President Halstead outlines plans
By Amanda Seef
NEWS EDITOR

President John Halstead presented The Matrix: an integrated approach to planning and accountability, Monday, March 3 to the college community at the College Senate meeting.

“During the past year, we have collectively accomplished much as a college,” Halstead wrote. “Student success remains — as it always will — central to our mission at The College at Brockport.”

The Matrix integrates a plethora of initiatives, key planning efforts and nine goals that Halstead outlined at Convocation in 2005.

The Matrix states the nine goals, and the steps that have been taken to ensure these objectives are held accountable in the correct timeline.

As a portion of the first step, Halstead hoped to achieve $1 million in research dollars and $5.5 million in external funding by 2010. The status of the project is currently ongoing, but during the 2006-07, faculty were awarded grants totaling slightly more than $5 million. Of those, 34 were research grants which totaled more than $1 million.

Improving the retention and graduation rates of undergraduate first- year students is a high priority. The retention rate for first year students is more than 80 percent, keeping more than 70 percent of students at Brockport for two years. For freshman, four-year graduation rate rose from 36.8 to 41.1 percent.

There have been a number of inititives that have maintained and enhanced the relations between international and Equal Oppurtunity Programs.

Diversity has been a running issue, from developing a strategic plan for diversity within The Matrix.
More than $20,000 of permanent funding has been provided for diversity programs. They are also in the process of hiring a Diversity Coordinator. Revisions of the position requirements have been sent to the president’s cabinet and diversity committee. There have been several College-wide events to celebrate diversity, including the Martin Luther King, Jr. Lecture in early February, as well as an International Students Festival toward the end of March.

Budget cuts in the 2002-03 academic year cost positions for many, and as resources become available, Brockport is establishing priority funding to begin buying staff positions that were originally lost. Funding in the 2007-08 budget was allocated for new positions, with $351,000 allocated from permanent dollars. More than $207,000 in temporary funds were provided for the 2007-08 temporary replacements for staff retirements.

Renovations in lower quad residence halls is planned, including a renovation of Thompson and MacVicar. Bids to renovate Thompson will be placed in August 2008, with the construction taking place from winter 2008 to summer 2009. MacVicar is also planned to be renovated, being completed by the summer of 2010. Benedict is planned to be renovated, and windows in the high rises are also planned to be replaced.

The MetroCenter has been utilized more recently, including hosting the Writer’s Voice, ADP speakers and hosting the Major Donor Dinner.

The plans for the 25th Scholars Day are in full swing, which will be held April 9, 2008 across campus. Last year, 349 people presented or chaired sessions. Three-hundred of the presenters were students.

Finally, The Matrix outlines the awards and recognition events held across campus. The Spring Honors and Awards Ceremony celebrates student succcess with numerous awards.

The Matrix can be downloaded with a Net ID and password on Brockport’s home page.

(Ed. Note — This article originally ran in the March 7 Weekend Issue)

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