PRESIDENT’S QUARTERLY REPORT TO THE COLLEGEMARCH 2010

SUMMARY

Empire State College Strategic Planning forums have continued throughout the state, most recently at the Hudson Valley, Long Island, Genesee Valley and Central New York centers and at the Van Arsdale Center for Labor Studies. The feedback received so far is incorporated into the Feb.10 draft that is included in this briefing booklet. The last forum will be held at the Northeast Center March 15, and the final draft of the plan will be presented at the All College Conference March 25.

The Open University of New York (OUNY) concept paper has been shared with SUNY and has been discussed across the college including with the members of our Senate. I am in the process of creating an intranet blog for faculty, students and staff to share their thoughts and ideas on this concept. I hope to have additional town meetings on OUNY (much like we did for the Strategic Plan) at the various centers later this spring.

Work has continued on the SUNY strategic planning process, with forums at Delhi (Diversity) and Stony Brook (Energy), and with three more forums to go, including a special symposium on Globalization on March 5, and a capstone session at the Center for Nanotechnology scheduled for March 18.

I have been recently named chairman of the SUNY Innovative Instructional Opportunities Working Group. This group is part of this Strategic Planning Process and I look forward to working closely with David Lavallee, the interim senior vice chancellor for academic affairs and provost at SUNY System Administration on this new initiative. In addition, I am co-chairing the search committee for the new SUNY vice chancellor for communications position.

There has been quite a bit of activity with partnerships and articulation agreements at the college. I was pleased to attend the signing of an articulation agreement with Kingsborough Community College in Brooklyn on Jan. 6. This is the first such agreement with a CUNY college, and we expect to develop agreements with the other CUNY community colleges over the next year. On Jan. 29, I hosted the new president of Schenectady County Community College, Dr Quintin Bullock. We discussed our proposed Pathways Articulation Agreement with SCCC and my attendance at his upcoming inauguration. Additionally, discussions have been held with the National Labor College in Washington, D.C. regarding a partnership that could extend the work of the Van Arsdale Center for Labor Studies outside of the state.

I recently participated on a panel of college and university presidents and military service chiefs at the Council of College Military Educators annual meeting. The conference

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addressed the emerging challenges in military education. Due to the flexibility of our programs and our unique delivery methods, Empire State College has a long and dedicated presence in the field of military education

On March 8, I will attend the American Council for Education Commission on Lifelong Learning meeting. This commission, made up primarily of college and university presidents, gives advice on lifelong educational learning trends. They review policy statements, guidelines, and principles of good practice on adult learning issues and give recommendations to the ACE board.

With regard to the Cabinet reorganization, the search for the vice president of integrated technologies is underway.

We will be pleased to host Chancellor Nancy Zimpher, Vice Chancellor Monica Rimai and other SUNY dignitaries and community leaders at the official opening of 113 West Ave. on March 11. Festivities include a ribbon-cutting ceremony, tours and an open house.

In the reports that follow, you will find information related to almost every office and geographic region of the college. As usual, we will be pleased to respond to any questions, comments or suggestions you have based on your reading of these reports.

OFFICE OF ACADEMIC AFFAIRS

SUMMARY

The Office of Academic Affairs welcomed Dr. Hugh Hammett as interim provost in January. Dr. Hammett has been with the college 32 years, most recently serving as vice president for external affairs. Trained as an historian of United States foreign relations, he received his Ph. D. from the University of Virginia. Prior to his service at Empire State College, Dr. Hammett held faculty appointments at Virginia Tech, Ithaca College, and the Rochester Institute of Technology. Dr. Hammett came to Empire State College to serve as associate dean, then acting dean of the Rochester Center and subsequently served as the dean of continuing education and public service. He holds the concurrent rank of professor at Empire State College. He is working with President Davis on the reorganization of the Office of Academic Affairs and creating a new vision for it that will align with the 2015 Strategic Plan.

Across the college, the faculty and staff have been involved in significant scholarship, resulting in the publishing of a number of books, articles and papers. The involvement of faculty and staff in the larger higher education community has reached from local communities in the state of New York to regions around the world. Articulation agreements are being signed with sister SUNY institutions and new relationships with organizations throughout the country are growing. Membership on advisory boards,

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invitations to speak, awards presented and requests for consultation demonstrate the significant value faculty and staff bring to the larger educational community.

Middle States Reaccreditation Update

In early December, the college received the report of the Middle States evaluation team that visited the institution in November. Consistent with the team's closing remarks at the end of the visit, the team report noted a number of areas of achievement for the college and made several suggestions that affirmed findings and proposals presented in the college's self-study report. The commission shared the report with the College Council, the Middle States Steering Committee and President's Council. The Middle States Commission on Higher Education makes its decision about the college's reaccreditation when it meets in March. Given the positive response by the team, we are optimistic the commission will approve the college’s 10-year term of reaccreditation.  Once the Middle States Commission makes its decision, the team report, the college's response and the commission decision will be more widely shared within the college community.

New Faculty

Dr. John M. Beckem II joined the Center for Distance Learning on Jan. 11, 2010, as an Academic Area Coordinator in Business, Management and Economics. Dr. Beckem earned his Ph.D. in Philosophy from Oakland University, as well as a Master of Divinity from Ashland Theological Seminary and an M.S. in Administration from Central Michigan University. Dr. Beckem most recently served as a faculty member of the College of Management and Graduate Studies at Central Michigan University.

UUP Joint Labor Management Individual Development Funds (UUP/IDA)

The second cycle of the UUP/IDA funds had 44 applicants requesting $38,432 in funds. Only $8,000 was allocated for this cycle. Many of the faculty who applied also were eligible for faculty development funds and they were asked to move their requests over to that funding source. The committee allocated $500 each to the remaining applicants..

Keep-Mills Symposium on Ways of Knowing

This year’s symposium focuses on contemplative science. Eighteen students are registered in this residency, which started Jan.19. The five faculty teaching this year are Robert Altobello, Bob Carey, Lorraine Lander, Elaine Lux and Nan Travers. The Rensselaerville Institute is the site for the face-to-face residency portion of the study on April 9-11, 2010.

All College 2010

The theme for the All College Conference is the Ernest L. Boyer Family Lecture, “Networking to Learn: Collaborative Planning for the Future.” An innovative keynote

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address by Elliott Masie of the Masie Center will involve interviews with five individuals on the question, “What does social learning look like?” Individuals drawn from alumni, the foundation board, community members, and faculty will participate.

All About Mentoring (AAM)

“All About Mentoring” Vol. 36 includes contributions from more than 25 colleagues from across the college and from a number of scholars from outside the college who were invited to contribute. This issue of AAM focuses on ecology and learning.

All Areas of Study 2009 (AAOS)

This year’s All Areas of Study Meeting took place Oct. 21-23, 2009. The theme was “Celebrating our Creativity and Innovation,” which followed up on the discussions held at the June Academic Conference 2009. Through discussions within individual areas of study, and in groups that crossed academic study boundaries, we focused on reimagining the areas of study at the college.

College Professor of Adult Learning and Mentoring

Dr. Alan Mandell, with colleague Lee Herman, co-wrote a new piece on mentoring titled “Mentoring: When Learners Make the Learning,” which was published in Mezirow and Taylor’s edited “Transformative Learning in Practice: Insights from Community, Workplace and Higher Education” (Jossey-Bass 2009). A second Mandell essay written with colleague Frank Fischer of Rutgers University on the theorist Michael Polanyi was published in “Science as Culture” and was translated into German and published as Die verborgene Politik des impliziten Wissens: Michael Polanyis Republik der Wissenschaft, Leviathan: Berliner Zeitschrift fuer Sozialwissenschft, Jahrgang 37.

The Graduate Center at the City University of New York honored Dr. Mandell with an Alumni Achievement Award for his work in adult learning. Additionally, he was named the recipient of the Eugene Sullivan Award for Leadership from the Adult Higher Education Alliance (AHEA) for his outstanding leadership in the organization. He has been a member of the board for several years and on the 2009 conference planning committee. Empire State College will host the AHEA Conference in 2010.

Vermont State Colleges (VSC) Memo of Understanding

A memo of understanding with the Vermont State Colleges to accept their prior learning assessments credits is now in place. Before reaching this agreement, students transferring with prior learning assessment credits from VSC had to have them re-evaluated.

Articulation Agreements

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Eight enhanced “Pathways” articulation agreements are now in place with SUNY colleges and the first was with such agreement with the City University of New York was recently signed.

The Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL)

College academic review professionals Nan Travers, along with Marnie Evans, Amanda Treadwell and Terry Hoffman conducted a roundtable on their national study, “Researching Critical Factors Impacting PLA Programs: A Multi-Institutional Study to Identify Best Practice,” at the CAEL conference in late November. They also presented a national CAEL webinar on Jan. 20, 2010, which was attended by more than 100 people.

Travers will serve on the advisory board to the Virtual Prior Learning Assessment Center, funded by a planning grant from Lumina and sponsored by a partnership between CAEL and American Council on Education.

Registrar’s Office

The Registrar’s Office is now on VA-Once, the electronic filing system with the Veterans' Administration. This enables the college, particularly the Office of the Registrar and the Office of Veterans and Military Affairs, to "track" the processing of veteran’s benefit requests. The number of graduates continues to run slightly ahead of last year for the first two quarters, representing a possible 5 percent increase over 2008-09, if the pace continues in the same manner for the rest of the year.

Smarthinking

The Office of Collegewide Academic Support (OCAS) staff continues to monitor student use of and satisfaction with Smarthinking tutoring services. Student use of these services this quarter has increased more than 40 percent compared to the same time last year. Student satisfaction as measured by OCAS surveys remains consistently high.

Admissions Assessment Policy

The first stage of the Admissions Assessment Policy was launched in November. The Office of Integrative Technology is working on the programming to support the process. The numbers thus far are representative of the previous assessment and do not appear to require many students to take the Bridge Program. The Office of Collegewide Academic Support has been working collaboratively with the directors of Academic Services to prepare for the implementation of the new admissions policy.

Office of Collegewide Disability Services

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The following table shows the number of students with disabilities who enrolled for the 2009-2010 academic year to date and the total number of students with disabilities who enrolled since 2007.

Center Total # of Students w/disabilities newly enrolled 2009-2010

Total # of students w/disabilities2007-2010

CDL 154 275CGP 12 35CNY 36 68GVC 35 78HVACLS 3 5HVC 9 39LIC 33 52Metro 47 68NFC 18 50Northeast 30 52Total 377 722

Academic Review The following table shows the number of individual degree programs approved for undergraduate students within each of the college’s areas of study for the second quarter of the 2009-2010 academic year.

Number of Degree Programs Concurred by Undergraduate Area of Study

Undergraduate Area of Study July –September 2009 The Arts 25Business, Management & Economics 233Community and Human Services 159Cultural Studies 39Educational Studies 9Human Development 44Historical Studies 19Interdisciplinary Studies 65Labor Studies 22Nursing 1Science, Math, and Technology 56Social Theory, Structure and Change 8

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Grand Total 680

The following tables display the number of degrees granted at Empire State College during the second quarter (Oct. 1 through Dec. 31, 2009) of the 2009-2010 academic year. The three tables in the report denote the number of undergraduate degrees awarded by center, the number of degrees awarded by undergraduate area of study, and the number of degrees awarded by graduate program.

Table 1: Undergraduate Degrees Awarded by Center

Center/ProgramAssociate Bachelor’s Total

N % N % N %Genesee Valley 6 4.3 20 5.3 26 5.0Metro 8 5.8 33 8.7 41 7.9Long Island 5 3.6 23 6.1 28 5.4Central New York 11 8.0 33 8.7 44 8.5Hudson Valley 3 2.2 35 9.2 38 7.4Van Arsdale 57 41.3 0 0.0 57 11.0Northeast 10 7.2 35 9.2 45 8.7Niagara Frontier 9 6.5 28 7.4 37 7.2Center for Distance Learning 29 21.0 125 33.0 154 29.8International Programs 0 0.0 46 12.1 46 8.9Verizon Corporate College 0 0.0 1 0.3 1 0.2

Total 138 100 379 100 517 100

Table 2: Undergraduate Degrees Awarded by Area of Study

Area of StudyAssociate Bachelor’s TotalN % N % N %

The Arts 3 2.2 15 4.0 18 3.5Business, Management and Economics 26 18.8 138 36.4 164 31.7Community and Human Services 13 9.4 81 21.4 94 18.2Cultural Studies 3 2.2 30 7.9 33 6.4Educational Studies 1 0.7 17 4.5 18 3.5Human Development 2 1.4 23 6.1 25 4.8Historical Studies 0 0.0 13 3.4 13 2.5Interdisciplinary Studies 27 19.6 33 8.7 60 11.6Labor Studies 57 41.3 1 0.3 58 11.2Science, Math and Technology 6 4.3 24 6.4 30 5.8Social Theory, Structure and Change 0 0.0 4 1.1 4 0.8

Total 138 100 379 100 517 100

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Table 3: Graduate Degrees Awarded by Program

Program N %Arts in Teaching 1 14.3Business Administration 3 42.9Business and Policy Studies 0 0.0Labor and Policy Studies 1 14.3Liberal Studies 1 14.3Social Policy 1 14.3Total 7 100

Center and Program News

The Center for Distance Learning

The center’s three-year retention rate has climbed about three percent per year (from 34 to 41 percent over three cohorts) and our one-year retention rate has improved from 57 percent to 61 percent. CDL enrolls about 1,000 new students each fiscal year.

The center continues to participate in a SUNY-wide initiative to develop an online program at the European University of Humanities (EHU) - also known as “university in exile”. From October 2009 through January 2010, Mentor Val Chukhlomin has developed and conducted an eight-week bilingual course, “Teaching Online,” for a group consisting of eight EHU educators. The center delivered the study fully online with a number of Elluminate meetings.

CDL has established a partnership with the Metropolitan Center and Per Scholas, Incorporated. Per Scholas is a non-profit organization with locations in the Bronx and Miami. The National Program on Non-Collegiate Sponsored Instruction (PONSI) evaluated the computer training courses for college-level credit.

The center established a new partnership with the New York State Association of Superintendents of School Building and Grounds. Members who complete an associate’s degree in School Facilities Management from Mohawk Valley Community College may transfer to Empire State College to complete a bachelor’s degree in business, management and economics with a concentration in facilities management.

In addition, the CDL Student Advisory Group initiated “Students at a Distance Can Make a Difference.” In this effort, the group solicited coats from the entire Center for Distance Learning community, which has donated more than 300 coats to a variety of organizations.

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Wednesday Webinars via Elluminate continue to be successful connecting with over 100 returning instructors in the past year on topics such as learning styles, the Socratic method, military and veteran students, academic support and resources available to them.

Audeliz Matias and David Wolf presented “Non-traditional Approaches to Teaching GPS Online” at the American Geophysical Union, and Mentor Menoukha Case presented a paper at the National Women’s Studies Association Annual Conference titled, “Things Begin before They Are Names: Lorraine Hansberry’s Africanist Intersectional Feminism.”

Bidhan Chandra gave a two-hour presentation in October 2009 titled, “India at Crossroads – Yesterday and Tomorrow,” at the Union College Academy of Lifelong Learning (UCALL). Eighty members attended the presentation. In November of 2009, Dr. Chandra conducted a workshop “Understanding Global Diversity for International Business Success” for the capital district business community.

Mentors Carol Carnevale, Oto Jones and Susan Oaks presented “Supporting Quality Online Learning in a Period of Rapid Growth” at the Cambridge Conference on Open and Distance Learning; Mentor Nataly Tcherepashenets presented at the International Congress on Chilean Poetry, “Dialogos: William Shakespeare y Jorge Luis Borges en el universo (anti) poetico de Nicanor Parra,” at Pontifica Universidad Catolica de Chile. Al Lawrence has been invited to deliver a series of lectures on “School Desegregation and Civil Rights in Eisenhower’s America” at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute in Massachusetts.

Ken Charuk, as part of a National Science Foundation, wrote the chapter titled Designing the Online Laboratory for an upcoming publication of “Moving the Lab Online.” Mentor Deborah Smith had two travel articles published in Iceland in the national magazine Atlantica. The Journal of Educational Technology Systems published Lisa Snyder’s article, “Using the Improvement-Focused Model to Evaluate an Online Teacher Education Program.” Desiree Roberts wrote an article published in the Albany Times Union titled, “Forty-six Years,” which was a reflection on the assassination of John F. Kennedy.

CDL opened a fall 2009 Art Exhibition featuring more than 40 pieces of work from students, faculty, alumni and professionals at CDL, the Northeast Center and the Center for International Programs. The exhibit, co-curated by Empire State College students, Judith Belt-Smith and Sandra Nordland, is part of a study called “Managing College Art Galleries”.

The Center for International Programs

President Alan Davis visited the Athens program in November. He met with the head of partner institution New York College President Elias Foutsis and other senior staff to discuss prospects for growth in Europe, including the possibility of introducing graduate programs. President Davis also shared with the group Chancellor Zimpher’s goal to give more prominence to global education and attended a reception with Empire State College

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faculty, where all had an opportunity to informally meet and discuss issues related to working in the Athens program.

The Albania program moved into a new, modern facility, which also resulted in a larger space for the library. The computer room is also larger and new reading rooms are part of the space. The college sponsored a public lecture given by Edith Harxhi, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Albania, who spoke on Albanian foreign policy, mission and objectives.

The first residency in Lebanon since summer 2006 took place in November. The team from the United States included International Programs Dean Kingston Nyamapfene, who worked with local faculty to team-teach the residency. The opportunity to work together strengthened ties between Empire State College and AUST faculty.

The Central New York Center

The Central New York Center in Syracuse received the OCRRA Blue Ribbon Recycler award, presented by Onondaga County Resource Recovery Agency (OCRRA). The award is given to organizations that prove they are committed to reducing waste. Presently, Empire State College is the only college in the area to be named an OCRRA Blue Ribbon Recycler.

Deborah Coolhart presented “The Dynamics of Diversity in Clinical Practice" and "Clinical Practice with LGBT Clients within a Multicultural Context" at Fairfield University for family therapy students and clinicians from the community.

Julie Gedro authored the instructor’s Manual for 7th Edition of Human Resource Management: Gaining a Competitive Advantage. She co-wrote a book chapter titled Executive Development and LGBT Issues in the Workplace in Case Studies and Activities in Adult Education and Human Resource Development. Desalyn De-Souza presented the paper “Moving toward Family-Friendly Service Delivery: An Onondaga County Collaboration Project” at the National Head Start Association. Deb Holler, along with Anthony F.C. Wallace, published "Reviving the Peace Queen: Revelations from Lewis Henry Morgan's Field Notes on the Tonawanda Seneca,” in Histories of Anthropology Annual. Paul Miller did a book review of Liesl Miller Orenc’s, “On the Ground: Struggle in the American Airline Industry for Enterprise and Society: Journal of Business History.”

The Genesee Valley Center

In September, the Fourth Annual Alumni Student Faculty Art Show was put on display at the Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County. Thirty-five artists displayed 83 works.

Students and alumni worked together on the 2009 Making Strides against Breast Cancer Kick off Breakfast and Press Conference. GVC and CDL students/alumni worked

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together on making the Rochester Strides the first “Green” strides in New York. On Sept. 26, 2009, the Alumni Student Association of the Canandaigua Unit hosted an afternoon at Sonnenberg Gardens with President Alan Davis and his wife, Denise.

Adele Anderson performed with the Elizabeth Clark Dance Ensemble at the opening of the Nazareth Performing Arts Center. Jim Anderson presented, “A New Method for Determining the Charge-to-Diameter Ratio of Charged Particle” at the International Conference on Electrostatics. Dick Butler recently taught a study on Consumer Behavior with the Center for International Programs in Panama.

Harry Van Arsdale Jr. Center

Dr. Moshe Adler, a part-time associate professor with the Van Arsdale Center and the Center for Graduate Programs, received very favorable reviews for his new book, “Economics for the Rest of Us: Debunking the Science that Makes Life Miserable” (2009). Published by the New Press in New York, “Economics for the Rest of Us” is based in part on the Van Arsdale Center's introductory course on Labor and the Economy, which Adler developed, teaches and coordinates.

The fall meeting of the center's faculty supper seminar series was held on Friday, Nov. 6, 2009, and was attended by 24 faculty members. The focus of the evening was Daniel Mueenuddin's short story, "Nawab Electrician," which originally appeared in The New Yorker and was recently reissued in his first published collection of short stories.

On Nov. 19, 2010, Assistant Professor and Mentor Sharon Szymanski chaired a Community Policy Forum on Workplace Flexibility at the headquarters of the United Federation of Teachers. Co-sponsored by the college's Van Arsdale Center and the Workplace Flexibility 2010 project of the Georgetown University Law School, the forum attracted 30 individuals from the labor union community and the college. The Hudson Valley Center

In October 2009, the center held a very successful two-day business residency in Poughkeepsie with 50 students attending. Michael DiTullo, a graduate of the Hudson Valley Center (HVC), gave the keynote address. Mr. DiTullo is an economic development expert and his presentation focused on business activity in the Mid-Hudson region.

The Hudson Valley Center administrators and a group of alumni established an alumni association in the Mid-Hudson region. The group will focus on professional activities that would help interested graduates further their careers and community involvement.

The center continues to work with the local community colleges to develop articulation agreements that support the Pathways project. In late November, articulation and billing agreements were signed with Dutchess County Community College, and the Pathways articulation agreement is currently under active consideration at Orange County

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Community College, Ulster County Community College and Westchester Community College.

On Dec. 7, 2009, the Hudson Valley Center presented a workshop for alumni, students, and the public in Hartsdale called “Getting Interviews, 2.0.” The workshop explored contemporary methods for career exploration and the positives and negatives of using social networking sites.

Long Island Center

Interim Dean Ken Feldman will be working with Nassau Community College, Suffolk Community College and private community college presidents to create articulation agreements. To support this initiative, the college will be hosting a Spring Transfer Open House to provide an overview of degree programs, enrollment processes and financial aid to prospective students.

Working with Lisa Sax, director of Corporate and Community Partnerships, the center is developing a strong emergency management concentration, utilizing both guided independent learning and CDL offerings. The center will partner with the local volunteer agencies and Stony Brook University EMT/ Paramedic program.

The Riverhead and Hauppauge center facilities are launching a marketing campaign directed at the New York State Court System, which currently employs a large professional staff and is located within a short distance of the college. The marketing campaign will highlight such college features as ease of enrollment, flexible hours, dynamic mentors, and the law enforcement and criminal justice programs at the college.

Metropolitan Center

President Alan Davis and President Regina S. Peruggi of Kingsborough Community College signed an articulation agreement on Jan. 6, 2010.  The Pathways agreement will make it easier for community college graduates to transfer and earn a four-year degree through a blended model of independent study, online courses and small study groups. Kingsborough is the first City University of New York (CUNY) community college to partner with Empire State College in the Pathways program.

An opening reception for Metro 544, a student art exhibition, was held Dec. 1, 2009, in the Metro Hudson gallery. Students from Betty Wilde-Biasiny’s Issues in Contemporary Art class acted as curators and contributed the work on display. Media ranged from digital prints to acrylics on canvas, pastels on paper and watercolor.

Northeast Center

The Northeast Center celebrated Non-Traditional Students week in November with several events. More than 50 students, alumni, faculty and staff came to the Word & Image Coffee House to listen to nine students read excerpts of their writings and to view

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of the artwork of 18 students displayed in the center. On Nov. 13, 2009, the center hosted its first Night at the Museum at the New York State Museum. More than 100 students and their families enjoyed refreshments, a scavenger hunt, and listened to “live displays” presented by Northeast Center faculty.

The Glens Falls/Queensbury Unit was renamed the Adirondack Unit. The new name acknowledges the unit’s location on the Adirondack Community College campus and the long-standing connection between the two institutions, and better reflects the region served by the unit.

The Northeast Center sponsored a book-signing event in November for student Ryan Smithson at the Little Book House in Albany. Smithson read selections from his book, “The Ghosts of War: the True Story of a 19-year old G.I.” to a large audience, responded to questions and signed copies of his work.

Lisa D’Adamo-Weinstein, director of Academic Support and Joan Johnsen, coordinator of Student Services, presented at the Sloan Consortium Conference on Online Learning in October. Their presentation titled “Meeting Students Where they Go: Blended Student and Academic Support from Orientation to Graduation,” focused on current theories and best practices in supporting student learning with technology.

Cynthia Bates directed “The Odd Couple” by Neil Simon at Curtain Call Theatre in Latham. The play had sold-out crowds from Sept. 11 through Oct. 10. Karen Garner presented “U.S. Global Gender Policy in the 1990s,” at Transnational Feminisms, an international conference held at the University of Manchester in the United Kingdom, in December 2009.

MaryNell Morgan presented a paper at the 94th Annual Meeting of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) on “Du Bois's Neglected American Family" as part of the panel called “Lesser Known Legacies of W.E.B. Du Bois.”

On Nov. 5, 2009, the center sponsored a visit by Professor Yaw Oheneba-Sakyi, director of the Institute of Adult Education, at the University of Ghana. Professor Yaw met with President Davis and others in Saratoga Springs and presented on the state of higher education and distance education in Ghana.

Niagara Frontier Center

On Oct. 27, 2009, more than 80 people attended the monthly Student Alumni Association literary event, which featured local poet and center adjunct, Perry Nicolas, reading from his recently published book, “The River of You.” On Nov. 5, 2009, Community and Human Service students attended Student Connect, an event that featured a lecture by mentor Lorraine Peeler.

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Susan Forbes co-directed “Someone Who’ll Watch Over Me,” at the Irish Classical Theatre in Buffalo. Mentor Dan Nyaronga presented “The Mediating Role of the Social Support in the Relationship between Religion and Self-Efficacy among GLBT” at the National Council on Family Relations Conference in San Francisco in November. Mentor Sandra Johnson presented a paper titled “Complex Trauma in Children: Brain Changes and Behaviors” to the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation (ISSTD) in Washington, D.C., in November.

OFFICE OF ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT

SUMMARY

We achieved 95.28 percent of our November target registering 2,655 students for 22,435 credits in comparison to last November of 2,660 students for 21,211 credits. At the end of December we reached 90 percent of our target for the January term. has registered 8,353 students for 74,478 credits in comparison to last January of 6,962 students for 60,282 compared to last year at this time. We have reached 71.6 percent of our target year to date for 2009-10. The January registration continues to Jan. 15.

Applications across the college are down 3.9 percent compared to last year. We are hopeful that applications will pick up in the next couple of months with the March and May terms.

The office at the Empire State Plaza, within easy walking distance of the state Capitol and the Legislative Office Building, is now in full operation. Some mentors from the Center for Distance Learning and the Northeast Center are available to those students interested in studying in downtown Albany. The office conducts information sessions every other week and has introduced monthly workshops to the Plaza community. Workshop, featuring such topics as handling difficult people, public speaking, e-writing, time management and life-experience credit have been very well received. Top attendance, thus far, is 37. The Plaza office serves Empire State College and as a SUNY resource center for other SUNY institutions. A grand opening is scheduled for March.

Since the start of the dormant lead project in October, we have reached out though e-mail and postcards to 54,000 prospects. More than 1,000 of these prospects have started the application process with 565 of them submitting and completing applications.

In keeping with the theme “Telling Our Story” outlined in the strategic plan, we created a new postcard (below) highlighting Lisa Brescia, a 2008 graduate who appeared in the play "Wicked" in Chicago The postcard was mailed to more than 40,000 prospects in the month of October urging students who have not been in contact with the college for several years to re-enroll because achieving your goal feels “wickedly good.”

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Marketing

The major marketing initiatives for this quarter included the following:

A campaign promoting undergraduate studies took place in October and November. This promotion included print ads in major newspapers on a statewide basis, as well as traffic and weather sponsorships on multiple radio stations in the major cities throughout the state. We developed a new marketing campaign with ads that feature a current student or alumni with the slogan “My Degree. My Way.” This concept mirrors our new web-site concept so that all of our communications are integrated to enforce one message.

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We updated and streamlined the communications that are sent to new and continuing students reminding them to register for classes prior to the start of each term. The revisions included a new email template and text; new postcard messaging, a brief and concise letter from the provost and a new distribution schedule that will save the college money by adding more email reminders and less printed materials. These communications are now clearer and, hopefully, more effective for our students.

Online courses and degree programs will be marketed separately starting in 2010 due to a flattening of applications for our Center for Distance Learning (CDL). The original plan was to market online learning in Toronto, since this is a vibrant economy with limited online competition, but we do not believe that we are internally prepared to market in Canada. We will instead expand the marketing for this program nationally through our search engine marketing program (PPC) and see where the results are coming from. Once we identify the better performing regions, we can further develop these markets by increasing searching in these areas and adding traditional advertising, such as newspaper ads, radio commercials and transit ads, if adequate funding is available.

With our interim vice president accepting a position at another college, we have decided to contract with Prime Visibility to act as a consultant in maximizing our search engine campaigns. We also have hired a new director of web marketing who will take over this project and oversee the integration of web marketing, our prospective student management system and all technology related marketing for the college to integrate and maximize these systems.

Community College Partnerships

Since our last report, the college has achieved significant progress in the development of our community college partnerships via the Pathways Transfer Program. We have increased the number of newly signed agreements from four to 11 over the last few months. Co-logoed brochures and Web pages have been produced for these schools, and follow-up training meetings with their transfer counseling staffs have begun.

The 11 community colleges that have signed the Pathways agreement include the following, arranged based on the college’s geographic regions:

Niagara Frontier Center: Erie and Jamestown community colleges Genesee Valley Center - Corning, Genesee and Monroe community colleges Central New York Center – Cayuga and Jefferson community colleges Hudson Valley Center – Dutchess, Rockland and Sullivan community colleges Metropolitan Center – Kingsborough Community College

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A highlight occurred on Nov. 12, 2009, when President Davis and President Amann from Corning Community College took time out of the SUNY Presidents’ meeting at the Fashion Institute of Technology to participate in a Pathways signing ceremony between the two colleges. Chancellor Nancy Zimpher joined in for the photo.

A highlight occurred on Nov. 12 when President Davis and President Amann from Corning Community College took time out of the SUNY Presidents’ meeting at the Fashion Institute of Technology to participate in a Pathways signing ceremony between the two colleges. Chancellor Nancy Zimpher joined in for the photo.

Kingsborough Community College became the first CUNY community college to sign the Pathways agreement on Jan. 6. With this model agreement in place, the Pathways program will be presented to the five other CUNY community colleges in the coming months.

Several additional community colleges are currently at the final review and signing stages. They include: Fulton-Montgomery, Herkimer, Onondaga, Orange, Ulster, and Westchester. The Pathways program will be formally presented during the spring 2010 semester at Finger Lakes, Nassau, Niagara, North Country (Nursing), Suffolk, Tompkins-Cortland, and CUNYs at La Guardia and Manhattan.

Finally, advertisements have been designed specifically for use in community college student newspapers. For all schools that have newspapers, full or half page ads were purchased during the fall semester, and the spring 2010 ads have already been purchased. At each college that has signed an agreement, the ad presents the Pathways program, along with the dates for regional information sessions. For all other community colleges,

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the ad promotes Empire State College as a transfer destination, along with the information session dates. This spring we will also advertise in the new Community College Campus News. This student newspaper is distributed to 15 community colleges across Long Island, New York City, and seven Hudson Valley counties. Empire State College will be advertised prominently with a full page ad in four upcoming issues.

Applications and Admissions

Total applications (undergraduate and graduate) for October, November, December is 2,270.

UndergraduateOctober: 770 accepted (1 writing accept), 195 incomplete, 7 rejected, 5 inactivated (977 total)November: 385 accepted (4 writing accept), 152 incomplete, 2 rejected, 3 inactivated (542 total)December: 316 accepted (25 writing accept), 272 incomplete, 3 rejected, 2 inactivated (593 total)

* The total number accepted includes writing accepts.

GraduateOctober: 56 accepted, 16 incomplete, 7 rejected (79 total)November: 33 accepted, 17 incomplete, 6 rejected (56 total)December: 3 accepted, 20 incomplete, 0 rejected (23 total)

New Admissions Assessment

The first phase of the new admissions policy has begun. The new admissions assessment went live Nov. 15, 2009. Between the period of Nov. 15, 2009, and Dec. 23, 2009, the Admissions Raters reviewed 438 essays under the new rubric. As these applications become complete, the applicants will be referred as follows:

382 essays scored an acceptable rating and will receive a regular acceptance into the college,

51 essay scored a writing accept rating and will be referred to a director of academic support for a second assessment

five essays scored an unacceptable rating and will be reviewed by an Admissions Review Team for a final acceptance decision.

Thus far one application was complete in the unacceptable range and the Admissions Review Team denied admission for this applicant.

The 51 essays that will be referred to a director of academic services will be distributed as follows:

1 Northeast Center 4 Hudson Valley Center3 Central New York 9 Metropolitan Center 3 Genesee Valley Center 5 Niagara Frontier Center3 Long Island Center 23 Center for Distance Learning.

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Our initial findings indicate 14 percent of the essays reviewed did not respond to the assignment and with the new rubric were able to score an acceptable rating. We have also lost the individuality of the student with the new essay. Our old essay allowed students to discuss their intentions, needs and goals. This information is very helpful to the Center in mentor assignment and meeting the needs of the student. Currently, we are manually tracking rubric scores and are working towards an automated process for future reporting.

Corporate and Community Partnerships

The last quarter of 2009 brought a lot of promise in the college’s embracing of initiatives and other academic developments that expand the college’s ability to demonstrate its position as an architect of change in the state’s economic development landscape while also upholding the college’s social responsibility, and expanding partnership possibilities. The combination of various efforts points to a bright new year for community and public partnerships at Empire State College.

A heightened interest in educating people to fulfill expanding and emerging jobs related to a green economy has prompted academic developments that are aligned with the needs of multiple constituents. The combined efforts of the centers and OAA have led to endeavors to develop a certificate program in sustainability. In addition to helping state agencies meet mandates, offering a certificate program in this area is aligned with priorities established by agencies responsible for administering funds for education and training such as the New York State Department of Labor and NYSERDA, and can play a pivotal role in partnership development this coming year.

Several initiatives undertaken by the Center for Graduate Programs have generated partnership possibilities that are being explored. For example, the New York State Economic Development Council (NYSEDC) approached the college in hopes of creating a partnership to prepare for an impending shortage of skilled economic development professionals. With more than 60 percent of the current body of professionals expected to retire in coming years, the membership,comprised of more than 900 organizations, is seeking a partnership with the college that envolves development of graduate-level courses. The college is well-poised to serve NYSEDC members, and through a partnership will have direct access to economic development agencies throughout the nation.

A second initiative that has the potential to lead to partnerships is the creation of a security policy focus within the Master of Arts in Social Policy combined with current undergraduate offerings. The federal Department of Homeland Security recently announced that New York is eligible to receive $344.7 million in grant funds. While the funds will be administered through agencies such as SEMO and the New York State Office of Homeland Security (NYSOHS), and will mostly support equipment and specific training activities, there will be funding support for education. A late-January meeting with the director of training for the NYSOHS is being arranged to discuss the college’s offerings and partnership possibilities.

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On the international front, this quarter included exploration of partnerships with companies that have operations in the Dominican Republic (D.R.). Working with the Center for International Programs, establishing a relationship with, and using the services of the U.S. Department of Commerce is one of the strategies being explored as an avenue to raise the college’s visibility in the D.R.’s business community.

Several partnerships are still in formation and much progress has taken place. For example, with assistance from OAA, OCAR, and CDL, sample degree plans have been completed to accompany the partnership application for McDonald’s Corp. Additionally, a statewide video conference was delivered in November to numerous training and human resource directors of the Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities (OMRDD) resulting in coordination of employee informational sessions. Next steps include meeting with John Monteiro, Deputy Commissioner for Workforce Development and Talent Management John Monte, to formalize a partnership. New prospective partnerships initiated this quarter include an opportunity to meet with AirTran Airways, Excellus, and a mid-January conference call has been scheduled with SUNY Upstate Medical Center.

The next quarter is certain to be as productive as the past quarter with coordination of several ceremonial events to recognize new partnerships, the launch of pilot program with OGS, development of partnership section of the web site, and representation at several events that afford great opportunities to build relationships with corporate and community prospects.

Web/Online

With targeted landing pages launched in the previous quarter, the focus in this quarter has been the refinement of the paid search (PPC) campaigns that direct visitors to the landing pages. In collaboration with Prime Visibility, a search optimization consultant, our paid search campaigns were reorganized and rewritten to improve the performance of our paid search efforts with the three primary search engines: Google, Yahoo, and MSN. Like the landing pages, the new ads are more highly targeted in order to provide a better match a user’s search query to a relevant landing page. Early results indicate the relaunched PPC ads are performing as expected and are moving in the right direction. In the coming months, we will continue to refine the ads and landing pages in order to improve click-through rates, increase conversions, and to lower the cost of acquisition of web leads.

In December, John McKenna was hired to take on the new position of director of web marketing. John has experience in lead generation, customer relationship tracking systems, marketing automation, search-engine optimization, and tracking and analyzing results. His primary responsibilities will be to generate leads through the design, implementation and refinement of a comprehensive web marketing program. He will also work closely with Director of Marketing Renelle Sampeny to augment the tracking of offline marketing and to ensure that online marketing initiatives are coordinated with those in more traditional channels. One marketing initiative that has been particularly successful involves a series of postcards of alumni, like the one on page 15.

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OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATION

SUMMARY

The Office of Administration (OA) continues to support the demands of a growing institution in all functional areas noted below. As in past reports, the charts that follow represent several years of comparable data as well as information over the second quarter of the 2009-10 fiscal year (fiscal year begins July 1 and ends June 30). The various functions in OA include student financial services (financial aid and student accounts), business services (accounts receivable and payables, purchasing and property control), human resources (personnel, payroll, labor relations), facilities (capital projects, leasing, maintenance and custodial), central services (mailroom, bookstore, vehicles), and safety and security. OA also develops, executes and monitors an all-funds budget in excess of $86.8 million, not including the cost of fringe benefits provided by the state.

Budgets

The college’s total budget for 2009-10 of $86,888,000 includes: State-supported appropriation (tax dollars) of $11.5 million Tuition revenue in the State financial plan of $46.1 million Self-supporting (IFR/SUTRA) funds of $25.4 million Research and Empire State College foundations of $3.8 million

The overall budget increased by $13.1 million over 2008-09, entirely funded from tuition and other operating revenues. State-supported appropriations have been reduced by $2.5 million from 2008-09 and a total of $4.3 million over the past two years.

Student Financial Services

In support of students, the Office of Student Financial Services continues processing for an increasing number of students more billings, collections and student aid in each of the prior three years. With six months to go in 2009-10, the college should finish the year with more aid recipients and will have awarded a greater amount of aid than any previous years.

08-09 RecipientsAwards Received09-10 RecipientsAwards ReceivedAward Type

07-08 RecipientsAwards ReceivedTAP 2,680 $5,257,034 2,854 $5,729,552 2,295 $3,530,499APTS* 483 653,148 496 690,297 343 371,221Other State 258 199,336 238 320,474 200 252,685PELL 3,714 8,536,165 3,846 9,857,782 4,121 9,332,377ACG 0 0 3 2,242 5 3,076

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Other activities of significance within the Office of Student Financial Services include launching a new website design in January 2010, processing more than 16,000 student 1098-T forms, and implementing a new on-line student accounts training series.

Business Services

The Office of Business Services is the line office that processes all payments related to more than $21.2 million of “other than personal services” (OTPS) budget. Most activities have increased over the past three years, one of the exceptions being the number of vouchers processed, which is the result of greater use of the state procurement cards for handling small dollar purchases. Also note-worthy is the significant shift of OTPS expenditures from the state financial plan to self-funded programs (IFR/SUTRA) as a result of diminishing state support over the past two years.

Business Service Transactions Processed 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10

Number of Vouchers 11,000 10,863 5058Number of Credit Card Transactions 4,600 4,981 2638Number of Leases/Contracts 25 51 55

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Number of RF Transactions 450 426 168Number of Accounts Referred to the Attorney General 500 776 389

$ Referred to the Attorney General 560,900 814,488 356,161$ State OTPS Expenditures 13,027,000 11,194,500 5,947,013$ IFR/SUTRA OTPS Expenditures 5,800,000 8,177,800 6,436,828$ RF Total Expenditures 1,136,000 1,392,200 385,665

Human Resources

Professional employee completion rates for performance programs and evaluations are provided in the table below. January is the final month and the Office of Human resources (OHR) is making its big push to reach 100 percent compliance. The college totals are slightly below prior years (92 percent vs. 95 percent), however, there are strong indication that the college will once again reach 100 percent.

Year Programs Due

Programs Received

Evaluations Due

Evaluations Received

2009 263 91% 234 92%2008 303 96% 229 95%2007 255 100% 207 100%

Budget restrictions have resulted in search openings undergoing stricter review processes. This quarter, 22 openings were authorized and 10 are newly created positions.

Faculty Professional Employees M/C Support Staff RF Hourly Total Year1 8 4 9 0 0 22 200912 5 1 19 0 0 37 20081 18 2 16 0 0 37 2007

The following table provides college employment figures for 2009-10 as of December for full-time and part-time faculty and staff, while the second table provides a breakdown of college employment by age groupings for all full-time and part-time staff.

  Employees Full-Time Part-Time Total  Faculty 181 1331 1512  Staff 513 69 582  Total 694 1400 2094

Total College Full and Part-time Employment sorted by ageAge Full-Time Part-Time Total>=60 147 506 65350-59 206 379 58540-49 169 286 455

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<=39 172 229 401Total 694 1400 2094

Operations Processing Activity: The operations and payroll units continue to use the new adjunct lotus notes database to process adjunct payroll. This database has provided accurate salary information as well accurate descriptions of the work completed by each adjunct. This paperless system uses the college’s intranet to inform adjunct faculty about assignments, as well as how much and when to expect payment.

Benefits Activity: The college completed annual open enrollment periods for 2010 health benefits programs, flexible-spending accounts, and pre-tax contributions. There was one retirement, and three workers’ compensation claims processed during the quarter.

New Employee Orientation: During the second quarter the Office of Human Resources conducted one new employee orientation. On Nov. 18, 11 new employees attended and were introduced to the college with a welcoming from a member of the president’s cabinet. Other topics covered were a positive workforce environment, internal controls, F.E.R.P.A. and employee benefits.

Training: The Office of Human Resources implemented a new online recruitment system called Interview Exchange in December. The HR Recruitment System is used to conduct all searches for classified, faculty, management/confidential, professional and Research Foundation vacancies. More than 100 Empire State College employees (in all locations) were trained by the Office of Human Resources on how to use this system. Training sessions were conducted for departments in person if their location was in Saratoga Springs. Training sessions were also conducted using an Eluminate webinar if the department location was not in Saratoga Springs. The training was conducted from September 2009 through December 2009.

The Office of Human Resources has participated in training and assisting center staff on the newly developed adjunct payroll system. This has been a combined effort with the Office of Integrated Technology and the Office of Academic Affairs. This system was developed as a Lotus Notes database and allows the center staff to create Educational Services Agreement electronically. Additionally, the Office of Integrated Technology created a portal for adjuncts to electronically accept their Educational Services Agreements and view corresponding payment information.

Other Initiatives: Within the Office of Human Resources, the Operations and Payroll units use the new adjunct Lotus Notes database to process adjunct payroll transactions. This database has provided accurate salary information as well accurate and detailed descriptions of the work completed by each adjunct; 806 transactions were processed using this new payroll system throughout this quarter.

Office of Facilities

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An update on facilities for the past quarter includes new construction, leases and critical maintenance items as follows:

New regional centers activity: Representatives of the college worked with their counterparts at Monroe Community College on a land lease for the property on which the new Genesee Valley Center was to be built. Unfortunately, several complicating factors emerged, resulting in the college seeking alternative building sites. This is causing considerable delays in the planned start of construction. The Suffolk County project also involves a land lease on land owned by the county. Plans are moving forward, albeit slowly, with the SUNY Construction Fund scheduling a “kick-off” meeting soon.

113 West Ave.: The official grand opening for the newest college building is Thursday, March 11 and Chancellor Nancy Zimpher has accepted our invitation to attend.

111 West Ave.: Concept designs are completed for the updating of the exterior of the building that includes the possible addition of more windows in the front and on the north and south sides, which will be operable. Approval from the college’s Foundation Board is necessary before the work can be done. In the interim, plans are underway to reallocate space within the building with some minor renovations necessary to accommodate office requests. Moving people into the reconstructed space is now underway.

The college is currently reviewing proposals for additional lease space at most of our remaining regional centers and some units in order to keep up with both planned and unexpected growth in enrollment. The majority of leased facilities, including some of the most recently acquired ones are already reaching or exceeding capacity.

Canandaigua: The lease for the new location has been agreed to by the landlord and the college. The approval process is now underway with the Attorney General and the State Comptroller. A summer move is anticipated.

Nassau County: A site has been selected in south western Nassau County and plans have been developed to locate a unit there. The college continues to work with the landlord on the particulars of the lease. Assuming the details can be successfully negotiated, the expected occupancy date will be in time for the start of the fall term of the 2010 academic year start.

Saratoga Springs: A modest-sized garage has been leased as a replacement for our maintenance facility, which was demolished to make way for the new building at 2 Union Ave. (completed in December 2007). The college is considering purchasing the property in the near future in order to build a larger and more modern facility.

The search for new director of facilities in charge of maintenance and custodial activities recently concluded. Those duties are currently under the interim direction of the Office of Safety and Security. We expect the new director to start on or about March 1. We also plan in March to begin a search for a new director of capital projects. Both of these positions are replacing retiring staff.

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Central Services

The chart below reflects the total volume of activity in Central Services for the 2007-08 and 2008-09 fiscal years and the year-to-date activity for 2009-10 as of Dec.31, 2009. Although 2008-09 shows dips in production for both these areas, it appears that the current year will reflect a growth in activity equal to or exceeding the prior year’s level.

PRINT SHOP 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10Jobs completed 2,586 2,505 1,287Total impressions 24,683,403 18,106,031 12,283,697

MAIL ROOM 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10Metered mail 253,014 189,280 156,688Labeled 991,907 603,400 549,063Postage expended $446,062 $280,631 $191,142        BOOK STORERegular orders 18,800 16,377 11,127Revenue $3,430,850 $3,304,494 $2,261,087 External 160 N/A N/ARevenue $16,862 N/A N/ARefunds N/A N/A $64,343

Office of Safety and Security

The Office of Safety and Security (OSS) and the college’s threat assessment team have been focusing their efforts on developing both an emergency response plan and a Pandemic Influenza Continuity of Operation Plan to maintain the various functions and services of the college.

The college has been notified of a pending review by the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) of a program review of the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act covering the calendar years 2006, 2007 and 2008. This review is part of a broader audit by USDE of all SUNY campuses in response to a prior audit by the Office of the State Comptroller, which highlighted a number of areas of non-compliance during a SUNY-wide review of compliance with the Clery Act in 2006.

OFFICE OF INTEGRATED TECHNOLOGIES

SUMMARY

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The major development in the Office of Integrated Technologies, apart from the name change from the former “Office of Educational Technology” (OIT) involved the reorganization of the division into five new functional groups.

Here are brief descriptions of these groups.

The Infrastructure group is headed by Assistant Vice President Curt King. The group purchases, operates and supports computers, network, telephones, security systems and software.

The Academic Technologies group is headed by Director Suzanne Hayes. This group assists faculty in their use of instructional technologies, develops instructional software and media, and provides library services.

The Administrative Applications group is headed by Director Mark Claverie. This group acquires, writes, integrates, and maintains software to support administrative functions of the college.

The Service Support group is headed by Director Kevin Bane. This group provides the front line of contact and response for IT problems resolution, and liaison with technical specialists in all OIT groups.

The Project Management group is headed by Director Walter Lewis. This group provides assistance to IT project teams comprising OIT and other college professionals, faculty and staff.

Within OIT, much of the work managers completed this fall involved planning for new and pending projects. These are addressed principally in the infrastructure section of this report, below.

The vice president for integrated technologies was also active in the drafting of the college IT strategic plan for 2010 – 2015, which can be found in its current draft form at:http://esctechstrategicplan.pbworks.com/FrontPage. The ETC is the originator and steward of the information technology strategic plan for the college. During the winter months, the plan draft will be viewed and commented by the wider community. The plan will be completed in late winter. At that time a “tactical plan” will be developed by OIT to carry out the objectives set by the strategic plan.

Academic Technologies Group

AT Group drafted its Mission Statement to read as follows:

Academic Technologies advances the effective use of technology and library/information services to enhance and facilitate teaching, learning and research in all its forms throughout the college.

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Our Vision: To partner with groups and individuals throughout the college to discover, acquire, build, develop, implement and share tools, systems and processes that move the college forward in developing innovative approaches supporting teaching, adult learning and research that strengthen its position as a leader in distance learning.

Our Values: We are committed to developing and integrating technology and library/information services into the learning, teaching and research activities of students and faculty in ways that support meaningful learning outcomes. We value systems thinking, dialogue and collaboration, strategic planning and innovation.

The other component groups of OIT will complete their mission statements in February.

Janet Ostrov was hired as interim associate director of academic technologies in mid-October. She has made excellent progress in establishing a series of regular meetings with CDL directors to explore cooperation between the two groups in light of existing issues in service, liaison, and cooperation; OIT’s new organizational structure and its need to also serve the entire college; and CDL’s review of its own internal processes, particularly in course design/revision.

In December, Ostrov and representatives of the OIT infrastructure group met with CDL to begin to identify and address their concerns related to:

Active Directory – primarily with respect to how soon high-level users will be able to get immediate downloads, and what licensed software is available

Work request process for IT services Faculty support How to promote more effective collaboration between OIT’s multimedia

developers and CDL’s course instructional designers ANGEL alternatives down the road

CDL and OIT have agreed to work together to identify and address shared concerns in several key areas: the development of OIT's new Service Desk operation; the creation of a joint task force to examine options for course management systems beyond ANGEL; process improvement in the course development area; and the joint investigation of project management software to be used by both groups. The two groups are also working on plans for an AT/CDL-CID working retreat early in 2010.

Other support provided to CDL has included: 16 CDL course requests for multimedia/technology support or development Completed 10 course development requests for library resources Completed the Mapblog 2.0 rewrite and setup to deploy for all courses in the Jan.

2010 term. Created two new Mapblog based learning activities Drupal development for CDL conference presentation building and developing in

ESCnet CDL in 60 video project to promote humanities studies

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Multimedia Group

Migration of WordPress MU (blog software) completed to in-house server which allows for college level authentication.Continuing work on ESCNet (development for 1.2 release, page design elements, conversion of Saratoga Bulletin)Continuing consultative conversations with Center for Mentoring and Learning as it

plans its web site.

Center Faculty Instructional Technology Support

Metropolitan Center: Aaron Zachmeier joins the Office of Integrated Technologies in the Academic Technologies Group Jan. 21. He is a faculty instructional technologist located in the Brooklyn Unit, serving the Metropolitan Center. Aaron has a master’s in educational technology from San Diego State University and a B.A. in linguistics from the University of California at Santa Cruz. Aaron has a varied background, with stints in teaching, advertising, educational publishing, journalism, technology support and instructional design. He has taught English in Russia, written for newspapers in the Deep South and designed training for middle managers in India.

Niagara Frontier Center: Ken Ferree joined the Office of Integrated Technologies in the Academic Technologies Group on Dec.15, 2009. He is a faculty instructional technologist located and serving the Niagara Frontier Center. A graduate of Empire State College, he earned a master’s in Education Media Design and Technology from Full Sail University in Winter Park, Fla. In addition, Ken has served as adjunct faculty at the Niagara Frontier Center, lead study groups and guided independent studies in new media. He also has an extensive background in Arts Integration (pedagogically integrating the arts into curricular content), audio and video production, as well as web design.

Northeast Center: Joshua Gaul, a multimedia instructional technologist, has been working two days a week at NEC since mid-October. A search is planned for the second quarter of 2010.

Long Island Center and Hudson Valley Center: Sheryl Coleman who is assigned to Genesee Valley and Central New York is serving as a point of contact for these two centers until permanent hires can be found.

Genesee Valley Center: This position has been advertised and closed Jan. 29. The search committee convened Feb.1 and expects to wrap up its work by April 1.

All Workshops (Provided by Former CLT Organization)

Number of Workshops Scheduled Subject

Number Enrolled

or Attended

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4 ANGEL Basic Reports 11 ANGEL Developing Your Gradebook 22 ANGEL Evaluating Your Students 22 ANGEL Live Web Meetings 02 ANGEL LOR 44 ANGEL Macros 18 ANGEL Q&A Session in the Sandbox 01 ANGEL Teaching and Managing Your Course 0

2ANGEL Teaching and Managing Your Course (self-paced) 5

3 ANGEL Teams 13 ANGEL Term Start Tips 21 ANGEL Using Your Gradebook 01 CANCELLED - ANGEL Live Web Meetings 03 Conducting Online Meetings with Elluminate 152 Datatel Basics Workshop 9

1Datatel Communication Management: (Email and Forms) 0

3 PLA Planner for Mentors 91 Web Developer Training: Administrative Offices 51 Web Developer Training: Centers and Programs 54 What's New in Elluminate 9.6? 33 Citing Your Sources 263 Introduction to Searching 27

2Orientation to the Library (delivered at the Student Academic Conference, Syracuse) 8

59 Fourth Quarter (Oct - Dec) 125

OIT will be reviewing this training program to address issues of: low over-all attendance for these topics and modes of delivery; alternative approaches to delivery of training; additional training topics to enrich the list.

Center Presentations:Using Angel for Community Groups at NFC - Brown bag lunchTalk on Blended Learning at GVC Center Meeting Talk on Blended Learning at CNYC Center Meeting

Support for Graduate Studies:

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Graduate Orientation at MALS residencyGVC MAT ePortfolio Presentation 11/3CNYC MAT ePortfolio Presentation 11/16NFC MAT ePortfolio Presentation 11/30

Faculty Technology Consultations Provided by Academic TechnologiesNumber of

ConsultationsPrevious

YearChange over1 year ago

1Q 2009 250 116 +216%

2Q 2009 174 119 +46%

3Q 2009 *124

126 -1.6%

4Q 2009 **114 159-28.3%

Total 662 520 +27.3%

* Reflects one vacant position at OIT, which reduces our provide faculty consulting time** Reflects two vacant positions

As noted, above, we are reassigning some staff to temporarily fill vacant Faculty Instructional Technology (FITs) consulting positions.

ANGEL Course Shells Created for Centers/Forum by FITs

Term Centers Forum TotalSept 2009 144 87 231Nov 2009 19 Not applicable 19Jan 2010 132 93 225

Library

Ask a Librarian reference service requests increased by 46 percent over same period last year. This is due to increase use of "chat" service. We are encouraged by the results of this innovation and will continue to explore ways to bring library reference service to more of our students and faculty.

Hits to library's subject guides continue to grow, + 80 percent over previous year. Interlibrary Loan requests increased over same period last year +25 percent Quarterly Library Advisory Committee Meeting - Presentation/Discussion on Google

Scholar Librarian site visits to CNY, NFC and GVC Library mediated Turnitin requests continue to grow. (See Ask IVA Table). Pilot for

direct faculty access to Turnitin underway with 16 of the college's heaviest users.

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This is will replace ASK IVA service later in 2010 and will free up librarian resources for higher level tasks.

Completed upgrade and training for Illiaid 8.0, interlibrary loan management system.

Selected Library Web Page Visits

Oct 09 Nov 09 Dec 09 2009 4Q Totals

2008 4Q totals % change

Lib Home page 14453 15767 12759 42979

467/day40525

440.5 / day +5.7%

Book Catalog splash page 1797 1881 1461 5139

55.9/day5276

57.4 / day -2.6%

Find Info Tutorial 889 806 478 2173

23.6/day1322

14.4 /day +39.2%

ILL Page 167 155 60 3824.1/day

2733 / day +28.5%

Blog 656 629 569 185420/day

174619 / day +5.8

Subject Guides site 10832 11699 11095 33626

365.5/day6863

74.6 / day +79.6%

We are encouraged that innovations and/or enhanced services on these pages—particularly the information-finding tutorial and the subject guides are seeing increased usage. These are returns on our investment in staff time to supplement the basic services.

Library Research Databases Searches

Month Searches* Previous Year

Change over same period 1

year ago Oct 09 206,061 212,056 -2.827%Nov 09 227,394 260,100 -12.574%Dec 09 219,278 234,898 -6.65%Total 652,733 707,054

*AnthroSource data not yet available

We think the downturn in the number of searches results from a change in point of entry for searches. We removed from the library home page a multi-search box that was generating scattershot searches (and inadvertently inflating the statistics). The lower numbers shown here are probably more statistically accurate.

Ask-A-Librarian Questions

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Month Questions Previous Year Change over same period 1 year ago

Oct 09 339 161 +52.5%Nov 09 389 200 +48.6%Dec 09 253 167 +34%Total 981 528 +46%

Interlibrary Loans We have a combined fill-rate (articles and books requested and successfully obtained) of 95 percent for this quarter.

Interlibrary loan is probably one of the fastest growing services at all academic libraries; all libraries need to participate in the borrowing grid to keep up with the “knowledge explosion.” The ESC online library is not exceptional in its growing rate of borrowing, but it is of obvious strategic importance for us given the dispersal of our students and scope of studies offered.

This Quarter

Previous Year Change Over Same Period 1 Year Ago

User Registrations 37 24 +54% Article Requests Completed

 29 46  -40%

Book Requests Completed 134  84  +60% Total Requests 163 130 +25%

Ask IVA Requests - Librarian Mediated Turnitin Reports

Month Requests Previous Year

Change over same period 1 year ago

Oct 09 60 50 +17%Nov 09 89 55 +38%Dec 09 95 81 +15%Total 244 186 +24%

These are requests to check student writing for indications of plagiarism. This tool is getting increased awareness among our faculty.

Publications: Peter Shea, Suzanne Hayes, Jason Vickers, et al. (In Press). A re-examination of the community of inquiry framework: Social network and content analysis. The Internet and Higher Education.

Administrative Applications Group

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The Administrative Applications group has been working on the implementation in Datatel of Colleague Studio software development system. This new system provides a better integrated program development environment with features such as improved screen-layout facilities, integrated help resources and better custom software management.

Training was conducted for programmers as well as some key representatives from other offices for the use of Datatel's Workflow Management System which will provide college departments with the ability to better control the processing of work items throughout college. This system allows the proper sequence of Datatel (and external non-Datatel system) screens and processes to be defined as well as rules to enforce the integrity of data entered.

Training and rollout continues with Entrinsik Informer Reporting tool which will allow departments to define and schedule their own reports from Datatel. Training has been given to Human Resources, Graduate Programs and International Programs. Future training is being scheduled for Northeast Center.

The Administrative Applications group includes Lotus Domino/Notes programmers and the college Webmaster, who were in Center for Learning Technologies prior to the OIT re-organization this fall. The new grouping – with the Datatel programmers – is intended in part to facilitate

Infrastructure Group

Fall 2009 accomplishments.

Network bandwidth was increased for all of the regional Centers except LIC/Old Westbury—where cable to the building has not yet been provided by the local vendor. Wireless network connectivity has been put in place at all the Centers except LIC.

A new, standard kit of network electronics has been designed and built for eventual use at all college Unit locations. First installation was at Riverhead. Next is scheduled this spring for Canandaigua.

A contract was let for provision of an emergency generator to ensure continued electrical power at 3 Union Ave. in the event of an outage. Installation is due to complete in early spring.

Planning for a variety of projects coming up in the winter and fall was accomplished. See the following section for details.

Project and task list time frames and timeline

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Virtualization, disaster recovery, business continuity Currently Infrastructure is waiting for NYSERDA to deliver a report that may help us save even more energy than expected with the upcoming virtualization project. The results of the report may indicate particular technologies that we should incorporate into our new virtual data Center. After receiving and digesting the report, we will issue a request for information to vendors based on its content.

Time frames:Results of the NYSERDA report: expected mid JanuaryCreation of a request for information to vendors: ready by the end of JanuaryCollection of vendor information and proposals: through the month of FebruarySelection of vendor to build a new virtual data Center: mid to late MarchWorking through the purchase process and the actual purchase: month of AprilInstallation of hardware and software: May into JuneOperational with our first virtual systems converted: July of 2010

Content management systemThe content management system will be the pivot for several existing and new systems at Empire State College. The content management system will allow us to develop personal learning environments for faculty, staff, and students. It will allow form generation, workflow management, and the creation of a digital image depository and library. It will also allow for structure and improvement of our web pages across college.

Time frames:The selection process has completed for content management system and the product T4 (www.terminalfour.com) was selected. The purchasing process is under way and contractual language is has been finalized between Empires State College and the vendor. In the interest of getting this application up and running as quickly as possible we will be installing it on a hosted virtual environment with a company called Voxel dot net (www.voxel.net). We are on track to have the T4 system installed in mid February.

Share pointThe share point system is similar to a content management system and we are currently using share point to run our Microsoft Project server software. Share point is a Microsoft product whose main function is to serve as a document management system and workflow system. The graduate program has asked us to provide them with a share point environment so that they can create new graduate process systems based on share point. We have agreed to provide them with the software and their intention is to design and build the system themselves.

Time frames:The dean of Graduate Programs has created his own time schedule and needs us to make a share point system available so that he can move on. We have gathered information about the versions of share point that he needs and will work to get a system together for his use. At this point it has been determined that a Windows 2008 server will be

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necessary to fulfill his office needs and design goals. We can possibly have something ready to hand over by the end of January to mid February.

SIPSession Initiation Protocol (SIP) is a network core protocol that allows a variety of devices providing multimedia, voice, and video services to be used in a computer network. Currently we have no capability for SIP or SIP devices in our network. Network systems are turning toward this newer protocol and an abundance of cheap SIP devices are on the market. The security office is particularly keen on using these devices as entry telephones into buildings. The technology department is interested in these devices for myriad of uses as well. An example of which would be Voice over IP conference phones. Prices and configuration information has already been garnered from our VoIP vendor.

Time frames:We have a price from our long-term vendor, and have given a competitor the opportunity to bid this product as well. A decision was made the week of Jan. 18 and purchasing was undertaken. Installation of the product can take place in February.

Call recordingSeveral functional offices have expressed the need for call recording and monitoring. The Student Information Center, the Office of Safety and Security and the Office of Disability Services have all expressed a desire to use these functions. To date, we have researched different products that would be compatible with our voice over IP system and have received a general quotation on pricing. Demonstrations and usability will come next.

SearchesThe search for two new technicians (for the 111 and 113 West Ave. buildings) was concluding at the end of December. Offers are now out to two very strong candidates. We anticipate that they will begin work in February and March

The search to replace application administrator Tom Kelly, who retired in November 2009, is underway. Phone interviews took place week of Jan. 4 and 11.In person interviews took place the first two weeks of February.Offer to be made in mid-February

The position search for two network engineers is well underway, with phone or in-person interviews the first two weeks of February, and an offer expected to be made the first week of March

OIT ticketingThe project to combine the disparate ticketing systems between the previous two OET entities and the other help desk functions is underway, and a decision to use Deskpro as the primary ticketing system has been made and implementation is in progress.

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Network assessmentA project to hire an outside firm to perform a network assessment has begun. We have just completed the bandwidth augmentation project and are looking for objective feedback on the results. We are currently working on the statement of work with the vendor. The assessment can be scheduled as soon as the details are ironed out.

Emergency generatorAn emergency generator for power outages will be installed to keep the computer room at three Union functioning. This project has been under way for many months, but configuration and purchasing is complete and the project to install the generator is underway. A decision was made not to install a temporary generator due to cost.

Time frames:The current schedule is calling for the receipt of the emergency generator and transfer switches in mid April. The contractor has claimed that two weeks of effort will be all that's required to match the generator to the 3 Union Ave electrical systems. Outside work will be performed the week of April 11th. Inside wiring and work will be performed the week of April 18th. Generator delivery/startup and test and project finish work will happen the week of April 25th. Expected completion is to be in the first part of May.

Notes 8The rollout of the next upgrade to the Lotus Notes client and server system is expected to get under way soon. We've been waiting for resources to free up from other projects in order to begin the rollout. The testing of the new Lotus Notes client has been ongoing in the office of Integrated Technologies. The new version of Lotus Notes adds many great features that the college can exploit immediately. The rollout will be based primarily on a building by building approach.

Time frames: By the end of January rollout as per schedule: beginning in February. Finish rollout by March.

Lotus Notes traveler versus Microsoft exchangeInfrastructure, has been researching the applicability of adding a Microsoft exchange server to our mail systems. Staffs have been asking to be able to use Microsoft Outlook as part of their business process. Their main uses will be for synchronization of their mail and calendar functions with their mobile technologies. They also have a need for increased calendar feature sophistication. We are finding costs and logistics of installing the exchange server and a decision must be made to move in that direction if need be. A new product from Lotus Notes that comes from the 8.5.1 release, allows the synchronization that our users desire. Lotus Notes 8.5.1 also has greatly increased calendar feature functions, which may also serve the needs of our staff. Some experimentation is needed with Lotus Notes traveler in order to determine if this approach is viable.

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Time frames: Installation of Lotus Notes traveler on our Domino server: first week of February. Testing of traveler: February to mid-March. Rollout of the traveler product: after March and is dependent on users being upgraded to Lotus Notes 8.5.1

SOPHOS antivirus softwareWe are changing our antivirus software to a company called Sophos. We have used Symantec antivirus for a long time but have been dissatisfied with it over the last year. The contract renewal for Symantec was due in January and we had been looking at other products for the last six months. The decision to change to the new product was based on better performance criteria and ease of use and implementation. We have been experimenting with logistics of rollout over these last two weeks. Licensing allows us to offer the product to staff for their home machines and the product is cheaper overall.

Time frames: Putting together configuration issues and rollout schedule: by the end of January. Automated rollout: begins in February

Windows 7All indications are that the operating system Windows 7 will be an excellent base for Empire State College. We're currently in the testing phase and have purchased five licenses to test our applications against. Windows 7 in combination with Windows server 2008 has built-in features that will allow us to address ongoing issues with remote disk access and authentication. Machines that we are currently purchasing are loaded with windows XP but we retain the license to load Windows 7 when we want. If testing continues to go well it is recommended that we move to Windows 7 as quickly as possible, and that all new machines should come with Windows 7 installed.

Time frames: Testing the Windows 7 with Empire State College standard applications: finish by mid-February. Creation of an implementation strategy: by the end of February.Rollout of Windows 7: beginning in March.

Active DirectoryPhase two of this project has begun. Two items are on our project list. One is to allow user control over the timeframe of desktop inactivity timeout. The current 15 minutes is too short for some people and causing irritation. The other item is allowing users to have more control of what they are able to download and install on their ESC desktops.

Time Frames: The inactivity time-out extension programming has been complete, but we are waiting on Internal Controls approval before implementation. Work on the relaxation of software download to the ESC desktop is being researched with several different methods being offered. Projected finish date will be in April.

Pandemic Flu/Virtual DesktopThe preparation for a pandemic flu situation and the ability for staff to work from home is the main thrust of this project. We have most of these resources available now for users

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to perform their work functions from home. Policy and process decisions make up most of the discussion here. We have some new technologies that may allows up to have more technical control over working from remote locations with the added benefit of ease of use from the user side. The use of Virtual desktops and special flash drives are being tested.

Time Frames: Expected process available in the April/May timeframe.

Unit in a boxA new focus for the OIT group this year is the upgrade of the Units to Center like technology. Advances and cost reductions in technology have allowed us to bring technology into the units, something we could not do before because of lack of availability or expense. Our goal is to create standard components that we can put together and ship to a unit and all we’ll need to do is a simple hook-up. Units can look forward to increased bandwidth, wireless capability, four-digit dialing and voice mail. Also units will be able to access all other technology that has previously only been available to the Centers.

Time Frames: We have already been putting together prototypes for the units that have moved lately and think we have a good model to use at this point. We need to incorporate AV needs into the mix as well and that work is going on now.

Key server or college software download siteResearch into how to consolidate and deliver the College’s many software titles is the idea behind this project. The consolidation of the disparate software products and licensing scattered around the college will simplify the purchasing and compliance as well as saving the college a lot of money. Allowing for the self help of users downloading from a single site will reduce much confusion around the school.

Time Frames: Research has been started. Several products and methods are under consideration. Expected implementation (in phases) will take place in April

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Project Management Group

The Project Management Group develops and institutes project management methodologies for Office of Integrated Technologies. One of the goals of the PMO is to deliver successful projects by building project management professionalism among OIT staff and we conducted our first series of training sessions in the last quarter 2009. The objective of this training was to introduce and promote an updated methodology for applying project management concepts and practices in OIT and to introduce standards in the use of tools and techniques.

The goal of the project management methodology is to increase project success by encouraging project teams and project managers to be creative, adopt new approaches, follow best-practice methods, help staff expand their skills and manage risk in delivering project outcomes.

The Project Management Methodology now has the following areas of focus: Improved project planning

o Defining and documenting project scope upfront with measurable goalso Use of a formal Change Control process to handle scope changeso Identifying risk upfront and proactively putting a Risk Management Plan in

placeo Communicating clearly defined project milestones

Better management of communications to all stakeholders More effective management of OIT resources

Service Support Group

Projects/Work Request for 4th quarter, 2009.

Note: For the 4th quarter 2009, projects/work requests are listed under the specific categories that we report on. These categories are:

Online Academic Support Services: includes learning resources, teaching tools, training and support for both

Online Student Support Services: includes student tools and student support for finding & using online resources

Online Academic Courses and Programs: online academic courses and programs focus on CDL course support and hybrid courses for structures programs and individual mentors

Online Administrative Systems: delivered on the web site – also includes managing the web site, mail and Lotus notes servers

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Help Desk Statistics:

Total Help Desk Reports: 2,516 Faculty/Staff : 795

Student (excluding FTP) 1,636 Other 85

FTP: 98 accounts created (not reflected in above total)

Scheduled a total of 4 Elluminate Student Practice sessions for the November term start with a total of 1 participants. (3 sessions with no student attendance.)

FAC/STAFF

STUDENT

OTHER(alumni,

vendors, non-delivery)

TOTAL

FTP

StudentName

ChangeRequests

October 254 580 39 873 5 31November

266 586 18 870 7 37

December

275 470 28 773 7 30

Total 795 1636 85 2516 19 98

Online Learning

Workshop/Trainings: 4 Elluminate Student Practice Sessions Delivered Student/Faculty Helpdesk questions: 2516 FTP accounts created: 98

Student Information Center

The Student Information Center answered 29,422 calls this quarter, compared to 24,667 calls handled in the final quarter last year. This increase is certainly a reflection of increased enrollments for the year. However, based on our analysis of the calls, the increased volume is also a reflection of the challenges we have yet to meet in communicating effectively with students, and enabling our student population to more successfully self-serve.

Call volume attributed to:

o Bills for the Spring 2010 term were not mailed per the SA published schedule. In addition, 1500 emails were sent in lieu of bills on Dec. 29. These emails were sent to students who had modified registrations or were newly registered, whether there was a balance owed or not. This generated a number of calls, many from students with credit balances who did not understand why they received an email referencing a balance due.

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o Payment processing issues during the week between Christmas and New Year’s.

o Financial Aid applications and communications.

o Application status.

o The menu for calls to 800-847-3000 and 518-587-2100 was revised, and the SIC is now answering more general calls to the college. (The tracking data and the chart for calls reflect data for October-November and for December separately to reflect the change in the types of calls being handled by the SIC.)

Service initiatives:

o The SIC teamed with the Northeast Center (NEC) to pilot a program that would include the SIC in center orientations. Our goal is to support students in understanding the college’s administrative procedures particularly regarding registration, payments and deregistration. SIC representatives were at two NEC orientations. We followed up with students as they registered to ensure that if they were financial aid eligible, all documents were in place for financial aid packaging, and if self-pay, we contacted students regarding payment procedures. Of the 60 students who attended the orientations, 44 registered for classes and of that group, 40 retained their registrations. We will continue to work with the NEC, and are planning to work with the Central New York Center as well.

o The SIC reviewed registrations for the November term as an ongoing project. We contacted students with payment issues including: financial aid missing documents/packaging problems, time payment errors, balances after aid or vouchers.Our outreach efforts to 303 students resulted in 223 successful registrations for 1966 credits with invoices totaling $753, 758.45.

o The SIC reviewed registrations throughout the registration period for the Spring 2010 term. We contacted over 700 students regarding payment issues including: financial aid missing documents, time payment, and vouchers. In a preliminary look at the results of our outreach, most students retained their registrations for over 4000 credits with invoices totaling over $1,000,000.

o The SIC reviewed and provided feedback regarding the new Student Financial Services website scheduled to go live in January. The SIC requested that the “live” date be moved to end January as our volume will be high in the beginning of the month through the first week of the Spring term. The SIC was initially involved in the revision process (dating back to early in 2009) and was instrumental in developing the financial aid FAQs and highlighting student concerns with the current web pages.

o We attended presentation by Higher One, under consideration by Student Accounts for banking services and provided feedback to the Office of Administration.

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We also attended a meeting regarding registration issues; the discussion centered on issues identified by the SIC in early 2009. Action on most items is still pending, but we expect to see some changes for the March registration.

Types of Calls ReceivedOctober - November 2009

Quarterly (Part 1)

Admissions19%

Prospective Student4%

Financial Aid20%

Student Accounts17%

Payment on Account2%

Graduate Programs2%

Non-Matric3%

Registrar11%Registration

4%

Dropped Call2%

Bookstore1%

Not Intended for SIC1%

Other0%

Not Intended for ESC0%

Center/Academic12%

Tech911/Log-In Problem2%

OFFICE OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

SUMMARY

A story in the Feb. 2 edition of the New York Times (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/03/education/03gift.html?hpw) reported that philanthropic gifts to higher education declined 12 percent in 2009. According to the results of the Council for Aid to Education’s annual survey cited by the Times, alumni participation declined as did alumni donations.

Empire State College was able to buck the downward trend for overall giving experienced by colleges and universities around the country. In 2009, total giving from

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private philanthropy to the college was $940,811 a 1 percent increase over 2008 and just shy of our goal of $1 million. We attribute this to a number of significant gifts received. However, giving to the annual fund dropped 10 percent as did the number of donors. We believe this reflects the results of the recession and particularly the unemployment rate. It is difficult to measure quantitatively why someone makes a gift at a given time. In our conversations with alumni over the course of the year, we definitely heard about jobs lost and concerns about losing a job in the near future.

Annual Fund All Other Giving Total Giving2009 $390,507 $550,304 $940,8112008 $433,698 $495,135 $928,833

The national trend for declining alumni participation rates continued and Empire State College alumni followed that trend. Alumni participation (undergrad and grad) went from 8 percent to 7 percent. This is higher than the alumni participation rates reported in the article for Master's -public (5.4 percent), Baccalaureate - public (6.1 percent) and community colleges (1 percent). Given the unique experience of our students/alumni, it is pretty remarkable to have a participation rate higher than public four-year colleges. We're doing some additional analysis right now that benchmarks our participation rate within SUNY colleges.

Participation rates are interesting data points. That said, we are not suggesting the development and alumni relations staff focus their attention and resources on chasing participation. Instead, we will continue to make raising more dollars the priority. As we say in development, you can't take the participation rate to the bank.

The following was presented to the Foundation Board at its October 2009 meeting.

Development Program Overview

For a very long time in fundraising, colleges have relied on some tried and true techniques for involving alumni and friends and gaining their financial support. With consistency and a little creativity, an organization could be successful raising money – for the most part unrestricted dollars – that the organization used for various purposes like financial aid and scholarships. Today, we find a paradigm shift. The tried and true are not yielding the same results.

Solicitation technique Today’s realityDirect mail Competition in the mail box. There are

over 1 million nonprofits in the U.S.Phonathon Contact rates are declining. Increasingly

hard to reach people. Caller ID and other technologies for screening calls. Decreasing use of land lines.

Volunteers Alumni calling fellow alumni. People are over-scheduled and are saying they don’t

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have the time for this.

So, if these once effective methods are becoming less and less effective, what are the new best practices? In all honesty, I don’t think we (fundraising professionals) know the answer yet. As an industry, we are on the cusp of some very big changes.

What we do know: One size does not fit all. Mass appeals to a broad swath of alumni are not

effective. We must tailor our message to various segments of our alumni population based on their interests.

To do that well, we will put an increased emphasis on determining the most appropriate market segments.

We must continue to use and capitalize on new web-based approaches to fundraising. We recognize that Facebook and other social networking sites can and should be a vital tool for our work. At the same time, no nonprofit is raising a lot of money with Facebook … yet.

We recognize that a lot more can be done to tell the stories of our students and our alumni. These are very compelling stories. We intend to collect these stories and to use every media (print, web, phonathon) to tell those stories.

Donors want to know the impact their gifts – no matter the level – have on the lives of our students, our faculty and the college. Philanthropy is about changing lives and saving lives.

We can learn from other non profits – especially those outside of higher education. We will look for innovative ideas both inside and outside of educational fundraising.

Given the changing economic environment as well as other trends that are changing the nature of development and alumni engagement work – for example, the switch from land lines to cell phones and the many tools that screen and block phone calls. We will be trying some different tactics for annual giving in 2010. We also are revisiting our fundraising goals in light of the changing landscape.

Grant activity from Oct. 1, 2009 to Dec. 31, 2009

10 proposals submitted for $2,165,0408 awards received for $156,6606 proposals pending for $2,091,398

Proposals submittedMerrill, Michael U.S. Dept. of Labor (with NYC JIB) $373,481Tcherepashenets, Nataly National Endowment for the Humanities $25,000Anthony, Lorrie Hoyt Foundation $30,000Michelson, Elana Saratoga ArtsFest $2,000Shrimpton, Nikki Otsego County Dept. of Social Services $48,642Lawrence, Betty National Science Foundation $869,063Leaker, Cathy LaGuardia Community College $3,500

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Carpenter, Rosann Health Research & Services Adm. $790,354Merrill, Michael NYS Dept. of Labor $7,500Frank, Linda Saratoga Gaming & Raceway $15,500

Awards received:

Dixon, Shelley FEMA $10,000Franz, Jonathan Ontario County Dept. of Social Services $60,160Frank, Linda Saratoga Gaming & Raceway $1,500Merrill, Michael NYS Department of Labor $7,500Hammett, Hugh Kresge Foundation $11,000Rabino, Isaac Lounsbery Foundation $40,000Michelson, Elana Saratoga ArtsFest $1.500Hammett, Hugh Roslyn Savings Foundation $25,000

Several highlights for the past quarter include:

We have recently received word that the proposal submitted to the Hoyt Foundation for $30,000 has been approved.

Two proposals, Nataly Tchereshenets’ to the National Endowment for the Humanities and Rosann Carpenter’s to the Health Research & Services Administration, are resubmissions of last year’s proposals. They were revised using reviewer comments for improvements.

Isaac Rabino, for health reasons, has had to remove himself from his Lounsbery Foundation funded project. With the support of the Lounsbery Foundation, the college will work with a consultant who has long been involved until three publications already under development are completed.

As a sign of the times: a proposal for education services for the Otsego County Department of Social Services was with withdrawn by the department due to the elimination from the county budget all funding for employee education. The department made it very clear that they were pleased with the services the college provided and would return when finances allowed for it.

Alumni and Student Relations

This past quarter we turned our attention to setting out a strategic plan for events, graduations, the student activity fee and alumni outreach both in person and online.

One project was a total redesign of forms and application processes for the student activity fee. This is much more streamlined and is now a total electronic process with automated calculations for ease of application and review.

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And finally, we held alumni and student events in Hyde Park, Saratoga Springs, Rochester, New York and Syracuse.

Events and highlights: Published the winter issue of “Update,” a newsletter to all alumni from

President Davis Conducted end-of-the-year fundraising solicitations to board members and

assigned prospects Won the LERN (Learning Resources Network ) award for best alumni web site Sent more than 150,000 emails to alumni and students to invite to events, provide

the latest news and promote benefits and scholarship opportunities Assisted in planning the Professional Employees Conference Met with all the center deans for graduation planning review and rewrote the

Graduation Guidelines manual. Sent our quarterly e-newsletter to alumni Supported college retention efforts with an email campaign to current students Launched a new legislative advocacy site Added more than 30 notable Empire State College alumni to the SUNY website Set up Facebook fan pages for all of our centers Grew our social media members to:

5,000 in the alumni online community3,300 members on our Facebook fan pages210 Twitter followers400 Linkedin members46 photo albums in Picasa23 subscribers to the Empire State College YouTube channel

Academy for Lifelong Learning

The cademy completed another successful year providing challenging and enlightening study groups, social events to build community within the organization and free community programs. Approximately 800 older adults participated in 44 study groups and other A.L.L. programs in 2009.

Our 2009 winter events were very popular with both our members and the general public, bringing participants together to enjoy our first annual Storytelling Series, and other programs.

One highlight of our summer activities occurred in August. We gathered a group of our founding and long-time members to record a video sharing their philosophy of what the Academy for Learning in Retirement (our former name) would be and how they view the organization it has become. This will serve as a valuable historical document for present and future A.L.L. members.

In September, 36 members and guests enjoyed a four-day, three-night tour of the Adirondacks. We also celebrated New York State Lifelong Learning Month by inviting

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the public to a program by storyteller Bairbre McCarthy and a farewell party for our founder, Marianne Finnegan, who was relocating to Connecticut. Eighty individuals attended.

In October, 66 members and guests enjoyed a murder mystery fundraising dinner at Longfellows Restaurant.

The December holiday luncheon attracted 141 A.L.L. members and guests who were entertained with holiday songs by the Ballard Elementary School Chorus, and member readings from A.L.L. publications and the Creative Writing and Poetry Workshop fall study groups. Members could also visit the art gallery of work produced by participants in the fall sketching and painting classes and view study group photographs. The second edition of A.L.L. note cards, featuring members’ artwork from our Painting Lab sold briskly throughout the party.

We have a full calendar of events planned for the winter period, including several which are free and open to the public. For five consecutive weeks beginning January 6, we will present the Second Annual A.L.L. Storytellers Series. This lunch and learn program features a different A.L.L. professional storyteller each week. Also in January, Jim Rosenberg, A.L.L. member and retired Williams College English and Theater professor, will lead a four–session study group, Eugene O’Neill and Arthur Miller: The American Dream, for A.L.L. members only. In March, A.L.L. is sponsoring an AARP driving course for the ninth year and the lunch and learn, Sustaining Civilization in an Era of Diminishing Oil, both of which are open to the public. The latter will be a prelude to our eight-week spring study group: Energy 101: What Was, What is, What Is Yet To Be.

We are presently taking registrations for the spring term and are very excited about the quality and diversity of our study groups. For those interested, our spring brochure is posted on our web site: www.esc.edu/ALL

OFFICE OF COMUNICATIONS AND GOVERNMENT RELATIONS

SUMMARY

Since its inception just a year ago, the Office of Communications and Government Relations continues to expand its duties and define its purpose in light of the importance of image building for the college. To that end we’ve added a wonderfully energetic employee in the person of Susan McFadden as coordinator of special events. She officially began in her new role Feb. 1 and is now knee-deep in the details for open house events at the college’s office on the Concourse of the Empire State Plaza in Albany and at the new building at 113 West. Ave. She is serving on the planning committee for the college’s 40th anniversary, and is assisting staff and administrators at the Metropolitan Center to plan for a public presentation on the Holocaust and its impact on a single village in Germany. She’s also helping with plans for the Adult Higher Education

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Association’s annual conference and a reception for the SUNY Collegiate Admissions Professionals conference, both of which the college is hosting

Going forward, she will be responsible for or assist planning for all those events across the state that will bring the name of Empire State College more to the forefront with influence makers and the media.

Our new director of publications, the former director of college relations, has brought expertise and a much-needed enthusiasm to the print shop. He’s working with an exceptional group of experienced printers, and together they are reimagining the operation.

Our work in government relations under the guidance of its director, John D’Agati, is more active and robust than ever. Appropriations requests have been filed with New York’s representative in the U.S. House and Senate for support of the college’s undergraduate nursing program, development of a Master’s of Science in Nursing and the creation of a one-stop Web-based center for information about tuition and other educational benefits for veterans and active-duty military members.

The OCGR group will soon be adding a new member with the selection of the college’s new director of communications. The search is currently underway and is expected to conclude by late April. Whoever is selected will be charged with developing and implementing public relations campaigns at the state and national levels for the college.

In the face of all these initiatives, our day-to-day work continues.

Publications, Media Relations and Communications

The appointment of Kirk Starczewski as the new director of publications was effective Dec. 14. He oversees the print shop, all publication print production scheduling and approval, adherence to the college’s branding guidelines, and exterior signage. He has graciously continued with the duties of his old role as director of media and public relations until a successor is hired.

Begin revision of annual master schedule for all major print project production. Designed and produced print materials for Pathways agreements with 32

community colleges, the Center for Graduate Programs, the Center for International Programs, the Office of Veteran and Military Education, college holiday card, CDL art exhibit, All About Mentoring, several residencies and photography courses.

Designed and produced development materials for a number of foundation and fundraising initiatives.

Designed, wrote and produced the fall issue of “Connections” and the winter issue of Update.

Enhanced photography stock photo collection with additional acquisitions. Upgraded desktop publishing software in OCGR and the print shop. Revised steps in the print production process to make use of the print shop easier

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and simpler for centers and units to use, including an interactive form for printing requests.

Added more faculty experts to a College Experts Web site for media seeking expert sources for their stories.

Distributed to and published by a number of media outlets on the college’s transfer agreement signings with Corning CC, Jamestown CC, Sullivan CC, Ulster CC, Dutchess CC, Rockland CC, Monroe CC, Kingsborough CC.

Wrote and distributed press releases on the increase in enrollments for the college, the Newburgh Unit open house,

Responded to media requests for experts and quotes on the situation in Dubai, the completion of 113 West Ave. (Saratogian, Daily Gazette, Post Star), adults returning to graduate school (Daily Gazette), and the federal lag in GI Bill payments (Times Union).

Submitted a series of newly created advertorial articles to accompany advertisements, highlighting modes of study and student stories.

Continued to refine and expand the college’s internal publication, Exchange, now moved to the Web.

Created and ran training session in photography and use of the college’s digital camera, providing more flexibility in covering college events, plus higher quality images.

Government Relations

We’re engaged in ongoing meetings with state legislators on the Higher Education Committees of the Assembly and Senate. These meeting have become critical in light of the ambitious Empowerment and Innovation Act that will significantly change the way SUNY and Empire State College operate. We are also working to more fully educate legislators and staff about Empire State College’s educational programs and how they are delivered.

One of the most exciting initiatives undertaken at the federal level developed as a result of conversations between President Davis and Dr. George Pruitt, president of Thomas Edison College in New Jersey and the leader of our Middle States Accreditation Team.We discovered the absence of any sort of group focused on political advocacy for the particular needs and concerns of public higher education institutions with significant distance learning components.

We identified and reached out to similar institutions and received interest from our counterparts at Thomas Edison College in New Jersey, Michigan State College of Michigan, Granite State College of New Hampshire, the University of Maryland University College of Maryland and Penn State World Campus of Pennsylvania.

Together the government relations directors from these institutions are working to establish an association of public, state-supported distance learning colleges. Including Empire Start, this association will represent six large Northeastern states. Outreach continues with calls in to both Illinois State and Connecticut to determine interest. We

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may also explore an option to link with a similar association representing the southeastern U.S. states.

We continue to meet with federal legislative staff for Senator Schumer, Senator Gillibrand and Congressman Murphy, not just to promote our appropriation requests for FY2011 but also to continue to familiarize them with the work Empire State College does.

Affirmative Action and Diversity Initiatives The Affirmative Action Officer Mary Morton is transitioning from reporting to the vice president for the Office of Communications and Government Relations to a direct reporting relationship with President Davis. During the transition, OCGR will continue to report on the work being done in the areas of affirmative action and diversity.

Monitoring the integrity of all college employment searches is a big part of the job and requires careful analysis to ensure there is adherence to equal employment law for each search conducted. In 2009, there were 94 searches resulting in the hire of 74 employees. Twenty searches remain open and are in process in 2010. Seven waivers were requested and approved to hire two or more people from one search, four searches failed and three were suspended.

The following is a breakdown of new employees hired in 2009 by sex, race and ethnicity: Sex - Males: 29 (39.2 percent); Females: 45 (60.8 percent) Race - White: 55 (74.3 percent); Black: 6 (8 percent); Asian: 7 (9.5 percent);

Native American: 0; 2 or more races: 1(1.4 percent) Unknown: 5 (6.8 percent) Ethnicity - Hispanic: 1 (1.4 percent)

Ninety-one employees participated in group or individual Affirmative Action Search Committee Training this year. This adds to the grand total of 605 employees who have been trained on this topic since the fall of 2001.

The affirmative action officer provides sexual harassment prevention training to new employees during New Employee Orientation, New Mentor Orientation and during CDL Orientation. The training includes a review of federal and state laws regarding discrimination, the college’s anti-discrimination policy, definition and types of sexual harassment, and the university-wide Discrimination Complaint Procedures for reporting incidences. In 2009, 82 employees participated in sexual harassment prevention training.

In addition to being provided with face-to-face training employees, starting this fall new employees have been instructed to log on to Governor’s Office for Employee Relations (GOER) training center to participate in its online learning program. This program is designed to follow-up on face-to-face training. Employees completing the program receive a certificate of completion which is on file in the Affirmative Action Office.

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Other areas addressed during orientation include civility in the workplace and expectations for professional behavior (professional, ethical, respectful and collegial), the college’s policy regarding reasonable accommodations for employees with disabilities, and an explanation of the state Public Officers Law and the obligations it imposes on state employees. The affirmative action officer is a member of the five-member threat assessment team for the college, which also includes the college’s coordinator of disability services, the assistant to the provost, the vice president for communications and the director of safety and security. In 2009, the college’s threat assessment team assembled and responded to 16 concerns concerning a threat to self or others. Twelve of these incidents involved students, the remainder employees.

In conjunction with the college’s coordinator of disability services, the affirmative action officer handled 13 requests submitted by employees for reasonable accommodations under the Americans with Disability Act in 2009. Several were for ergonomic and computer related workstation adaptive equipment.

And finally, during the last quarter of 2009, the affirmative action officer provided the following training programs at the Professional Employees Conference:

Affirmative Action – Moving Beyond Compliance (moving into diversity and inclusion)

Making a Good Place Great (dealing with civility in the workplace) An Overview of Workplace Violence Prevention (overview of definitions and

draft college policy) Exploring Professional Development Avenues and Benefits (explains available

tuition benefits, grants and awards)

CENTER FOR PLANNING AND INSTITUTIONAL EFFECTIVENESS

SUMMARY

The Center for Planning and Institutional Effectiveness (C-PIE) was created on Jan. 4, 2010. In the quarter just prior to our renaming, the following activities were undertaken:

C-PIE presented a draft of its report to the Senate Calendar Task Force, reviewing the impact of the introduction of the term calendar on students. Results suggest that the impact on students was largely neutral and that students who start with the college in the November term ultimately shift to a September/January enrollment pattern and go on to graduate at a rate slightly higher than those who start with the college in September. Through the negotiations of a joint Labor-Management Task Force, preparations are underway for a change in the faculty promotion, tenure and reappoint survey, called the Student Assessment of the Learning Environment (SALE) survey. A pilot of the updated survey is planned, along with outsourcing the survey administration. Using the current

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methodology, SALE surveys were administered on behalf of 13 tenured faculty for the fall 2009 triennial reviews. SALE surveys for the spring 2010 full-time faculty reviews were launched in November 2009.

At the request of the provost, extensive research was conducted on faculty salaries. Empire State College has become less competitive in the market place for faculty using several different benchmarks, including other SUNY comprehensive colleges and institutions in our Carnegie classification, making faculty recruitment and retention more challenging. This information will be reviewed by the President’s Cabinet.

The results of the SUNY Student Opinion Survey (SOS) were examined further; raw data were analyzed, trends examined and a report was prepared for the college community. Empire State College has maintained its position as first within SUNY on almost every critical indicator of student satisfaction relevant to the college and has done so for the past five SOS surveys, spanning 15 years.

Collaborating with the college’s teacher education program, the Maters of Arts in Teaching (MAT), C-PIE staff participated in a TEAC accreditation workshop and participated in MAT committee meetings, and norming sessions. This work is in anticipation of accreditation.

Work on the Empire State College 2008-09 Fact Book has been completed, and the book has been printed and distributed across the college.

Office staff members were involved in the adjunct faculty assignment and payment project. The following outcomes were achieved:

CDL is officially part of the new system. Day five of each term is officially the cutoff for "biweekly" payroll processing The adjunct portal is fully functional Adjuncts now have the ability to decline an Educational Service Agreement in the

portal. A designation of decline automatically notifies the dean and associate dean at the center via email correspondence. Declined assignments need to be rectified by the center.

Development of the new system was to conclude on or near Jan. 15, 2010.

The Empire State College Data Warehouse Project team will seek consultation with the EduServe Data Warehouse expert. The team is seeking a person with experience creating a data warehouse with Datatel as the student information system.

An evaluation of the effectiveness of the college’s Bridge Program has been developed with the staff responsible for the implementation of the Bridge Program.

The Empire State College Climate Survey Task Force convened to discuss issues for the survey, due to be launched in spring 2010.

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C-PIE staff participated in the 2009 Postsecondary Education Transcript Study (PETS) PETS:09 collects postsecondary transcripts for the two NCES longitudinal studies. Transcript data are being keyed into a computer-based system. Courses taken are being coded using a hybrid coder based on the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs schema and the College Coursemapping. As national education policy is typically informed by data collected by NCES in the national databases, it is import that Empire State College students be represented in these federal data collection efforts.

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