On the state budget front, Provost Thomas Headrick conceded that, even if a best-case scenario plays out in Albany, UB is likely facing a cut of some $7 million in 1996-97. To close part of that gap, Headrick is hopeful that the state legislature will finally approve campus-based tuition. "If the legislature supports differential tuition," Headrick said, "some or all of that gap could be filled by that tuition differential." He estimated that an increment of between $300 and $500, over and above any statewide tuition increase, could be needed.

Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education Nicolas Goodman told FSEC members that 3,760 students, 28.4 percent of UB's 13,229 full-time undergraduate students, were placed on academic probation following the posting of fall grades. In fact, if it weren't for some late grade submissions and a computer glitch, about 150 students would have been dismissed from the university for academic reasons, Goodman added. The students had been on academic probation for three semesters, he explained. If notices could have been sent out in time, those students would not have been allowed to register for the next semester.

Earning a 2.0 or lower QPA, failing to complete 75 percent of the courses for which a student registers, falling below full-time status or failing to be accepted into a major department by junior year are all factors that could land a UB undergrad on the "not in good academic standing" list, under a policy passed last spring by the Faculty Senate and implemented over the summer.

Losing "good academic standing" status could mean the loss of extracurricular activities, student governance positions, residence hall activities and, possibly, intercollegiate athletic eligibility, said Goodman. However, Goodman said he felt that academic probation should be viewed as a signal to get help rather than as a penalty.

Anatomical Sciences Professor Herbert Schuel called the numbers "a source of embarrassment." Goodman responded that they are simply a reflection of the institution's high standards. Engineering Professor Dennis Malone agreed with Goodman, explaining that "to lower your standards because you feel too many students don't meet them, simply undercuts your standards."

Goodman also announced plans to beef up awareness on campus of UB 's policy on academic integrity, noting that some cases of cheating may go undetected or unreported. He unveiled a draft statement on academic integrity, which declares that "by placing their name on academic work, students certify the originality of all work not otherwise (cited)." The FSEC voted approval of the statement and Goodmansaid that a campaign was being planned to promote awareness of the policy campuswide.

In other business, Vice President for University Advancement and Development Ronald Stein showed off several recently produced 30-second promotional spots for television, featuring such UB alums as Warnaco Corp. CEO Linda Wachner and CNN White House Correspondent Wolf Blitzer, and updated FSEC members on plans for a major capital campaign.

A recently completed needs survey, titled "The Next Level," identified wish-lists across the university of more than $437 million. Endowed chairs, interdisciplinary centers, scholarships and research headed the lists.

The development department has studied the potential donor pool, identifying more than 5,000 alumni with a net worth of more than $1 million, including 60 who are worth more than $10 million. Stein explained that he and his staff of school-based development officers have been in communication with many of these alumni to determine whether a successful campaign could be waged to raise a significant amount of money for the university.

While encouraged by the results seen so far, Stein said a final decision on whether to wage an actual capital campaign won't be made until April. However, a first-ever faculty-staff solicitation will be implemented this spring, with a single mailing to the homes of employees, offering a chance to make a payroll deduction gift to UB. Most other SUNY campuses have some sort of solicitation, Stein said.