From the Chair of the College Senate
BUDGET UPDATE AS OF MAY 15, 2020
New York State revenues are down sharply, and this will lead to a decrease in our direct state support for 2020–2021. Buffalo State is preparing for a cut in state support of 10 to 25 percent. We are also anticipating decreased tuition revenue because of an enrollment decline. The size of the enrollment decline is unknown, but for planning purposes, the college is making projections of a decrease of between 9 percent (expected pre-COVID-19 decline) and 50 percent (representing a massive decline that might result from COVID-19 issues). Vice President for Finance and Management Barnum presented “best-case” and “worst-case” operating budget scenarios at the May 8 College Senate meeting. The best-case scenario projects a deficit of $11 million for 2020–2021, while the worst-case scenario projects a deficit of $27 million. Buffalo State’s central reserves are projected to be approximately $8.4 million at the beginning of the 2020–2021 fiscal year. By the end of 2020–2021, central reserves are estimated to be in deficit by $1.1 million in the best-case scenario, and by $16.9 million in the worst-case scenario. Please see President Conway-Turner’s May 14 message to the campus for more information.
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ENROLLMENT UPDATE
(from the May 8 Senate Meeting Summary and Executive Enrollment Report)
Target numbers as presented to the Senate on May 8, 2020: Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the target for first-time freshman enrollment was set at a range in order to account for the new National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) regulations (1,550-1,650). We are currently using the lower number (1,550) to account for the impact of COVID-19. The target for transfer students is 700. Please see the June 12, 2020, Senate Update for details.
Please be advised that the number of new full-time students (freshmen) will be altered after the orientation sessions. The college has changed the timing of registration for first-time freshmen for fall 2020. Fall 2020 first-time freshmen will be registered after they attend their orientation session and meet with their professional advisers, as compared with past years when first-time freshmen would have been registered beginning in May. This process change accounts for the current variance (compared to this time last year) of new freshmen students noted on the Enrollment Management Executive Summary that many on campus receive each Friday from the Registrar's Office for planning purposes.
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FACULTY AND STAFF WELFARE UPDATES
Faculty and Staff Development Opportunities
Instructional Design and Training, the Professional Development Center, and the Teaching and Learning Center will continue throughout the summer and fall to provide opportunities to support student learning, enhance our teaching methods, and take care of ourselves as our work-life changes. Please continue to visit these departments’ websites and check the Daily Bulletin for synchronous and self-paced learning opportunities.
Contingent Faculty and Unemployment Insurance
The economic fallout from COVID-19 may unfortunately lead to loss of employment for SUNY’s contingent faculty (adjuncts); therefore, contingent faculty who have completed their spring semester work obligation and do not have summer school employment, and those who have not received an appointment letter for the fall semester, should consider applying for NYS unemployment insurance this summer.
Resources:
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NEWS FROM THE UNIVERSITY FACULTY SENATE
- The State University of New York Board of Trustees announced the departure of Kristina M. Johnson as chancellor. Dr. Johnson was appointed president of the Ohio State University, beginning September 1. She will continue her duties as SUNY chancellor to help prepare campuses for the fall semester until an interim chancellor and leaders are appointed by the SUNY Board of Trustees.
- The SUNY provost's office has a website devoted to academic planning resources for COVID-19.
- One of SUNY's professional development partners is offering a free course on managing stress.
- Buffalo State has established a scholarship in memory of George Floyd.
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OTHER UPDATES
The Senate’s current leadership (Chair Joseph Marren and Vice Chair Jason Grinnell) and incoming leadership (Chair Bhakti Sharma and Vice Chair Heather Maldonado) are set to meet every other week with Provost James Mayrose during the summer. Our initial focus was on better communication between various constituencies on campus to make sure facts are center stage and inform campus policies.
