The College opened the 213th year with a convocation on Tuesday, Sept. 4, 2007 that was all about momentum and the “miles to go before we sleep.”
President Stephen C. Ainlay reflected on some of Union’s accomplishments during his inaugural year, and urged the campus community to take on the challenges and opportunities ahead.
“I believe we are building institutional momentum,” Ainlay said. “But a claim of momentum is not a claim that we’ve arrived. We have ‘promises to keep,’ as Robert Frost wrote, and ‘miles to go before we sleep.’”
To read the text of President Ainlay’s address, please visit here.
The convocation opened with welcoming remarks from Frank L. Messa ’73, chairman of the Board of Trustees; Prof. Linda N. Stanhope, chair of the Faculty Executive Committee; and Jessica L. Rudin ’08, president of the Student Forum.
Therese A. McCarty, dean of faculty and vice president for academic affairs, presented the Stillman Prize for Excellence in Teaching to Rebecca A. Surman, associate professor of physics and astronomy. To see story, please visit here.
Other finalists for the award were Robert Lauzon, Biology; Lori Jo Marso, Political Science and Women’s and Gender Studies; and Eshragh Motahar, Economics.
McCarty also recognized the 636 students who made the Dean’s List last year. Their names are on a plaque that will be displayed in Reamer Campus Center.
Heidi Ching ’10 received the Hollander Musician Prize, and performed Chromatic Fantasy in D Minor by J.S. Bach. To see story, please visit here.
“I am pleased to say that we strengthened our institutional position during the 2006-07 academic year and we have the opportunity to advance Union even more in the academic year that lies ahead,” Ainlay said in his address to conclude the convocation.
He welcomed new faculty, staff and administrators saying, “our success in attracting these individuals indicates that Union is doing well.” He also thanked those who participated in searches: “There are few activities more important to institutions. Your success is our collective success.”
The president thanked those who contributed last year to the development of the Strategic Plan: “You’ve given us a critical tool that will allow us to attend to our deficiencies, focus our energies, and hone our educational mission.” He also urged participation in the ongoing meetings to discuss implementation.
Ainlay cited success in a number of areas:
- Alumni participation in College events was at an all-time high. More than 1,500 came to ReUnion. Attendance at club events around the country increased between 50 and 100 percent over past years.
- Annual giving increased nearly $550,000 over last year, more than double the goal, and there was a 1 percent increase in alumni participation, to 41 percent.
- The endowment is ranked among the top of all institutions, at $369 million as of the August audit.
- Admissions received a record number of applications, up by more than 500, and for the first time in history, there are more women than men in the first-year class. Of the class of 563, 17 percent are students of color.
- The College opened the Taylor Music Center and the Center for Bioengineering and Computational Biology. “These two facilities symbolize the seriousness of our academic mission as well as the distinctive range of studies that are possible at Union College,” the president said.
Ainlay listed a number of projects and changes this fall. Among them, the newly-renovated Social Sciences Building with two electronic classrooms; a new Minerva Office headed by Tom McEvoy, who will focus full-time on supporting the Minervas; a Thursday “free lunch” program at the Minervas each Thursday from noon to 2 p.m.; a new fireplace in Reamer Campus Center, made possible by the Class of 2007, and a local food kiosk that complements the popular Ozone Café.
Among changes to the College’s environmental commitments, there is a new “Eco-House” at the Corner of Seward and Roger Hull Place with rooftop solar panels, water- and electricity-saving devices and “green” furniture. A new position in Facilities will work to expand the recycling program. The College will contract for wind power to account for 15 percent of the total purchased. Ainlay has signed the American College and University Presidential Climate Commitment, joining with 300 other presidents to immediately reduce environmental impact and develop a multi-year plan to do more.
The president spoke of the opportunity to further integrate liberal arts and engineering, a central differentiating element in the strategic plan. The Mellon Foundation has supplied an award that will cover a conference to develop integrative models. “We have an opportunity to make an enormous contribution here if we seize the leadership role we’ve been offered,” he said. “This will undoubtedly be a theme you will hear more about in the upcoming year.”
Of progress in making Union more diverse and inclusive, Ainlay reported that 17 percent of the incoming class are students of color, that the College welcomes it second group of Posse students with the Class of 2011, and that more than 30 students come from countries around the globe. “We must do everything we can to ensure that these students experience Union College as their College,” he said.
Ainlay announced a number of measures aimed at promoting diversity and inclusiveness: the appointment of a special assistant to the President, the continuation of the Presidential Series on Diversity, and conferences that discuss best practices.
“My point here is that we have resources – both internal and external – for making this a better, more inclusive place,” he said. “But, as with other areas I’ve mentioned, our success depends on the commitment and action of us all.”