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Message from President DeFleur
As the semester comes to a close, let me welcome the over 1,200 new University advocates who recently registered to be a part of our Think Tank advocacy group. Thanks to your support we now have over 6,200 registered members. Together we will be a powerful voice in support of Binghamton University.
In the upcoming new year, we will need your help as we focus our advocacy efforts on two critical initiatives: securing adequate state support and flexibility, and continuing our efforts to develop a new law school.
SUNY budget issues
SUNY is being asked to implement an additional $90 million reduction and Binghamton University's portion is $3.3 million. This is the most serious reduction for SUNY in many decades and is the highest proportion cut to a state agency. This reduction comes on top of five years of declining state support and, given the state's financial outlook, more cuts may be likely. While we have taken active steps over the last two years to try to protect our academic offerings, the continued budget reductions have had some adverse consequences, including larger class sizes, fewer class sections and fewer full-time faculty due to our hiring freeze.
While New York state's budget actions represent serious challenges for the University, we are committed to preserving the high-quality academic experience that our students, parents and alumni have come to expect of Binghamton University. We are closely examining every aspect of campus operations to maximize efficiency and we have instituted both short and long-term approaches to reduce costs and increase revenues in key areas. These initiatives are paying off: our scholarship support has grown 17 percent over the past five years, and our research funding growth rate is among the highest for universities in New York. Thus we continue to enhance research and scholarly activity at the University with increased external support from research grants, and our investments in energy-reduction measures help us save money while we strive to further reduce our carbon footprint.
Legislation
During the coming months, we will renew our push for the state legislature to implement regulatory reforms, which will help us pursue our goal of becoming the premier public university in the nation. Thanks in part to the support of Binghamton University advocates, the Senate and Assembly will likely review a "New Economy and Innovation Act of 2010" for SUNY doctoral-granting institutions. The proposed legislation seeks to implement many of the reforms recommended by the New York State Commission on Higher Education. As a member of the Commission, I have been supportive of SUNY reform efforts, especially those that can be implemented at no cost to taxpayers.
Law School
We remain steadfast in our efforts to secure the necessary SUNY, state and State Education Department approvals to establish a law school. We are expecting positive reports from two external reviewers shortly and will then submit our formal proposal for the law school to SUNY and the State Education Department.
While we are working to meet our challenges, I foresee another year of scholarly and academic growth for Binghamton University. We continue to attract the best and brightest students in the state. Test scores of entering students continue to rise and are among the nation's highest for public universities. Our faculty break new ground every day with their scholarly contributions and research and apply innovative approaches to student learning. They continue to receive worldwide and national recognition for their research. Scott Craver, for example, an assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering, was honored at the White House this fall as one of only 100 recipients of the prestigious Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE). Likewise, our staff is among the most creative and dedicated anywhere. For the third consecutive year, Binghamton University has been rated a "Best Buy" by the Fiske Guide to Colleges. And U.S. News and World Report for the 13th consecutive year included Binghamton University among the elite Top 50 of public universities in the nation. Binghamton is also on the publication's list of schools whose students graduate with the least amount of debt. Be sure to read about some of the University's tremendous accolades and groundbreaking research included in this newsletter. We have a lot to be proud of.
Thank you for your support. I look forward to working with you in the new year as we embrace the opportunities that await us.
Lois B. DeFleur
President, Binghamton University
University News and Accomplishments
Campus community remembers Antoun
Kind and gentle, generous with his time - these are the words most frequently used by friends and colleagues to describe Richard Antoun, 77, professor emeritus of anthropology.
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Binghamton unveils Climate Action Plan
On Nov. 30, President Lois B. DeFleur and University officials released Binghamton University's Climate Action Plan which outlines the University's long-term goal to reduce its carbon footprint and enhance overall sustainability.
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Three named to 'distinguished' professor rank
Marilynn Desmond, professor of English, general literature and rhetoric; Thomas Dublin, professor of history; and Randall McGuire, professor of anthropology, have been promoted to the distinguished professor rank, a tenured University ranking that is conferred solely by the SUNY Board of Trustees for consistently extraordinary accomplishment.
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Opening of Binghamton University Confucius Institute offers new campus and community cultural, language opportunities
Jointly formed by Binghamton University and National Academy of Chinese Theater Arts (NACTA), and sponsored by the Confucius Institute headquarters in Beijing, China, the Confucius Institute of Chinese Opera at Binghamton University is expected to further international education and cultural ties with China.
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Journal of Women's History coming to Binghamton
Binghamton University will serve as the editorial host of the Journal of Women's History, a quarterly publication founded in 1989, beginning in the spring of 2010. Jean Quataert, professor of history, and Leigh Ann Wheeler, associate professor of history, will co-edit the journal. The editorial team also includes Elisa Camiscioli, associate professor of history, as book review editor; Benita Roth, associate professor of sociology, as associate editor; and two graduate assistants.
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Research
Discovery offers new hope for curing chronic infections
Biologists at Binghamton University have identified three key regulators required for the formation and development of biofilms.
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Study seeks to understand sources of depression
Binghamton University researcher Brandon Gibb will lead a five-year examination of the genetic, environmental and psychological variables that can lead to depression.
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Biologists: Nice guys don't always finish last
The results of a ground-breaking study of sexual conflict appear in the Nov. 6 edition of the prestigious journal Science.
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Advocacy - Share Your Story
Do you have a Binghamton University Story to tell? Take a minute and share it.
Your story will help us make the case that investment in higher education has a real impact on people's lives.
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Diane H. Greiwe
Advocacy Communications Specialist
University Communications and Marketing
Binghamton University
PO Box 6000
Binghamton, NY 13902
dgreiwe@binghamton.edu
607-777-3658
Think Binghamton! Join the Think Tank as an advocate today at http://think.binghamton.edu.
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