Administrative News

Stony Brook University is bracing for a second cut in its state support after the New York State budget was reduced sharply this summer. This cut, which comes in the wake of a smaller cut in the spring, strains Stony Brook’s ability to maintain its core academic programs.

The SUNY senior system administration is working on a deal with the state government that will ensure money generated from special revenue funds – which will be frozen under a recent state-mandated expenditure cap – will not be tapped by the state at the end of 2008-09 fiscal year, a Stony Brook University official said today.

President Shirley Strum Kenny has not been directly addressed by those who signed the Stony Brook University faculty petition declaring a loss of confidence in her leadership, a university official wrote in an e-mail. Kenny also does not foresee any direct resource conflicts between the College of Arts and Sciences and the new university programs.

Stony Brook University’s academic programs could face an unprecedented $20 million state budget cut, according to university officials at yesterday’s town hall meeting. The cut would come from both taxes and—for the first time—a state spending cap on special university revenues.

An online petition criticizing the leadership of Stony Brook President Shirley Strum Kenny has received 90 electronic signatures of tenured and tenure-track faculty at the university.

The petition, at least a week old, reads as follows:

The next time you park illegally on campus don’t expect to brush off the cost of the ticket. With parking fines scheduled to increase this November, and in some cases double, the casual accumulation of parking tickets in exchange for closer parking spots is looking a lot less appealing.

Stony Brook has developed a text and voice messaging alert system, instructional signs and a siren on top of the Frank Melville Jr. Library, according to university officials.

President Shirley Strum Kenny headed Stony Brook University’s 50th Anniversary Convocation on the Staller Center's main stage Sept. 19 proclaiming, "This year promises to be the best yet."

Stony Brook Southampton campus welcomed its first classes, with 150 freshmen, this fall. But rather than standing on its own, some students claim that it is only serving as a temporary home for future Stony Brook University students because it is a "backdoor" for applicants not accepted to the main campus.

President Shirley Strum Kenny addressed a group of about thirty members of the campus community Sept. 12 at a public hearing at the Charles B. Wang Center to discuss the latest draft of the university's next five-year plan.

Many Stony Brook officials were reluctant to talk about the circumstances around the publishing of 90,000 records containing personal information to the web, though more details are slowly emerging.

The personal information of 90,000 people in a Stony Brook University database was accidentally posted to Google left there until it was discovered almost two weeks later.

After serving as provost of Stony Brook University for almost ten years, Robert McGrath is resigning his position to continue his work at the Brookhaven National Lab as co-manager.

In an effort to accomodate the waves of incoming and returning students, Stony Brook is in the process of building a new 172-bed facility in the West Apartments. Construction began in mid-March and the new building will be named Building I when it opens in August of next year, said Louis Rispoli, director of facilities design and construction.

A $64.50 increase in fees was announced today by the office of the vice president for student affairs, Peter Baigent.
The athletic, health, and technology fees are each to be increased less than $10, largely in line with inflation.
The majority of the increase-- $40-- is proposed to be added to the transportation fee.