All College meeting addressed Hudson Valley’s efforts

Hunter Wallace
News Editor

During the semi-annual All College Meeting that was held last week, President Drew Matonak addressed students and faculty on the state of the college and revealed ideas past and present.

The meeting began with Matonak welcoming Student Senate President Nathanael Savasta and then Vice President Thomas Nevins to the stage, where they spoke of what they do, why they like Hudson Valley and what they plan to do during their terms.

Matonak then began sharing information with the audience.

SUNY

“First, this spring, the SUNY Board of Trustees appointed Dr. Kristina Johnson as the system’s 13th Chancellor. Dr. Johnson is a former Johns Hopkins University Provost, Duke University Dean of the Pratt School of Engineering and U.S. Under Secretary of Energy, as well as a member of both the National Academy of Engineers and the Inventors Hall of Fame. She [also] helped create the technology behind 3D glasses!”

Matonak added that Dr. Johnson began her new career earlier this month, and Hudson Valley will soon see how she influences the SUNY system.

Presidential Search

“To recap, our search firm, Isaacson Miller, held meetings with members of the campus community in May to solicit input from faculty, staff and students. More than one hundred individuals participated in those meetings, and I thank you for taking part and sharing your feedback on the college and the leadership attributes you expect in a new president. At this point, I understand that the process is going smoothly, and I expect we will hear more from Chairman Kelleher in the coming months.”

Excelsior Scholarship

The president continued by talking about the Excelsior Scholarship, or the state-funded program that allows students from families earning less than $100,000 per year to attend an SUNY college, free of charge.

“To date, 395 Hudson Valley students have received the award, and we expect to see that number rise as more individuals learn of the scholarship and have more time to apply. Also, family income eligibility will rise in coming years, increasing to $110,000 in 2018 and reaching $125,000 in 2019.”

College Suites

Matonak then brought up the College Suites at Hudson Valley.

“The $24 million student housing community at the top of Morrison Avenue now has more than 250 student tenants from across New York and also from Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Ohio, Maryland, North Carolina, Florida, Texas and even international students from Africa and Europe.”

New Programs

The next topic was new degree programs and how they impact the college.

“In academics, this year we launched new degree and certificate programs in Cybersecurity and Community Health Navigation,” Matonak said. “These new programs were created and implemented to fill a workforce demand in information technology, criminal justice and healthcare in our region. With their addition, I’m proud to say that Hudson Valley now offers 86 academic programs, 24 of which are offered in an online format.”

UAlbany Transfer Agreement and SUNY Cobbleskill B.B.A.

Matonak later mentioned that, since last spring, Hudson Valley nows offers a comprehensive transfer agreement with the University at Albany — one of Hudson Valley’s more than 250 national transfer agreements — which accounts for 34 programs and also emphasizes the fact that it is Hudson Valley’s primary transfer destination.

Gene F. Haas Center for Advanced Manufacturing (CAMS)

The president continued by speaking of the planned CAMS building.

“Fundraising continues for the Gene F. Haas Center for Advanced Manufacturing Skills, our new $14.5 million workforce training facility planned along South Road. When completed, CAMS will allow us to double enrollment in the college’s Advanced Manufacturing Technology program and address the shortage of skilled craftspeople in that industry.”

Matonak added that, to date, the college Foundation has secured nearly $3 million and continues to pursue additional support from the state and federal government, and it has also applied for $3 million in Upstate Revitalization funding, through the Capital Region Economic Development Council. On Oct. 20, the Foundation will host its annual gala at the Franklin Plaza to raise funds for CAMS, and the college hopes to break ground with more resources next spring.

New Website and Technology

Matonak stated that coding on the backend of the college’s new mobile-responsive website is beginning and the finished design should be complete after the New Year. The school will also be working on several projects, including upgrading the campus Wi-Fi network, installing new computers that use Windows 10 and Office 2016 and the implementation of self-service password resets.

Closing

Matonak concluded the meeting by thanking the entire college community.
“In closing, I want to extend my thanks to the entire college community for the work you do every day; your devotion to this college and our students is evident in our classrooms and labs, our hallways and study areas, our offices and advisement centers and, indeed, all around campus.”