By Frank L. Messa '73, Chairman, Board of Trustees
Dear Friend of Union:
The trustees met Oct. 17 and 18 during a Homecoming and Family Weekend that featured glorious fall weather, recognition of a number of distinguished alumni and volunteers, a football win, and some important discussions about Union’s resources in the current economy.
First, I must say, as President Ainlay has in a recent letter to the campus community, that Union’s position remains strong. Our resources have been well managed, and our endowment has performed comparatively well. Although our endowment is not immune to the negative impact of the international financial crisis, we continue to outperform the broad market composite indices against which our endowment is measured. Unlike other institutions, we did not have any investments in the troublesome Common Fund. Our debt is mainly in fixed rate instruments. We will continue to monitor our investments against the backdrop of the turbulent financial markets.
The Board and Administration have been following the economic situation closely. In September, we began an analysis of potential stress points in College operations, such as a reduction in endowment income. Admissions has been considering the financial effects on our families and applicants. College Relations staff has been considering potential impacts on fund raising. The Board and the College’s Planning and Priorities Committee will be hearing reports shortly.
The College is not isolated from the effects of the economic crisis, and we will have to make some adjustments to ensure our financial position. We also will rely, as we have in the past, on those who understand the importance of supporting the College, particularly at this critical time.
Homecoming
The College honored six alumni through the UNITAS Alumni Diversity and Service Awards. Recipients were Emma Ester Bendaña ’04, a surgical resident at the University of Rochester Medical Center; Joan Gould ’76, a community activist and volunteer; Robert Holland Jr. ’62, a management executive and general partner with Williams Capital Partners (and former CEO of Ben and Jerry’s); Bac X Nguyen ’94, a family physician and community volunteer; Roberto Rodriguez ’98, a college access counselor for at-risk youth in Brooklyn; and Estelle Cooke-Sampson ’74, a physician and radiologist in the D.C. area.
At the Volunteer Appreciation Dinner, Richard “Ted” Vinick ’43 received the Special Appreciation Award for service and loyalty to the College and Alumni Council. Former Trustee Estelle Cooke-Sampson received the Distinguished Service Award for a lifetime of commitment and contributions to the College.
The weekend also included the UNITAS Alumni Career Panel; a reception for the 125th anniversary of Phi Delta Theta; a lecture by Dr. Barry DiBernardo ’80, a leading practitioner of laser and light based techniques in cosmetic surgery; and a walking tour of Greek life with Timothy Dunn, director of Fraternity and Sorority Life. Retired professor, Byron Nichols, was recognized by his former students at a dinner honoring his 40 years of service to the College.
Once again, Nick Famulare ’92 and his colleagues in Alumni Relations did a wonderful job in welcoming back a record 2,500 alumni and guests.
Academics
The Trustees were pleased with progress on the Peter Irving Wold Science and Engineering Center, a planned 35,000 square foot addition to the southwest corner of the Science and Engineering Center with a three-story atrium and access to the Olin Center. The College has selected design and construction firms, and the schematic design is nearly complete. Construction is planned to begin next fall. The building’s interior will be a contemporary design and will house a combination of flexible research lab and classroom space for interdisciplinary programs.
The Middle States Commission on Higher Education has approved the College’s self-study design for the upcoming reaccreditation review. The self-study, to take place this year, is organized around the theme of assessing implementation of the Strategic Plan. Working groups are analyzing six major sections of the Plan.
New faculty members from a range of disciplines and a number of new administrators – including Vice Presidents Steve Dare and Matt Malatesta ’91 -- have joined the College. Kristin Bidoshi, associate professor of Russian, is serving as interim Dean of Studies. Philip Poczik has joined us as the new director of AOP/HEOP.
The College continues with a number of projects aimed at achieving the sustainability goals of the Strategic Plan. Renovations to ventilation systems in Science and Engineering are nearly complete, and will result in an estimated $40,000 in yearly savings. An economizer installed in the boiler house stack is expected to save about $29,000 annually. Facilities is using three types of electric vehicles to make their fleet more sustainable.
This month Union is the host institution of a large conference, Frontiers in Education, which brings together top academic leaders to share best practices in higher education. Union will play a prominent role, particularly in sessions focusing on interdisciplinary learning.
The College continues to improve safety measures with continuous emergency management training across all departments. New emergency lock down hardware has been installed in Humanities, Social Sciences and Bailey Hall. Audio horns are being installed in residence halls. Card access gates have been added to Alexander and South lanes.
The Campus Plan update is in the final draft phase with consultant Arthur Lidsky preparing a document that will guide facility planning efforts over the next 15 years while staying true to the character of the campus envisioned by Eliphalet Nott and Joseph Ramée.
A lead gift from the family of Travis Clark ’00 and gifts from other friends have made possible a new strength training facility in the lower level of Achilles Center that is being used by women and men varsity athletes. The terrific new space makes good use of a former storage area with new lighting, heating, ventilation, sound system and interior finishes. The dedication of this new facility is set for Nov. 7.
College Relations
The trustees welcomed Steve Dare, our new vice president for College Relations. Steve has more than 26 years of fund-raising experience in higher education. He joined MIT in 1998 as director of resource development, overseeing the daily operations of the development organization and serving as campaign manager for MIT's recently completed $2 billion campaign. Since March 2007, he was senior managing director of development and campaign strategies at MIT and was overseeing a $500 million campaign for students.
Since joining the College in September, Steve has met a remarkable number of alumni and other friends who can help us reach the goals of our Strategic Plan. He has offered three objectives for the coming year: increasing alumni participation, providing budget enhancing support and adding a record-setting annual amount to the You Are Union Campaign.
Steve reported that the College had raised $146 million toward the campaign as of August 31 with potential donations helping to approach $160 million shortly. The exact total will be known after assessing the effects of the current market shift. Although the difficult economic environment will be challenging, we hope to build on the Union Fund successes in raising $4.6 million in the past fiscal year with a participation rate of 41 percent.
You may recall the trustees last spring approved the expansion of the campaign to $250 million through 2012. President Ainlay formally announced the expansion at a New York City event on Oct. 4. The next phase will focus on four priority areas: faculty and student support, enhancing curriculum and programs, revitalizing our historic campus, and building annual support through the Union Fund.
In Alumni Relations, record participation in ReUnion, Homecoming and club events has pushed the total this year to over 6,000 alumni, parents, family and friends. Some of the highlights include more than 70 alumni and parent events around the country, 550 alumni volunteers and a 50 to 100 percent increase in attendance at regional club events. The Alumni Council has been very active. A current membership of nearly 150 has allocated more than $60,000 to programming initiatives. That support has been vital to the success of recent ReUnion and Homecoming weekends, and the Board and I thank the Council for their efforts.
In Communications, the search has begun for a senior director of communications and marketing, and we expect to make a selection by the end of the term. We continue to raise the profile of Union through national publications, will complete the implementation of a Content Management System for the Web, and will work with Admissions to review their materials.
In media relations, the College has garnered national and international exposure through a number of outlets. The Chronicle of Higher Education featured remarks by President Ainlay and other education leaders in last spring’s symposium, “Engineering and Liberal Arts: Strangers No Longer.” The office helped arranged front page coverage in the Washington Post and dozens of other outlets of Prof. Robert Baker’s role as lead author of a study examining past discrimination policies of the American Medical Association. The office helped secure obituaries on Prof. William Murphy, an esteemed scholar from the English department, in The New York Times, Irish Times and a number of regional outlets.
In news and publications, we have produced a number of publications to communicate elements of the Strategic Plan and Campaign. A new Web site for the Office of the President offers key speeches, news, presidential priorities and a designated e-mail address. The office is updating a mailing database to facilitate communications with peer liberal arts schools.
Communications, with DoubleJay Creative, the award-winning firm that produced outstanding videos on the presidential inauguration and ReUnion ’08, has completed work on two “webisodes.” One on the Nott Memorial features interviews with Prof. Carl George and other members of the community who share with love for this glorious building. Paul Turner ’62, an architectural historian, is featured in a video on the campus plan by Joseph Ramée. A third video on the Strategic Plan is nearing completion.
The redesigned Union College magazine continues to get good feedback and thoughtful suggestions. We were especially struck by reaction to recent stories on Ethics Across the Curriculum and the long friendship between Prof. Bill Murphy and Congressman Sam Stratton, and to a request for recollections of a 1970 protest against the Vietnam War. A number of alumni across the country have made valuable suggestions for story and format over the past year of the new design. It is clear that alumni particularly enjoy historical features, from the early days of the College and from living memory. An increase in letters to the editor has made that department an expanded feature.
On the Web, nearly 85 percent of the total site content has been imported to the new Content Management System. More than 100 campus users have been trained on the CMS, which will lead to greater efficiency and the construction of a Web community. The conglomeration of content under a single system provides the oversight to reduce outdated material. The new system also will offer a much improved site search.
The Web office has worked with Human Resources and ITS to create a new secure online staff directory. Not only does this eliminate a costly printed directory and resulting use of resources. It provides capabilities for online updates and the development of faculty profiles for media relations.
Athletics
In athletics, the 2007-08 year was successful indeed. It produced five teams in NCAA or individual post-season events, five teams in ECAC tournaments (including one championship), six All-Americans, six Liberty League Players of the Year and five league coaching staff honors. The College also had 164 all-league academic performers, three academic All-District selections, a Watson Fellowship, 64 league all stars, a New York State Women’s Collegiate Scholar Athlete and the first female two-time All-American in track and field.
We will be paying tribute to some of Union’s outstanding past athletes at the Hall of Fame induction in November. I am pleased to announce that this year’s class is Ted Bick ’58, Dick Cole ’58, Gill Egan ’85, Holly Howard ’83, Kevin Makarowski ’97 and Brett Russ ’92. The 1929 men’s lacrosse and 1983 football teams will be inducted as Teams of Distinction.
Six students are participating in new independent study abroad programs. These are designed to accommodate students who have an interest outside of the traditional offerings. Jeremy Fritzhand and Sara Jacobsen, for example, will be working with an AIDS hospice program in South Africa.
Union’s newest students, the Class of 2012, wasted no time in getting to know Schenectady and its many dining establishments. Shortly after they had unpacked, they participated in “A Taste of Schenectady” – a new program in which the students can visit a number of restaurants and – and walking tours of the city.
The Board thanked Ann Fleming Brown, who served as interim Vice President for Admissions and Financial Aid last year before the arrival of Matt Malatesta. Under Ann’s guidance, the College welcomed 581 first years and 35 transfers. What was especially gratifying was that Union had an improved yield in the most competitive year in the last two decades.
The new Office of Multicultural Affairs, under the leadership of Gretchel Hathaway Tyson, senior director of campus diversity, is embarking on a number of programs to bring diversity, leadership and sensitivity training to departments across campus. The board welcomes Karen Ferrer-Muniz, who joined the College recently as director of multicultural affairs. Gretchel and Karen are working with colleagues across campus to develop programming this year around the College’s role in the abolition movement, the theme of Founders Day this year. A number of events focus on Moses Viney, a former slave who served as Eliphalet Nott’s assistant, and the extraordinary role he served in bringing the abolition movement to campus.
Finally, I am pleased to welcome three new colleagues to the board. Paul LeClerc H’97, a former Union professor and president of the New York Public Library; Dr. Kathy Magliato ’85, a leading cardiothoracic surgeon and director of Women’s Cardiac Services at Saint John’s Medical Center in Santa Monica, Calif.; and Kelly Williams ’86, managing director of Credit Suisse First Boston’s Asset Management Division. They bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to the board, and we are pleased to have them.
I remain confident in the strength of Union, and I thank you for all you do to on behalf of the College we love. I look forward to seeing you on campus soon.
Sincerely,
Frank L. Messa '73
Chairman of the Board of Trustees