The FSA: Hudson Valley’s answer to expansion needs
Durgin McCue
Staff Writer
The Faculty Student Association is an not-for-profit 501(c)(3) corporation that holds substantial power at Hudson Valley. The FSA is separate from the administration, but runs many of the on-campus services provided to students such as food services and the Viking Cove bookstore.
“All of those fall under our umbrella,” said Ann Carrozza, executive director of the FSA, “We are hand in hand with the college; the reason we were formed was to do these things that are somewhat entrepreneurial in nature, and again to have the flexibility to do certain things that the college is not empowered to do.”
The reasoning for the existence of the FSA comes from legislation pertaining to community colleges in New York State, and many other SUNY community colleges has the same system. . “The purpose of it is to run the auxiliary services on campus,” said Carrozza. “There are certain things that community colleges are not empowered to do. For example they can’t buy or sell land … they can’t go out and get a major loan. And basically we have done those things.”.
Since 1953, the FSA has offered several amenities to students. The FSA runs the bookstore, the food services and vending machines, intercollegiate athletics, student activities, cultural affairs and contributes to the contract with the Capital District Transportation Authority which has recently been renegotiated and approved.
“Our day-care center over on Williams [Road] — the FSA built that,” said Carrozza. She also mentioned how the organization funded the parking garage. The five-level parking garage was completed the year after the height of campus enrollment — 2010 and was built to fit 750 vehicles.
According to the 2014-2015 budget, the organization holds a planned expenditure of nearly $10 million. The bookstore brings in over $5.5 million in revenue for the organization, making up a majority of it’s funding.
Student Activities is also governed by the FSA, with the $904,237 collected from the students activity fee accounting for nearly 10 percent of the organizations revenue in 2014-15.
The presence of the FSA is not always apparent, however those employed by the organization are sprinkled throughout the campus. The FSA budget for 2014-2015 allocates $119,726 for salaries also associated with student activities. As well as over $300,000 to pay for 150 positions associated with intercollegiate athletics: including coaches, security personnel, and student workers.
The FSA raised $1.3 million dollars for funding the athletic complex which was recently approved by the Governor’s budget.
“Our priorities are always to provide the services that we run to the best of our ability…to serve the faculty, the students,the staff, and be an asset to the college,” Carozza said with regards to how the organization approaches its role with students and faculty.