Flagship Status is Still Unsettled?

[Michigan_Dane]

I thought talk of "flagship" campuses was dead or at least we had settled on the 4 SUNY Centers? The topic rose from the dead with a $150M donation to Stony Brook. UAlbany better never stop fighting or else we'll wake up and see Stony Brook and Buffalo wearing the title. This fight never ends. Thank god we have Nano technology but need to keep striving into other disciplines and working on our key ratios/metrics.

 

Daily News article bringing up "flagships" once again. For now they are still mentioning all 4 but it's clear they want SBU to be number one. How long before we have editorials banging away that we should have fewer "flagships"?

 

http://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/simons-donation-lets-suny-stony-brook-shoot-stars-article-1.992845?localLinksEnabled=false

[Clickclack]

Keep doing what we are doing and we'll be fine...Our research programs and financial backing is enormous and growing. Nano is a monstrosity that can't and won't be stopped. We have a number of key projects on campus going up or in the planning stages (new business school, dorms, a number of key renovations, football stadium). Pres. Philip has been successful in his short time and it's good that he'll stay one however long it takes to find his replacement so we will not be without stable leadership like the last time around.

 

We have our own plans to grow enrollment, hire professors we just need to find a way do diversify a bit more, perhaps there is an agreement we can enter into with Albany Law, Albany Med or other such ventures. Affiliate with one or two of those somehow, someway and we'll be OK. Look at what they've been able to do with NANO, now they are spinning up photo-voltaic research that while technically will reside under the NANO umbrella will be a giant venture in it's own right.

 

I know through speaking with several higher-ups we are aggressively and actively perusing change with regard to community service/outreach/programs on campus that will garner us an invite into the AAU. It won't be immediate, we have a lot of work to do but get that distinction while continuing to improve our programs, student profile and this debate will be permanently closed. As it stands right now, we have a ton to offer and we are only getting bigger.

[UA_MA_2000]

Keep doing what we are doing and we'll be fine...Our research programs and financial backing is enormous and growing. Nano is a monstrosity that can't and won't be stopped. We have a number of key projects on campus going up or in the planning stages (new business school, dorms, a number of key renovations, football stadium). Pres. Philip has been successful in his short time and it's good that he'll stay one however long it takes to find his replacement so we will not be without stable leadership like the last time around.

 

We have our own plans to grow enrollment, hire professors we just need to find a way do diversify a bit more, perhaps there is an agreement we can enter into with Albany Law, Albany Med or other such ventures. Affiliate with one or two of those somehow, someway and we'll be OK. Look at what they've been able to do with NANO, now they are spinning up photo-voltaic research that while technically will reside under the NANO umbrella will be a giant venture in it's own right.

 

I know through speaking with several higher-ups we are aggressively and actively perusing change with regard to community service/outreach/programs on campus that will garner us an invite into the AAU. It won't be immediate, we have a lot of work to do but get that distinction while continuing to improve our programs, student profile and this debate will be permanently closed. As it stands right now, we have a ton to offer and we are only getting bigger.

 

 

Of all the things discussed on this Board as far as progress and growth for UAlbany, in my view membership with the AAU is one of the most important things UAlbany can strive for. It's a "gold star" on our academic resume and pretty much vaults us into permanent top 100 or Tier 1 status. Secure AAU membership, and eventually, the recruits and football stadiums and money will follow/trickle down.

 

 

 

 

ABOUT AAU

The Association of American Universities (AAU) is a nonprofit 501©(3) organization of 61 leading public and private research universities in the United States and Canada. Founded in 1900 to advance the international standing of U.S. research universities, AAU today focuses on issues that are important to research-intensive universities, such as funding for research, research policy issues, and graduate and undergraduate education.

 

AAU member universities are on the leading edge of innovation, scholarship, and solutions that contribute to the nation's economy, security, and well-being. The 59 AAU universities in the United States award more than one-half of all U.S. doctoral degrees and 55 percent of those in the sciences and engineering.

 

AAU programs and projects address institutional issues facing its member universities, as well as government actions that affect these and other universities.

 

AAU works to maintain the productive partnership between the nation’s research universities and the federal government. The major activities of the association include federal government relations, policy studies, and public affairs.

 

Membership in the association is by invitation. . . .

 

AAU