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As 2023 comes to a close, I have been thinking about what it means to be part of a community and how fortunate we all are to be a part of the SUNY Oneonta and local communities. Throughout this year and the Fall 2023 semester, our university community has come together to support one another, overcome obstacles, and discuss the challenges and opportunities we should consider as we plan for our future.
Sustaining a positive relationship with our local community has also been a priority, and I appreciate all the work that has contributed to the important role SUNY Oneonta is playing in the well-being and development of the greater Oneonta region. I believe strongly in the emphasis that the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) places on the importance of institutions being “a good steward of place," which requires us to recognize and fulfill a responsibility to the communities and region in which we are located.
We have worked to focus on a few key areas that AASCU highlights as key points of focus:
- Institutions need to actively engage with their local communities. This involvement can take various forms, such as partnerships with local businesses, collaboration with community organizations, and participation in community development initiatives.
- Universities should foster economic development in their surrounding areas. This can involve supporting local businesses, promoting entrepreneurship, and contributing to workforce development.
- Centers of learning are also centers of service, so they are seen as catalysts for civic engagement and responsible citizenship. AASCU encourages institutions to promote civic education and actively engage students, faculty, and staff in community service and civic activities.
- Institutions are encouraged to contribute to the cultural and social fabric of their communities. This may involve supporting local arts and culture initiatives, promoting diversity and inclusion, and addressing social issues that impact the community.
- Finally, as a system, SUNY recognizes the importance of environmental stewardship, so we are encouraging the spread of sustainable practices, promoting environmental education, and contributing to local efforts to address environmental challenges.
By embracing these principles, I believe our university can play a vital role in creating positive and sustainable impacts both on campus and within our local community. This perspective aligns with the broader notion of the social responsibility of higher education institutions beyond their traditional academic functions.
As we progress through the strategic planning process in the spring, I hope we can build upon opportunities to collaborate with one another and local partners. Maintaining focus on the strength of our communities, both internal and external, will be key to our continued success.
Sincerely,
Alberto J.F. Cardelle
President
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NYPA Partnership & Clean Energy Master Plan Initiatives Fueling Solar Generation Projects
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Lachlan Squair
Associate Vice President for Facilities Management
The university, partnering with the New York Power Authority, is about to issue a request for proposal for the installation of our first large-scale solar generation array. Two to three megawatts of generating capacity are planned, and the solar panels will be ground mounted at a location in the north of the campus. The panels will be co-located for ease of maintenance and connected at our electrical substation near the Maintenance and Operations Center.
The increase in solar generating capacity will help offset anticipated growth in campus electrical load in the future as we reduce our reliance on fossil fuel combustion. Coupled with future battery energy storage, the solar array will provide additional resilience for the campus during weather-related electrical outages and allow us to reduce our electrical demand from the grid during peak hours. The vendor selection and award process will take some time, so we will not see any installation of this system on campus until 2025.
We are also planning two smaller solar generation projects during the summer of 2024. A small system at Physical Science for use by the Science Discovery Center for demonstration purposes and an “off-grid” solar generation & battery storage system at the Moe Pond research lab site in Cooperstown that will replace an existing fossil-fueled generator. This project is integrated into the goals and objectives of our Clean Energy Master Plan that charts a course toward long-term decarbonization of campus building operations.
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Prominent Speakers to Visit Campus in Honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Black History Month
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Bernadette Tiapo
Vice President for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion and Chief Diversity Officer
Dr. Cobb is a staff writer for the New Yorker, author, and expert on how race, politics, history, and popular culture intersect in America. In his writing, he eloquently explores how the past looms in our contemporary societal landscape and how we can collectively push toward a more equitable America. All are invited to attend Dr. Cobb's address and a panel on Monday, Jan. 29, from 8 - 10 a.m. (breakfast will be served) in the Center for Racial Justice and Inclusive Excellence in Lee Hall. Space is limited; please register in advance by Friday, Jan. 19.
Minnijean Brown-Trickey is a member of the Little Rock Nine, a group of nine brave teenagers who, in 1957, registered as the first Black students to enroll at a formerly all-white high school in Little Rock, Arkansas. These nine students faced racism and harassment while their historic actions called national attention to desegregation and the civil rights movement and altered the course of education in the United States. Brown-Trickey has dedicated her life to social justice and is an award-winning teacher, writer, and community worker. Her address will be held on Thursday, Feb. 8, at 7 p.m. in the Alumni Field House. Please register in advance by Monday, Feb. 5.
These events are free and open to all thanks to support from the Office of Equity and Inclusion, the Capek Family Fund for Inclusive Excellence, the Activities Council, University Advancement, and Hartwick College.
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2023 Grad Earns GRAMMY Nomination
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Elyse V. Johnson, a Music Industry major who just crossed the stage on Dec. 10, has been nominated for a GRAMMY Award in the Best Gospel Performance/Song category. She was nominated as a songwriter of the song "God is Good." According to the GRAMMY Awards website, the Best Gospel Performance/Song award is given to the artists and songwriters for new compositions for the best traditional Christian, roots gospel, or contemporary gospel single or track. The 66th GRAMMY Awards ceremony will take place on Feb. 4, 2024. Congratulations, Elyse!
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President Cardelle Serving on SUNY & Regional Councils
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Earlier this fall, President Cardelle was named the SUNY Sustainability Advisory Council co-chair. He will serve alongside SUNY Environmental Science and Forestry President Joanie Mahoney in advancing SUNY's efforts to reduce environmental footprints at state-operated campuses, developing consistent goals, metrics, assessments, partnerships, and policies to be components of a SUNY-wide Climate Action Plan, and more.
President Cardelle said, "The opportunity to work collectively and think critically on these topics will enable the SUNY community to identify and implement solutions that will not only help develop the SUNY Climate Action Plan but could positively impact the State and our country. Using campus buildings and operations as teaching and learning tools to practice sustainable operations and behaviors will allow us to identify those that may be scalable for our cities and regions. I am eager to work with the council to leverage SUNY’s sustainability and clean-energy efforts into economic development opportunities for communities across the State and hands-on learning opportunities for our current and future students.”
President Cardelle has also recently been named to the Mohawk Valley Regional Economic Development Council (MVREDC). The MVREDC is the strategic economic advisory board for the Mohawk Valley region of the State. the REDCs across the State are led by community, business, academic, and public leaders to help understand local priorities and direct the State's investments to support job creation and economic growth. President Cardelle joins leaders from SUNY Cobleskill, Mohawk Valley Edge, New York Central Mutual Insurance, the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, Herkimer ARC, local county and city elected officials, and more.
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Notes from Netzer Freedback
Let us know what you think about Notes from Netzer. Give feedback on the newsletter, submit ideas for future articles, and more.
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Cabinet Meeting Notes
Notes from meetings of the President's Cabinet are shared with the university community monthly in Notes from Netzer. Questions can be directed to president@oneonta.edu.
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