The newly installed president of Union College says his priority is to maintain “an environment where innovators are formed.”
Stephen C. Ainlay took office July 1, and Wednesday offered observations from his first week on the job, answering questions about the role of Union in the community and in higher education.
Ainlay will never be seen as a clone of Roger Hull. Hull, who led Union for 15 years until his retirement in June, made a name in the city with economic engagement, including roles in the revitalization of Seward Place, the formation of Schenectady 2000 and the Metroplex Development Authority, and the creation of College Park Inn.
Ainlay's focus is academic. While he supports the programs Hull launched, and said he is open to new ideas, his own vision is the college campus as a nexus of business and culture, and as the source of future innovators and leaders.
“Union has produced innovators, students who have gone on to produce enormous contributions to their field of study,” he said. “One of my first jobs is to continue that.”
Ainlay comes to Schenectady after nearly a quarter-century at College of Holy Cross, as both a professor and administrator. His most recent post was as vice president for academic affairs and dean of the college. His background is in the field of sociology, where he holds a Ph.D. and has written extensively.
Ainlay said Union's niche among its competitors depends on its ability to offer an education that will prepare students to excel universally, regardless of their undergraduate course of study.
“At the end of the day, what makes Union different is that it creates an educational environment that combines respect for tradition with helping students to think imaginatively,” Ainlay said.
He does endorse Hull's legacy, which grew from the premise that the fortunes of the college are tied to those of the city. Ainlay said he is excited by Union's “well developed tradition of partnering,” and believes there is much untapped potential for crossovers between students and Capital Region business.
“Higher education needs to be better at partnering with other institutions and also with cities and towns,” he said.
Unlike Hull, he does not brim with practical projects.
Like Hull, he's not ready to write a check for city services.
That would come in the form of a payment in lieu of taxes, a “PILOT,” to cover police and fire services the college receives.
The city has suggested this is worth hundreds of thousands of dollars annually, without success to date. The 10 schools in his longtime home of Worcester, Mass., did not pay PILOTs, he said; he described them as “not the way in which cities realize the best response from colleges and universities.”
“Two hundred million dollars is dumped into the economy because of Union,” he said, not including indirect revenue. “Union is already a major economic player.”
Beyond the contributions of Union's budget and the spending of its students and visiting parents, Ainlay said Union has a role in “working with the city to attract new businesses.”
He returns again to the vision of Union as a hub.
“Union is a cultural gem for the city of Schenectady,” he said. “We do have to find ways to make it known to businesses that we're here creating opportunities for employers.”
In that regard, Ainlay said, he supports initiatives like the USTART business incubator, and hopes to attract more Union students as entrepreneurs in the local economy.
He speaks enthusiastically about Union's programs, like the Minerva House system, which seeks to forge a greater link between the academic and social lives of students.
Even with regard to the burgeoning regional link to nanotechnology, Ainlay stays close to academics, identifying Union's role in its cross-disciplinary roots.
“Union is able to provide a work force that is able to assume a leadership role. I'm interested in training entrepreneurs, generally speaking. Whatever you're talking about, you need to be an entrepreneur to be successful.”