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My Sincerest Thanks For Your Hard Work

I'd like to sincerely thank all of you for your hard work during the fall semester. You should be proud of your dedication and efforts as a campus community. I see among you a great desire to keep the college moving forward, and I am grateful for your shared commitment.

I need to recognize that this dedication came during very stressful times. There are many unsung heroes among you. Facilities and Athletics are just a few examples. You are all keeping us on track to fulfill our mission as a fully residential campus environment.

With the promise of a COVID-19 vaccine in the months ahead and a shared commitment to making our draft plan a success, I see hope and optimism taking root on our campus. Here’s to your hard work toward a successful spring semester. Thank you to all for the brighter future you have created for SUNY Oneonta.

Students, Employees Help Light Up City of Oneonta

Pictured is Keith Mott (on ground) helping Rob Truesdale (in lift).

Rob Truesdale (in lift) and Keith Mott (on ground) hang lights in Neahwa Park.

The college will be well-represented during the city of Oneonta’s first drive-through holiday lights display, thanks to a group of talented, dedicated SUNY Oneonta students and employees.

I had the pleasure of working side by side with several of them in Neahwa Park last Saturday to help set up for the Oneonta Festival of Lights, a free event that will kick off tonight and run through Sunday, Jan. 3, from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. We spent several hours together, hanging lights and decorations, talking and enjoying each other’s company. I especially relished the opportunity to get to know the members of Sigma Omega Epsilon, Delta Omega Epsilon and Phi Kappa Psi who helped set up.

Many thanks to Keith Mott and Robert Truesdale, who were our lift operators for the day; to Lisa Snyder, Kathy Meeker, Colleen Brannan, Tracey and Dave Ranieri, and Terry Zimmer for coming out on a weekend to volunteer with me; and to Linda Drake for recruiting student volunteers.

Meanwhile, on campus, a team of Maintenance Operations Center staff led by Bill Wagner has been busy designing and building the college’s portion of the light display, which, I’m told, will be located to the left of the skate house in the park. Thank you to Bill, Matthew Grenier, Nate Hitchcock, Shaun Sparaco, Greg Post, Tim Mullinnex, Joe Hitchcock and Kevin Wagner for their hard work on the display, and thank you, too, to Ian Lascell for designing its banner and to Dee Williams for loaning the team holiday decorations. I can’t wait to see the finished product.

I thoroughly enjoyed spending this time together for such a worthy cause. Sponsors of the event – First Night Oneonta and Five Star Subaru – have brought in more than 30 local organizations and businesses to make individual light displays, so it should be an impressive sight. For those who aren’t aware, organizers have dedicated the event to the late John Hayen, the college’s assistant men’s soccer coach, who was known for his elaborate holiday light displays. Although I didn’t know John, I am sure he would be pleased to see how the college and greater Oneonta community have come together to bring this wholesome holiday event to fruition in his honor.

Be sure to stop down to the park and check out our volunteers’ hard work. I’m grateful to all those who helped create this display for Oneonta residents and visitors to enjoy safely during this challenging time. I’m sure it will lift the spirits of many and bring light and joy to all who attend.

SUNY Upstate's Pool Testing Ranked No. 1 by USFDA

I'd like to take this opportunity to congratulate SUNY Upstate Medical on its No. 1 ranking COVID-19 saliva test by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. It received its ranking for detecting the virus in its earliest stages and was also cited as being among the most sensitive tests regardless of type, ranking sixth worldwide in detecting the virus.

You may recall that the college used pool testing developed by Upstate Medical and NY Start-Up Quadrant Biosciences to detect the spread of COVID during the fall semester.

The FDA reviews COVID-19 tests based on the effectiveness of finding the smallest traces of SARS-CoV-2, the virus which causes COVID-19. The Upstate Medical and Quadrant Biosciences Clarifi COVID-19 Test falls into the saliva testing category and has the best (lowest) Limit of Detection (LoD) at 600 copies of the virus per milliliter. Tests with lower LoDs are better able to detect infections at the earliest stages when individuals may be infectious but asymptomatic.

We are thankful that Upstate’s testing continues to help us pinpoint cases and that it will play a key role in a successful spring semester.

Milne Library Wins Regional Sustainability Award

Congratulations to Milne Library for receiving the Library Sustainability Award from the South Central Regional Library Council (SCRLC). This award was given, in part, based on the collaborative events the library hosted in partnership with the Revival of Apparel Club (RAC), and the Sustainable Study Tips event hosted in partnership with the Office of Sustainability and the Student Learning Center. The library was also recognized for its efforts to “green up" the staff lounge. The Office of Sustainability highlighted the library’s award recently in its Sustainability Spotlight series on Instagram.

Jean-Paul Orgeron and Sarah Rhodes presented on the work of the library’s sustainability team and the SCRLC award at the 2020 State of NY Sustainability Conference. Rachel Kornhauser and Sarah also presented at this conference on the Sustainable Study Tips event they collaborated on this past semester.

Teresa Gonzalez Wins SUNY EOP Award

Teresa Gonzalez

Leamor Kahanov
Provost

It is my pleasure to congratulate senior Teresa Gonzalez, who has been chosen as a recipient of SUNY’s 2020 Norman R. McConney, Jr. Award for Student Excellence. The award, which bears the name of the late Norman McConney, one of the architects of the statewide Educational Opportunity Program and a champion of youth empowerment, was established last year to celebrate EOP students who have overcome significant obstacles to achieve their educational and personal goals.

An Adolescence Education major with a concentration in Spanish, Teresa is passionate about addressing challenges and inequalities faced by English Language Learner (ELL) students in the United States. After leaving her home in Mexico as a teenager and coming to the U.S., Teresa faced many obstacles. Learning English was a challenge, particularly because the school she transferred into could not adequately accommodate her needs. Because of this, Teresa aspires to work with ELL students in seventh through twelfth grade and help them transition smoothly into the U.S. education system.

Teresa is an active member of the Chi Alpha Epsilon Honor Society and Phi Sigma Iota, the International Foreign Language Honor Society. She is also a Susan Sutton Smith Award for Academic Excellence winner, has been on the Dean’s list for three consecutive semesters, and is active in the CAMP and AOP programs and the Hispanic Organization for Learning Advancement (H.O.L.A.) club. She has been a role model and mentor to many students, including an Oneonta High School student who had just arrived in the U.S. from Mexico.

Teresa is a resilient, determined student who has overcome many obstacles and achieved academic excellence against all odds. Congratulations, Teresa, on receiving this well-deserved accolade.

UPD's Cop Shop Continues to Spread Holiday Cheer

University Police's collection of gifts under a Christmas tree

Gifts collected by UPD for local children

Jennifer Fila
University Police Chief

The pandemic did not stop University Police from hosting our Cop Shop this year. We adjusted the event slightly to continue to help children throughout the community.

The program was created six years ago to help children in need and also foster a positive relationship between law enforcement and the greater Oneonta community.

This year, instead of an event with games and crafts, UPD provided food and household supplies to four families, as well as gifts for all the children in the homes. All donations are provided by current and past department members, and we also reach out to community members and local businesses to contribute to the event.

Thanks to all the department members who contributed, and special thanks to Lieutenant John Nichols and his spouse, Shelly, for their work to create a successful event this year.

Spending Plan Created for Spring Semester

Julie Piscitello
Vice President for Finance and Administration

We all recognize that the financial effects of COVID-19 on our campus have been significant and will continue to impact our budget, possibly for a few years. Initial budget projections for this year indicated a significant operating shortfall of about $12 million. Departments are in the process of submitting their essential spending requests for the second half of the year, and enrollment-based income projections are also being reviewed. The results of this work will allow us to update the overall campus operating budget and improve our understanding of our financial condition.

Since the middle of the spring 2019 semester, we have asked the campus to limit spending to essential needs only. These constraints have been effective. In the first five months of this fiscal year, our total spend is down over $4 million versus the same period in the last fiscal year.

Efforts made to constrain spending to that which is essential are critical to the campus’ future. Beyond the significant impact of COVID-19 this year, we also expect some mid- and longer-term impacts such as permanent reductions in state tax support, potential lingering effects on enrollment and occupancy, and ongoing expenses resulting from changes in how we operate as a campus. We continue to analyze and assess these impacts so that we can determine a path forward.

I anticipate having sufficient reserves to weather this year’s projected deficit, but there is continued work ahead to sustain our core; support our mission, vision and values; and restore our financial strength as we move forward. I realize these financial pressures, our current spending constraints, and restricted hiring contribute to an already stressful time. I will continue to share updates as more information becomes known and as conditions change.

Thank you all for your continued work and contributions to SUNY Oneonta. I hope the winter break and holidays bring some peace and renewal for all.

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Oneonta, NY | 13820 US

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