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One year since Pres. Hall


UAalum72

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Well, this forum is 'General Danes Stuff' . The T-U Webmaster apologized for the letters not gettng online, but she emailed me her file.

 

I apologize, it does not look like the story made it online, although it should have. I believe I did find it in our archives. I have pasted it below.

 

Sarah Diodato

Timesunion.com

 

 

Section: Main

Page: A11

Date: Tuesday, August 21, 2007

UAlbany a year later a hot topic of debate

Caption: PHILIP KAMRASS/TIMES UNION ARCHIVE

 

Reporter Marc Parry's Aug. 12 article, "A vision of excellence put to test at UAlbany," looked at the University at Albany a year after the death of its president, Kermit Hall. It drew a range of responses , reflected here :

 

A quick snapshot often needs greater perspective. That is the impression I get upon reading the story, "A vision of excellence put to test at UAlbany." The University at Albany's history of building excellence - a history dating back to 1844 - inspired me to accept a position as dean of undergraduate studies in 1978; the university's continuing investment

in quality education has inspired me to stay on as a committed faculty member until the present day.

We are all proud of this fall's freshman admissions data, which show an increasing rate of selectivity, and a 48 percent increase in the proportion of Honors College freshmen. We are also proud that our College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering, founded just a few years ago, already ranks as the number one college of nanotechnology and

microtechnology in the world.

We have distinguished research and teaching strength across the arts and sciences, as well as in our policy programs, with the latest rankings of graduate programs by U.S. News & World Report showing us with 11 programs in the top 25 in the nation. These top-ranking programs include those at Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy, which ranks among the top 10 schools of public affairs in the nation, and our School of Criminal Justice, which ranks No. 2.

Another great point of pride for me is that UAlbany is a public university with a strong tradition of public engagement and service. For decades, we have provided opportunities for engagement by our faculty and students with our region, the state, the nation and the world. I know firsthand that the largest cohort of state Assembly interns is from UAlbany. Internship programs, spread across our curriculum, enrich our students' education, while providing important benefits to charitable organizations, business and government.

I am proud to teach and conduct research at a university whose students volunteer their time so generously, and whose faculty and administrators are so committed to the pursuit of excellence.

HELEN R. DESFOSSES, Associate Professor, Department of Public Administration and Policy, University at Albany

 

MarcParry's article accurately describes many of the obstacles facing UAlbany as it strives to achieve the excellence envisioned by its late president Kermit Hall. One such obstacle - the shortage of full-time faculty - deserves a closer look.

Education experts know that students excel in smaller classes, where they have more interaction with their instructors. One way to ensure smaller class size is through the hiring of appropriate numbers of full-time faculty. But from 1994 to 2005, the ratio of full-time faculty to full-time students at UAlbany moved in the wrong direction: from 21-1 up to nearly 25-1.

But the tide is turning. Thanks to strong advocacy efforts by members of United University Professions, additional funds for more full-time faculty were included in the past two state budgets. That's begun to have an effect at UAlbany, where last year the faculty/student ratio dropped from nearly 25-1 to 23-1. And the 2007 ratio will reflect a further improvement, as more newly hired faculty arrive for the start of the academic year Aug. 27.

This trend must continue if UAlbany hopes to maintain the momentum and vision of Hall's administration.

WILLIAM E. SCHEUERMAN, Albany

 

The writer is president of United University Professions, which represents academic and professional faculty at all state-operated SUNY campuses.

 

Unless there is some shred of proof backing up outragous claims, lets keep opinions here - in the commentary section. Publishing outlandish, unsubstantiated quotes referring to UAlbany as having a "mediocre record" that has been "stagnant" while graduating "semi-literate students" is very misleading.

People read a newspaper for facts, not for the ridiculous opinion of one or two people. Such attention-grabbing statements are something one would expect from a tabloid, the Princeton Review, Howard Stern or Imus.

 

NICHOLAS M. FAHRENKOPF, Class of 2008, University at Albany, Albany

 

We believe the Aug. 12 article "A vision of excellence put to test at UAlbany" gives an inaccurate, unfair impression of the University at Albany's academic programs and students. In our own experience at UAlbany, we have seen a longstanding dedication to providing an outstanding educational environment for its diverse student body. The article rightfully notes how the university and SUNY are working to become stronger on multiple fronts and the importance of Governor Spitzer's task force on higher education for achieving those goals. We are concerned, however, that the article might reinforce tiresome negative stereotypes of our students.

While we respect our two colleagues cited on this point, we do not share their gloomy assessments. Like them, we hold the "distinguished" rank and have taught undergraduates here for many years. During that time, some have not fully lived up to our expectations, but we continue to be gratified by the high quality of students we encounter every day

and by their consistently deft exercise of intellect and imagination. Working with them is a pleasure, and the university is justifiably proud of their talents and accomplishments as students and graduates.

Enhancing what the university can provide to its students in the future is critical. But it also is important to appreciate how fortunate the university and the state of New York are to have individuals of such promise studying with us today.

JAMES ACKER, Distinguished teaching professor University at Albany

This letter also was signed by David F. Andersen, Jeffrey Berman, Ronald A. Bosco, John W. Delano, Sue R. Faerman, Richard H. Hall, David P. McCaffrey, Steven F. Messner, Stephen M. North, John S. Pipkin, Robert A. Rosellini, Glenna D. Spitze and Lynn Videka.

 

Referring to Mark Parry's Aug. 12 article on UAlbany's malaise, my diagnosis is this: The university has never had a president with the wisdom and daring to look the faculty in the face and say (more diplomatically), "Half of you should not be here. Half of you do not have the industry, integrity, intellect and imagination needed to build this university center rapidly toward world-class."

Instead we have had leaders like Karen Hitchcock, who regarded the faculty as already superb, and dissipated resources by investing in new programs of doubtful permanent value, instead of infusing existing programs with strong new faculty members. Tenure and promotion standards were kept low too for many years, with the result that the university acquired a corps of weak, self-replicating full professors.

I once asked one of these old birds why he had not retired yet. His shocking reply was, "The pay is good and the work is easy." University work should never be easy. Not if a person teaches well on campus and also in the global classroom (teaching graduate students and their professors, worldwide, new things about their subject).

The article mentions two remedies for academic weakness at Albany: raising admission standards, and special programs for honors students. Neither of these hits the nail on the head for my money. The head of the nail is faculty strengthening, from which everything else flows. Faculty strengthening is necessarily a slow and not always popular

business. It is the work of many successive, dedicated administrations. It won't appeal to candidates for our open presidency interested in adding flashy "accomplishments" to their resumes. I hope the search committee can weed out people like this.

 

WIN MEANS, Stephentown The writer was a UAlbany faculty member in geology from 1965 to 1998.

 

Each year, colleges and universities around the country replacectheir presidents. New leaders emerge from planned searches but sometimes unfortunate circumstances, like the death of a president/chancellor, can

lead to an extended search.

When this occurs, current leaders and newly appointed interims assume multiple responsibilities as they conduct the regular business of a campus. The commitment to support the vision of former president Kermit L. Hall has never wavered nor is there any evidence that UAlbany's momentum has come to a "screeching halt." Marc Parry suggests

otherwise in his Aug. 12 unsubstantiated critique of the university.

Hall was a dynamic transformational leader who could translate a vision into concrete cultural change. He entrusted the execution of his vision to those who served with him in both permanent and interim capacities. In his 12 principles of leadership, he states: "Start training your replacements so that the legend will continue - there is always a number two." Those serving in interim capacities at UAlbany are as good as they come.

Parry's article did not celebrate the one-year absence of Hall; rather it served as a platform for comments that disparage our students (semi-literates who come here to party) and indirectly indict our excellent faculty and staff.

And what evidence was presented? It was the statements of two distinguished faculty members and presentation of input data (top 10 percent of admitted high school graduates). This latter indicator obfuscates how excellence is really measured in higher education - it is through outcomes that reflect the student as a finished product and the type and amount of learning that occurs. Around the country, many students who enter college at the top 10 percent do not graduate in four years and many who enter in the top 30 percent do (and do so with distinction).

The momentum always slows somewhat when great leaders leave institutions and organizations. That is a natural occurrence but the desire to maintain excellence and to improve does not disappear.

Parry and the Times Union should curtail the consistent references to UAlbany as a party school. Our evidence is solid and available for public review: There has been a significant decline in the last few years in the use of alcohol by our students, moreover students apply and come to UAlbany primarily for positive reasons that are associated with

academics and career aspirations. Sensationalism that is devoid of evidence borders on an obsession.

Our continuing momentum can be captured in another of Kermit's 12 principles: "Small wins cumulate to big gains - be patient, persistent and poised." One day UAlbany will take its place among the finest public research universities in the country. Our trajectory already indicates that.

 

JAMES A. ANDERSON, Vice president for student success, Professor of psychology, University at Albany

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UA72,

 

Thank you for that post! It's great to read such outpouring of support from faculty, support staff and students. This university is truly on the rise when people take such pride in the work they are doing and their experience at UAlbany, instead of tearing the school down like Mr. Roberts with the same regurgitated drivel we've been hearing for the last few years, even when President Hall was steering the ship.

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