Some BCC Colleague News

I hope each of you will join with me in extending congratulations and thank you to Marty Guzzi for stepping into the Acting Vice President for Student Affairs position. Marty will provide leadership of the Student Affairs Division for the remainder of the fall semester. As many of you know, Nancy LaBare will be on leave and we all thank Nancy for her service and commitment, and wish her the best as well.

In Marty’s absence as College Registrar, Assistant Registrar Cindy Mowry is assuming the duties of this important office and to Cindy also, thank you and best wishes.

Also, today, the College was informed that two of our nominees were selected as members of Chancellor Zimpher’s “Group of 200” delegates from across SUNY who will engage in conversations about SUNY’s Strategic Directions. Professor and College Council Chair Margherita Rossi and Student Trustee Zachariah Riley will do us proud as SUNY’s future is defined!

At this time, I want to also extend my thanks to everyone at BCC for your continued hospitality and support and here’s to a great Columbus Day break.

John W. Deans

Interim President

State Spending Reductions

In today’s media accounts, considerable reference is being made to 2009-2010 State Budget spending reductions announced by Governor Patterson and Budget Director Megna. An attached memo from Chancellor Zimpher provides an overview of the anticipated impact of the reductions on SUNY and the Chancellor’s plans to convene a panel of campus presidents/business officers to provide advice on how to implement this round of reductions. A conference call to campus presidents to discuss the budget is also planned.

This round of reductions applies to state-operated campuses; community colleges which are funded through Aid-to-Localities were not included. As the Chancellor notes, however, these announced reductions are quite likely only a first step toward addressing a current year budget shortfall that is estimated to be between 2 and 3 billion dollars. Additionally, the Governor’s Budget Office has already directed state agencies to submit flat-line budget requests for next year.

The bottom line is BCC, like all of our peers, will need to monitor our current budget closely and as we move forward with the next budget cycle for SUNY, be sure that the story of New York State’s community colleges and their central role in rebuilding our State’s economy is told far and wide. Making the case for investment in education has probably never made more sense. In the State’s current fiscal climate, however, that case will need to be articulated in an ever more convincing manner by all community college stakeholders.

As always, your thoughts or suggestions are welcome.

Memo from Chancellor Zimpher – 2009-10 spending reductions

John W. Deans

Interim President

Where is the President?

Tomorrow I will be off to Albany to take part in meetings over the next three days. The first is an orientation session that SUNY is putting on for new presidents. I’m not exactly “new” but each time I find there is a lot new to learn, so I’m looking forward to all ten presentations between noon Wednesday and mid-day Thursday. The presenters include SUNY’s best minds on topics such as legal issues, finance, academic program review and approval, and student life issues along with presentations by the Vice Chancellor for Community Colleges, Dennis Golladay and a dinner with System Leadership. The orientation program will conclude with visits to the State Capitol and meetings with Senate and Assembly higher education committee staff members.

At the conclusion of SUNY’s effort to orient us, I will be joining my presidential colleagues at the fall meeting of community college presidents. Like each of my colleagues, I’m looking forward to sharing some of the good news about Fall ’09 on this campus and hearing presentations on some of the key issues facing all of us. This meeting will also include a visit with Chancellor Zimpher where I’m confident we will hear more positive words about our favorite higher educational institutions, community colleges, and SUNY’s Strategic Plan.

As I head out for a couple of days, I also want to express my thanks to Chair Rossi and members of the College Council for the opportunity to share some thoughts yesterday about issues I feel are worthy of the Council’s attention and more importantly, to get from Council members some frank and valuable input regarding campus facilities’ issues important to our entire college community.

Please be on the lookout for an announcement from Kelli Ligeikis and team members who have agreed to take on a Fast Forward initiative designed to insure that this important partnership with area schools is the best that it can be – for BCC and the students we are serving!

And likewise, a thank you to Gregg Talley and his soon-to-be named team members for heading up a look at the Presidential Honors Program. Again, this is an effort to be sure another of Broome’s important programs is positioned to get a maximum return for students, the College and the BCC Foundation!

Lastly, I hope that as many of you as possible will help kick-off this year’s United Way campaign. Please stop by Wales 203B on Thursday, anytime between 11:00 am and 1:00 pm. Rhoda Neal is this year’s coordinator and she is enthusiastic and committed. Let’s give her lots of support, be as generous as possible to a great cause, and thank you Rhoda.

Sincerely, Dr. John Deans