February 2007 by Stephen J. Ciesinski '70, Chairman, Board of Trustees Dear Friends of Union: The Board of Trustees met on Feb. 9 and 10 on a weekend that featured the adoption of the College's Strategic Plan, the approval of the comprehensive fee for 2007/08, the approval for tenure of seven distinguished faculty members and a tour of our elegant new Taylor Music Center. During the evenings, trustees were also able to cheer on our student-athletes at many contests, including a hard-fought 3-3 tie with national hockey power Cornell, and a 67-58 win over Rensselaer that put women's basketball into a playoff berth for the Liberty League Championship. The Board unanimously affirmed a remarkable document, "A Strategic Plan for Union College," made possible by the work of the Strategic Planning Group co-chaired by Trustee John E. Kelly III '76 and Therese McCarty, interim vice president for academic affairs and dean of the faculty. This is the culmination of nearly two years of hard work and reflection, which was begun by Interim President Jim Underwood. As President Stephen C. Ainlay said, "This report offers a vision and plan for Union . that can serve to unify us further, give coherence to our educational mission, point to elements that differentiate us, and move us into the future." I join President Ainlay in expressing my deep gratitude to the faculty, students, staff, alumni, and trustees of the planning group and to the many other dedicated members of the Union community who contributed to the development of this exceptionally well-crafted plan. Our vision, outlined in the plan, is clear: "Union College will be a leader in educating students to be engaged, innovative, and ethical contributors to an increasingly diverse, global, and technologically complex society." We have accomplished a great deal in the preparation of the plan, but much more work remains as we begin the implementation process. In the coming weeks, we will have a number of campus meetings to solicit input on implementation, an effort that will be led by the Planning and Priorities Group. You can read the plan at www.union.edu/strategic. The Board took a tour of the new Taylor Music Center, a spectacular new facility in the renovated North Colonnade made possible in large part by a generous gift from Jim '66 and John '74 Taylor. The centerpiece of the building is Emerson Hall, a 100-seat hall equipped with teaching space and state-of-the-art recording technology that will be used by the College's Choir, Orchestra and Jazz Ensemble. Surrounding the hall are practice rooms, high-tech classrooms and faculty offices. The building also features 13 Steinway pianos and a prestigious ranking as an "all-Steinway" program. During our tour, the trustees were treated to a brief piano recital by Adam Young '07, a talented musician who has truly found a welcoming home at the Taylor. Professor Hilary Tann put it well: ""It's a beautiful, functional building. But it has a little extra. It has grace. It has elegance." The new building will be formally celebrated at an event this spring. The Board was pleased to receive a report and note of thanks from Zachary Lazovic '07, chair of the Theme House Consortium, and 88 of his fellow students. There are 11 Theme Houses at Union, and it was gratifying to learn about the many ways they contribute to the academic, social and residential life of Union. Among the many events, Language House A recently hosted "Crepes Night," ARTS House is holding "Open Mic Nights," Ozone House continues their popular organic lunches, and Symposium held a "Cuban Dance Night." The College has received a grant of $500,000 from the National Science Foundation for the Converging Technology Scholars program to support students who will be encouraged to take an interdisciplinary approach to their studies. The program, which will support two groups of 10 students over five years, is designed to attract and retain talented students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. It is being directed by Ann Anderson of Mechanical Engineering, and Christina Tonnesen-Friedman of Mathematics. This past fall, the College welcomed four first-year international students from Russia, Mexico, India and Sweden as part of the prestigious Davis Scholars Program, which provides scholarships for graduates of United World College. The program has students at 65 of the top American colleges and universities. We are pleased that our first Posse class of 10 students from the Boston area has completed a successful fall term. We have just finished selecting 11 students for next year's class. The Posse Foundation trains student leaders from public high schools to form multicultural teams for enrollment at top colleges. The Board approved a comprehensive fee increase of 5 percent to $46,245 for 2007-2008. This fee, which covers tuition, room, board and other fees, allows students to take extra courses at no additional cost as long as they meet requirements. The College and the Board remain committed to keeping a Union education accessible to all. We have also approved a financial aid budget of $28.8 million, about one-fourth of the annual budget and the highest financial aid budget in school history. The board was pleased to approve the tenure and promotion to associate professor of seven very fine faculty members. They are: Kristin Bidoshi, Modern Languages; John Cramsie, History; Tomas Dvorak, Economics; Chris Fernandes, Electrical and Computer Engineering; Chad Orzel, Physics; Stephen Romero, Psychology; and Christina Tonnesen-Friedman, Mathematics. The board also approved the promotion to senior lecturer of Linda Almstead, Computer Science; and Barbara Pytel, Biology. The Board is delighted to welcome three new term trustees: Adrian C. Jay '98, Douglass E. Karp '97 and Stanley O'Brien '74. They will be joining the board at our spring meeting. As part of our effort to maximize safety, 10 Campus Safety officers were trained this winter under the Campus Public Safety Officer Program. After this training, an intensive 300-hour program of classroom and physical sessions, our officers will have the legal authority to detain suspects pending the arrival of local police. The need for such training was recommended by our Campus Safety Committee. Admissions has set another record, with applications rising into the high 4,000s. As of our board meeting, applications were 15 percent ahead of the same time last year. There is also data that shows Union is receiving more applications per class spot (8) than the average for our core competitors (7.7), indicating that the College is attracting the attention of a quality audience. These good numbers are the result of years of College-wide efforts including expanded travel, communications initiatives, publications, and, of course, enhanced outreach by our proud alumni. The College continues to pursue its goal of increased diversity. The interim dean of arts and sciences and a dozen faculty members have been working since the fall on ways to recruit and retain faculty and students from underrepresented groups. President Ainlay and Dean McCarty joined other presidents and deans at a forum hosted by the Consortium for Higher Achievement and Success to explore pedagogical techniques to assure the success of underrepresented students. Plans are under way for a symposium, made possible by a four-college grant from the Mellon Foundation, that will share best practices for faculty recruitment and retention. The Office of Communications is marshalling a campus-wide project that will result in a new publication titled "We Are Union." The colorful book articulates the themes of our community (which are, of course, central elements to the Strategic Plan) and profiles members of the community who personify those themes. Plans are to distribute this on campus, and also with accepted students who are candidates for the incoming class. The College's web staff has been busy with a number of important projects: implementing a new content management system that will expand and improve our already great web site, supporting the new Marketplace of Ideas (a campus exchange that brings together people with shared interests) and implementing an expanded calendar and event system that will provide a comprehensive look at the many exciting things happening on campus. The media relations staff works closely with senior staff and faculty to place stories that promote the College. Among recent placements, the Boston Globe did a story that featured Union's Theme Houses, a number of outlets covered the inauguration last fall of Stephen C. Ainlay, and our faculty were widely quoted as expert sources. Thanks to the generosity of many, the College had cash receipts of $4.2 million as of November 30, up $600,000 from the previous year. That brings the campaign total in gifts and pledges to $117.3 million. There are also more than $3.8 million in estate dollars in probate, which would bring the total to about $121 million, well toward the goal of $200 million. On behalf of the Trustees, I thank you for your continued support of the College through the You are Union campaign. College Relations has produced a video, "Welcome Back to Union," that is being shown to rave reviews in 20 cities over the year. The video introduces President Ainlay, and builds pride in what is unique about Union. The College has won a prestigious Silver Award from the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education for the 2005 Homecoming and Family Weekend Program. This is well deserved and not at all surprising to those of us who attend these events. The Alumni Affairs staff - and the whole College - do a phenomenal job in welcoming alumni and families. There is a real enthusiasm among those of us connected with Union. We have a new president who has a boundless energy for Union. Many of you have been meeting him as he travels around the country speaking to alumni clubs and groups. We have new buildings and programs that are the envy of any college. And now we have an exciting new plan that will chart our future course. I hope you will come back to campus for ReUnion on June 1 and 2 to see all of it for yourselves. Steve Ciesinski '70 Chairman, Board of Trustees
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