Golden named dean of branch campus

August 17, 2009

QUEENSBURY AND PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. (Aug.17, 2009) -Three years ago, SUNY Plattsburgh's extension site at Adirondack Community College became a full-fledged branch campus. This meant that placed-based students in Warren, Washington and Saratoga Counties would no longer have to travel to SUNY Plattsburgh to take some classes toward their degree. They could earn an entire bachelor's or master's degree right there, on the ACC campus in Queensbury. Today, the man who first envisioned this transformation has become the site's first dean.

Dr. Robert Golden, a professor of English at the branch and the former provost and vice president for academic affairs at the college's main campus, has been named the dean and assistant to the president for the SUNY Plattsburgh Branch Campus at ACC.

Golden proposed the transformation of the site to a full-fledged branch because he saw that SUNY Plattsburgh could play a more significant role in the entire northeastern region of New York, stretching from Saratoga northward. He also saw a population that needed greater access to higher education.

"I believed SUNY Plattsburgh could fill the gap," said Golden.

"I think Dr. Golden's appointment underscores our commitment to the region," said SUNY Plattsburgh President John Ettling. "We have built up a tremendous amount of positive momentum, and we believe there is even greater potential for the future."

"We have had incredible success so far," said Golden. "We are dedicated to building upon this while exploring new and expanded offerings for students."

The success about which Golden speaks can be seen can be seen through enrollment numbers. Since the college first began offering graduate courses at ACC in the 1980s, these programs have grown to the extent that graduate students enrolled there now make up from 33 to 40 percent of all SUNY Plattsburgh graduate admissions.

In addition, this fall there will be approximately 190 undergraduates enrolled at the site. Undergraduate admissions have doubled from when the college first began offering undergraduate courses in 2005.

A total of 350 students currently attend the SUNY Plattsburgh Branch Campus at ACC. They consist of full- and part-time students in undergraduate and graduate degree programs, as well as graduate students in a certificate of advanced studies program.

The undergraduate programs offered are childhood education, criminal justice, management, and psychology. In addition, registered nurses who hold an associate degree or a hospital diploma can earn a bachelor's in nursing from Plattsburgh online. Programs offered to graduate students include those in teacher education, educational leadership and liberal studies.

Tom Corigliano, associate dean for the SUNY Plattsburgh Branch Campus at ACC, has been instrumental in the success experienced by the organization to this point.

"Tom has tirelessly promoted our efforts here and has done an outstanding job," said Golden. "He is dedicated to helping students achieve their educational aspirations, and he will continue to play a major role in our efforts moving forward."

Among other duties, Golden has been charged with leading the effort to define the strategic direction of the branch campus looking ahead five to ten years.

"Part of our analysis will include consideration of new program offerings," said Golden. "But any new program development will depend on discussions with faculty at both the branch and main campuses. Some options receiving attention at the outset include providing a more flexible business program, expanding opportunities for teacher education and providing new arts and science programs."

Golden also sees his role as helping to clarify the offerings and opportunities that SUNY Plattsburgh can provide to students in the region.

"We want to be sure that the local community understands SUNY Plattsburgh's role at ACC's Regional Higher Education Center," Golden said. "Through SUNY Plattsburgh's programs here, students can receive a bachelor's degree and expand their educational and career horizons. We are very upbeat about the future of this region and our role in it."

Golden received his bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan and his master's and Ph.D. from the University of Rochester. Aside from his work at SUNY Plattsburgh, he has taught or served in an administrative role at Rochester Institute of Technology, Shippensburg University in Pennsylvania, and Keene State College in New Hampshire.

Golden is a member of the executive board of the Granville Rotary. He and his wife, Linda, reside in Hebron, N.Y.