Letter to the College Community
September 2007
Dear Colleagues, Students, and Friends,
As the academic year gets under way, I look forward to seeing you again on campus after what I trust was a restful and enjoyable summer.
Many of you attended the Stated Meeting of the Faculty. I spoke about students and about student-oriented priorities for the year ahead and took occasion to recognize members of the faculty and of the staff who distinguished themselves last year. I also said that I would use this medium to bring you up to date on issues that affect us all: enrollment this fall; the college budget; and the state of campus construction.
Fall Enrollment
At this point, with final figures still pending, total enrollment stands at 15,572, up by 2 percent from this time a year ago. Over the last five years, enrollment in our undergraduate division has grown steadily, and we see an increase again this year. The freshman class is at 1,315, with another 1,705 coming in as transfer students. This ratio of freshmen to transfers is of long standing.
As you know, graduate enrollment has been on the decline. While, in the aggregate, the numbers are still down, we are seeing a welcome increase in the number of new graduate students, up to 998 from 875, where it was at this time a year ago. Total graduate enrollment stands at 3,230, as compared with last year's 3,435.
The incoming students fill the void left by those who graduated in the academic year 2006-2007. The College awarded 1,994 bachelors degrees and 1,327 masters degrees and advanced certificates -- a total of 3,321. Of these, 67 students were inducted into Phi Beta Kappa. Others qualified for Psi Chi, the national honor society in psychology; Upsilon Pi Epsilon, the national honor society for the computing sciences; the National Student Speech, Language, and Hearing Association; and the Golden Key International Honour Society. In all, more than 800 of our graduating students received stipends in the form of memorial scholarships, class and named scholarships, prizes, and awards.
College Budget
This year's budget allocation totals $101,210,300, significantly larger than last year. The increase stems, in part, from collective bargaining and, in part, from the University's ongoing investment program, the so-called COMPACT. In keeping with established practice, the College must itself raise much of that allocation: through tuition and fees, $61,875,000 (or 61%) and, through philanthropy and productivity savings, another $1,525,100.
The COMPACT, coming up to its third iteration, has added $6.3 million in additional funds to the College ($3.5 million in 2007-08 alone) to underwrite initiatives in academic affairs, student services, informational technology, and facilities maintenance. In the last two years, COMPACT funds have enabled us, among other things, to hire new faculty, improve undergraduate and graduate programs, foster a research environment, strengthen advising and counseling, and support student activities. These priorities were developed in consultation with faculty governance committees and elected student leaders.
Campus Construction
Construction is underway in various corners, most strikingly of course on the west campus. A number of projects are underway; others will begin this year; still others are on the drawing board. They represent our commitment to upgrading our facilities and building a 21st-century campus.
A. West Quad. Visible to all are the developments in the West Quad project. The steel framework of early summer is now covered by massive pre cast brick facings, and work is going on behind them as floors are poured and utilities installed. The interior work will accelerate once the building is totally enclosed. We expect the quadrangle to be restored, together with the Roosevelt and James façades, by next summer. The schedule calls for the entire project to be done about a year from now, when the new building will be open and alive with the business of the College in serving students. It will realize, at long last, the vision set out for the campus by architect Randolph Evans more than seventy years ago.
B. Student Center. Over the summer, under the direction of its new director, Ryan Buck, and with the help of our Facilities staff, the Student Center has been getting a face lift. Public spaces on the first floor and in the basement have been painted and refurbished. Work continues on the top two floors, which will be transformed into state of the art conference and meeting facilities. Scheduled to be completed early this fall, these new facilities, along with a new rooftop deck, will offer unparalleled service to the college and the community. The building is also being made waterproof: loose terra cotta panels, parapets, and flashing will be replaced, coping stones will be removed and reset, and the brick façade will be caulked and pointed. We hope that, by spring, the ugly sidewalk shed will be but a memory.
C. Science Complex. The College has set out on the modernization of its science facilities, first Roosevelt, then Ingersoll. The first step is the transformation of Roosevelt into an ultra modern science building with 21st century laboratories for research and teaching. During spring and summer, members of the science faculty and of the administration met with architects to identify and refine programmatic needs -- teaching and research laboratories, classrooms, faculty offices, a vivarium, supplies and material storage, and more. That phase is about done, and the architects have the necessary information to prepare a schematic design, which lays out floor plans that will accommodate in much greater detail the spaces identified during programming.
D. Performing Arts Center. The project marries new construction with the renovation and modernization of our outdated performing arts facilities (Whitman and Gershwin). Between the success of our historic fundraising campaign and a generous commitment by the University, we have a total of $75 million in private and public funds for construction. A working committee composed of performing arts faculty has met with members of an experienced architectural firm and produced the broad outlines of a plan for the building (though recent changes in the scope of the project will require that discussion continues this fall).
E. Minor Projects. (1) James Hall roof. A roof notorious for its leaks will be replaced this year. Specifications are complete and, once a contractor has been hired, work will commence next spring. (2) Cafeteria. The painting, retiling, and refurnishing are done, both in the cafeteria and in the servery. What remains are the installation of new partitions to create distinct dining areas and the repair or replacement of the wooden booths and counters. The former is scheduled for this year, the latter at a quiet time some time later.
In all these construction projects, we have enjoyed exceptional levels of support from our alumni, from the University, and from the State, the City Council, and the Borough President, support we gratefully acknowledge.
I will keep you informed of developments and, as always, look forward to your comments and suggestions.
With my best wishes for the semester,
Sincerely,
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Christoph M. Kimmich
President
