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Fall 2017 Faculty, Staff Welcome Features Awards, Remarks | SUNY Plattsburgh

Faculty and staff returned to campus Aug. 25 for the annual President’s Welcome, a special gathering featuring award presentations and remarks focused on the new 2017-2018 academic year ahead.

“I want to welcome you back to campus for our annual gathering,” President John Ettling told nearly 300 faculty and staff gathered in E. Glenn Giltz Auditorium. He noted the ceremony recognized “ individuals who make our campus community the vibrant, special place that it is.”

“As we look toward the year ahead, we can take pride in knowing such a view is not only held by us; we can take with us confirmation from our peers that the work we are doing is commendable and truly making a difference in measurable ways,” he said.

Ettling told faculty and staff how the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, which completed its periodic review this summer, commended the college on several counts, including the college’s data-driven approach to developing new programs, for developing new programs that leverages faculty expertise and strengths, and for seeking partnerships with other colleges to provide students “with the opportunity to complete a four-year degree in high-demand majors.”

“Overall, it was a very solid evaluation, and I thank all the campus participants who were a part of that work,” he said.

Ettling praised the work of Institutional Advancement, which saw $5.2 million in new gifts and pledges during the 2016-2017 fiscal year.

“That is a level we have never seen,” he said. “It is $1 million more than the last high-water mark — the $4.2 million raised during the final year of the Bright with Promise campaign.

“This fund is particularly important today as we rely proportionally less on direct state funding than ever before. It is critical we supplement traditional revenue streams with outside investment.”

Fall Enrollment Increase

In anticipation of move-in weekend Aug. 26 and 27, Ettling told faculty that fall student enrollment is up about 4 percent from last fall, an estimated increase of more than 220 students.

“That represents a half a million dollars in tuition revenue,” he said.

Of the 9,700 applications submitted, the college accepted about 53 percent. Transfer applications were up beyond the 450 projected by nearly 100 students. He credited the new online application process for graduate applications with the increase realized there, with 212 new graduate-student deposits received to date.

Ettling also praised the work of the Global Education Office, which helped usher in 119 new international students with Vietnam, Ethiopa, Japan, Trinida and Tobago, and China leading the countries with the most students represented on campus. International students represent 33 countries on campus this year.

Awards and Honors

Ettling and Dr. Michael Morgan, interim provost and vice president for academic affairs, presented awards to several faculty and staff for excellence and service to their students, the college and their community.

Among those recognized at the welcome ceremony were Chancellor’s Award for Excellence recipients:

  • Julia Davis and Dr. Kirsten Isgro: Teaching
  • Kathleen Lavoie: Scholarship and creative activities
  • Dr. Michael Morales, associate professor of psychology: Faculty service
  • Dr. Joshua Beatty, senior assistant librarian: Librarianship
  • Diane Merkel, assistant provost, and Denise Philo, college registrar: Professional service
  • Joy LaPorte, secretary 1 in the Student Health and Counseling Center: Classified service.

Also honored Friday was Dr. Mohamed Gaber, who was promoted to the rank of Distinguished Service Professor. He will be recognized at a ceremony later in the fall at a reception when his portrait is included in the gallery at Feinberg Library.

Laura-Jean Schwarteau, adjunct teacher in theater, was awarded the Chancellor’s Award for Adjunct Teaching.

Dr. Joseph Bodenrader, associate professor of mathematics emeritus, was honored with the Faculty/Staff Impact Award, which recognizes a faculty or staff member who had a major and lasting positive impact on the life of alumni, and Dr. Anthony Noce, lecturer in economics and finance, was awarded the 2016-2017 Teacher Excellence Award for Lecturers.

Dr. Lise Heroux, who was honored at last year’s President’s Welcome for receiving the SUNY Distinguished Service Professor award, was named Outstanding Academic Adviser.

It is of note that three of Friday’s award honorees are members of the faculty in the School of Business and Economics.

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