University at Buffalo - The State University of New York

Published: April 10, 2008

By KEVING FRYLING
Reporter Staff Writer

President John B. Simpson opened Tuesday’s first-ever Campus Conversation with a review of the “big picture” in terms of what’s at stake when it comes to achieving UB’s goal of becoming one of the nation’s premier public research universities.

David Sepulveda, media installation technician with Academic Services, UB Information Technology, offers feedback after the Campus Conversation.
PHOTO: NANCY J. PARISI

“I would argue that the future of this university is important to the future, in general, of public higher education in the United States and, therefore, to the future of the United States as an economic entity,” Simpson told the approximately 2,300 members of the campus community who attended the conversation in Alumni Arena. He noted that public research universities ensure that the U.S. “will have a seat at the 21st century’s economic table.”

Continuing progress on the three major initiatives of UB 2020 illustrates that the university is squarely in control of the most important aspects of its growth and development—regardless of such short-term complications as a troubled state budget and recent leadership changes in Albany, he added, pointing out that ongoing improvements in academic excellence, academic support services and the campus master planning process are all within the university’s “locus of control.”

“We now have a substantial amount of accomplishment related to putting our UB 2020 plan in place,” said Simpson. “It’s measurable and fairly easy to discern in all three of these areas.”

Regarding academics, Simpson pointed to the identification of UB’s eight “strategic strengths”—the unique combination of experts and facilities across various disciplines that separates UB from other institutions—that were pinpointed in order to focus a limited pool of resources on areas where UB has the greatest chance of achieving significant breakthroughs in research and scholarship. In the past four years, Simpson said, UB has hired nearly 300 new faculty members, many of whom are specialists in these strategic strength areas, as well as created special programs to further attract top experts and graduate students. He also noted the creation of a University Honors College and Undergraduate Academies focusing on research and civic engagement.

Also significant are initiatives taking place in the area of academic support services, including human resources and information technology, he said. Merging UB’s myriad phone systems into a single, VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) service provider and negotiating a single-provider contract with Dell Inc. to standardize computer workstations are saving the university nearly $3 million in annual costs and freeing up funds for reinvestment in the university’s primary mission, he said. Other major initiatives include the creation of the Wellness & Work/Life Balance unit in Human Resources and ongoing efforts related to making UB a “great place to work,” he said. (See story on Page 3 for details of the “Great Place to Work” initiative)

In terms of the campus master planning process, Simpson said the second of four public forums relating to UB’s comprehensive physical plan will take place on April 22, and he also pointed to ongoing renovations in Acheson and Allen halls on the South Campus, which will create a new home for the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences and a “front door” to UB for the local community, respectively. In response to a question later in the program, Simpson talked about plans to construct a new building adjacent to the UB Downtown Gateway, formerly the M. Wile building at 77 Goodell St., for UB’s Educational Opportunity Center, an action that he said will speak louder than words about the university’s commitment to the community.

By growing into a stronger—and over time larger—university, Simpson said UB will provide students with a more robust education; compete more successfully with other institutions, including fellow members of the prestigious Association of American Universities, for faculty, staff and students; and contribute more significantly to the economy of Western New York and beyond.

“I hope you’re taking an increasing amount of pride and interest in your university and its success,” said Simpson, noting that the mission of all universities, including UB, is ultimately about “serving the greater good.” “You can yourself work at making the University at Buffalo a more inviting, a more reasonable, welcoming place, in everything you do day to day in your official—as well as unofficial—capacity.”

In a short address preceding Simpson’s remarks, Turner Gill, UB head football coach, also spoke about the importance of the work of each member of the university community.

“You’re part of the UB playing field and the game plan to earn this university the biggest honors of all,” said Gill, who last fall led the UB Bulls to a share of the Mid-American Conference East Division title. “We are all part of this great vision that is carrying us toward the goal of becoming one of the country’s premier public universities and each of us has a talent that we contribute to the big picture here at UB.”

The key to UB’s future success lies in the belief of the faculty and staff in the university’s ability to live up to its potential, added Gill, who says that in his opinion the interlocking letters of the UB logo represent the words “you believe.”

“In building a Bulls football team that Buffalo could believe in,” he said, “it was important to have support from the fans who shared our vision and passion for the future. Now that same type of teamwork applies to the vision at hand. Each and every one of us has a role to play, and the great effort we give will contribute to the success of where we work and where we live.”

Following Simpson’s remarks, faculty and staff were encouraged to continue the conversation by visiting several kiosk-like stations dispersed around the floor of Alumni Arena, where they could talk to senior members of the UB administration, obtain additional information and offer feedback. The topics covered in these information areas were “Academic Excellence,” which focused on the strategic strengths of UB 2020 and undergraduate, graduate and international education; “Building UB,” which covered the comprehensive physical plan; “Creating a Great Place to Work,” which addressed such topics as health and wellness and volunteer and community service opportunities; “Internal Communication”; and the “UB Believers” advocacy program.