|
Post by sbu79 on Jul 3, 2014 9:11:30 GMT -5
Welcome 1973, we need more folks like you who are committed to Bonas and are not afraid to objectively review Sr. Margaret and her Fort Duquesne cliche. Please tell us you are not up to your old tricks of creating, and posting, under multiple aliases again.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 3, 2014 9:53:10 GMT -5
I withdraw my criticism. Sorry for expressing my opinion. Apparently my expectation that an important letter of this nature would be carefully crafted was out of line. I will now return to the shadows. Thanks for the kind welcome.
|
|
|
Post by Pinnum on Jul 3, 2014 10:22:52 GMT -5
Sr. Margaret's salary is paid to her order OSF, if my recollection of financial events of the last decade is correct. She does not personally receive the salary. It is still a substantial university expense. So her tenure can not be objectively evaluated because............................... The records I have seen have had the figure at under $20k and I have never seen any "substantial expense" in 990 disclosure forms for the services. Objective? Even if the school is paying market value, I have seen nothing to think she has not performed well.
|
|
|
Post by class70 on Jul 3, 2014 10:59:32 GMT -5
I wish the financial challenges that lie ahead would be an occasion for us to come together to seek solutions rather than to look for a scapegoat. I do not have close observation of management but have the impression that Sister Margaret is a credible spokesman for SBU and an inspiration to the students. We have a board of very experienced business minds and they seem to have made prudent decisions. When I read that the administration is concerned about maintaining their credit rating, I surmise they are being proactive in their discussions with their investment banker and the rating agency. The fact that they're retrenching now shows they are not sailing blindly into the storm. We all know that last year's freshman class was smaller than desired and this year's is again light. The problems are known and solutions are being sought. We're playing it close to the vest and looking for answers. My only recommendation is that the administration actively seek the advice and support of the entire SBU community, but they seem intent on doing exactly that.
|
|
poot
New Member
Posts: 13
|
Post by poot on Jul 3, 2014 17:26:21 GMT -5
Hilbert is a two year college on a aging Buffalo area suburban campus with outmoded infrastructure, with very limited endowment funds on hand. Bluntly put, this is a personal rescue operation without any benefit for the SBU community. A merger would be a huge financial and operational burden on our community. A burden we do not desire or need, especially after our President's letter outlining extreme austerity measures. Time to move on and concentrate on our own house, instead of wasting university funds on chasing merger fantasies. Firstdev, you are woefully misinformed. SBU has less than twice the students as Hilbert, but 3 times the faculty, and like many struggling small private institutions, has been heavily discounting its tuition in order to woo students to a remote, dated campus. Add to this untenable reality a desire to maintain D1 status despite the fact that it is bankrupting the institution, and the case can be made that Hilbert is rescuing SBU. No doubt, SBU is a great school with a wonderful history and community, and Hilbert pales in comparison in some ways, but pride and yearning are blinding folks like you to the fact that the landscape of higher education has changed and fielding a winning basketball team is no longer a panacea for the institution's financial woes.
|
|
|
Post by route16 on Jul 3, 2014 17:38:41 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by jh on Jul 3, 2014 20:02:23 GMT -5
I am definitely open to an expansion into Hilbert (I got my SBU MBA thru there) however its surprising 2 key items have not been clearly defined yet - when it seems we are far along in the process:
1- Is this a merger or acquisition? what is the resulting name? I'm not a big fan of First Dev but his point is key on this A Saint Bona alum would never tolerate a name change - a Duquesne grad might because its not her alma mater If no new name - that has to be advertised ASAP. When I dont hear that - I get worried it could happen
2- What are the high level advantages/new majors that are expected by the new alignment ? - we have guessed on here but why would they not be shared - no details just high level concept
I'm a Bona grad twice - I want NO NO NO name change to the name on my diploma - period NONE and I expect all SBU alums agree!! Only an alum truly values that name and holds it sacred and no way want that decision made by anyone other than alums.
Anyone reading this that can answer these 2 concerns - please respond - love to read my concerns turned to 'no worries'
|
|
poot
New Member
Posts: 13
|
Post by poot on Jul 3, 2014 21:17:07 GMT -5
1- Is this a merger or acquisition? what is the resulting name? I'm not a big fan of First Dev but his point is key on this A Saint Bona alum would never tolerate a name change - a Duquesne grad might because its not her alma mater If no new name - that has to be advertised ASAP. When I dont hear that - I get worried it could happen 2- What are the high level advantages/new majors that are expected by the new alignment ? - we have guessed on here but why would they not be shared - no details just high level concept The "alliance" is somewhere in between a merger and acquisition. An acquisition would mean SBU buying out Hilbert and assuming all of its debts, but with the ability maintain its identity and board of trustees unencumbered by the needs/wishes of Hilbert, and sell off/end aspects they do not wish to maintain. A merger is a bit more egalitarian whereby a "new" institution is created, a new board is established with representation maintained by both institutions, and certain conditions established for decision making as as to avoid undermining the identity/integrity/viability of either institution. As it stands, the structure of the alliance is in keeping with a merger, but SBU will play a somewhat more dominant role - most notably with the "new" institution maintaining the Bonaventure name. D1 and D3 athletics can and do coexist (see Farleigh Dickinson). Regarding new programs/majors, it remains to be seen. Many small colleges have chased niche degree programs with little success (enrollment spreads across the programs rather than increasing). SBU's offerings are very bloated and is in the midst of eliminating some of them (teach-out). Hilbert is pretty lean and is primarily dependent on CJ for its enrollment - worked in the 1990s, but not now. Any new programs would take an infusion of cash, which will only be possible with steady enrollment growth. Regarding advantages - SBU gains access to a population who would like to attend SBU but doesn't want to dorm or commute to Olean; SBU students gain access to greater internship opportunities; SBU can restart its failing business model of high tuition/high discount rate that exacerbates the drain of D1 athletics. You may be surprised to know that, due to its discount rate, SBU's net tuition is lower than Hilbert's. As to Hilbert, the advantages are a little more obvious - name recognition/prestige; access to infrastructural assets (principally those associated with the bench science majors); broader base for recruitment (primarily due to the Bona name). Small private colleges are at risk of following the same path as companies like Sears due to alumni and faculty intransigence.
|
|
|
Post by jh on Jul 3, 2014 22:16:24 GMT -5
1- Is this a merger or acquisition? what is the resulting name? I'm not a big fan of First Dev but his point is key on this A Saint Bona alum would never tolerate a name change - a Duquesne grad might because its not her alma mater If no new name - that has to be advertised ASAP. When I dont hear that - I get worried it could happen 2- What are the high level advantages/new majors that are expected by the new alignment ? - we have guessed on here but why would they not be shared - no details just high level concept The "alliance" is somewhere in between a merger and acquisition. An acquisition would mean SBU buying out Hilbert and assuming all of its debts, but with the ability maintain its identity and board of trustees unencumbered by the needs/wishes of Hilbert, and sell off/end aspects they do not wish to maintain. A merger is a bit more egalitarian whereby a "new" institution is created, a new board is established with representation maintained by both institutions, and certain conditions established for decision making as as to avoid undermining the identity/integrity/viability of either institution. As it stands, the structure of the alliance is in keeping with a merger, but SBU will play a somewhat more dominant role - most notably with the "new" institution maintaining the Bonaventure name. D1 and D3 athletics can and do coexist (see Farleigh Dickinson). Regarding new programs/majors, it remains to be seen. Many small colleges have chased niche degree programs with little success (enrollment spreads across the programs rather than increasing). SBU's offerings are very bloated and is in the midst of eliminating some of them (teach-out). Hilbert is pretty lean and is primarily dependent on CJ for its enrollment - worked in the 1990s, but not now. Any new programs would take an infusion of cash, which will only be possible with steady enrollment growth. Regarding advantages - SBU gains access to a population who would like to attend SBU but doesn't want to dorm or commute to Olean; SBU students gain access to greater internship opportunities; SBU can restart its failing business model of high tuition/high discount rate that exacerbates the drain of D1 athletics. You may be surprised to know that, due to its discount rate, SBU's net tuition is lower than Hilbert's. As to Hilbert, the advantages are a little more obvious - name recognition/prestige; access to infrastructural assets (principally those associated with the bench science majors); broader base for recruitment (primarily due to the Bona name). Small private colleges are at risk of following the same path as companies like Sears due to alumni and faculty intransigence. Thank you - we keep our name - and no new majors. Not a single mention of any new majors in the medical/healthcare field ? or in homeland security? or white collar crime investigation?
|
|
poot
New Member
Posts: 13
|
Post by poot on Jul 3, 2014 22:28:55 GMT -5
Thank you - we keep our name - and no new majors. Not a single mention of any new majors in the medical/healthcare field ? or in homeland security? or white collar crime investigation? Those are certainly possibilities
|
|
|
Post by Pinnum on Jul 4, 2014 1:06:49 GMT -5
Those are certainly possibilities Please none of the latter! They are the new criminal justice majors just used as a ploy to get tuition dollars. I was a consultant for DHS, ICE, SEVP, and others and I can tell you that it won't be a high return for students. Think about what they will be teaching in the curriculm. It reminds me a lot of Sports Management majors, another major designed only for tuition dollars with a lot of industry professionals not giving it much respect. Interestingly, the one major that would most benefit kids wanting to take any of those career paths would be computer science. I am going to stop myself before this becomes a rant but SBU should NOT be looking to add 'trendy' majors. (Send via mobile)
|
|
poot
New Member
Posts: 13
|
Post by poot on Jul 4, 2014 7:31:13 GMT -5
Please none of the latter! They are the new criminal justice majors just used as a ploy to get tuition dollars. I was a consultant for DHS, ICE, SEVP, and others and I can tell you that it won't be a high return for students. Think about what they will be teaching in the curriculm. It reminds me a lot of Sports Management majors, another major designed only for tuition dollars with a lot of industry professionals not giving it much respect. I couldn't agree more
|
|
|
Post by firstdev on Jul 4, 2014 7:59:41 GMT -5
Poot - You are like the British Army in the colonies - you see the world upside down. Hilbert is struggling financially. Its endowment of is roughly one tenth of Bonas, its campus is outmoded (no modernization plan is in the planning stages, most of its students are on the associate degree path, and its President is a good friend of Sr. Margaret's). There are no upside benefits to Bonas in an operational sense, financial sense, or academic sense other than those already contained in our current working arrangement for grad level courses at the Hilbert Campus. For Bonas to take on the Hilbert responsibilities during this time of college fiscal stress would be the pinnacle of irresponsible conduct on the part of our President, conduct that needs to reined in immediately. This entire ill planned and poor policy direction is based on a personal relationship between the two Presidents, and does not meet the needs of beloved Bonas. If she can not place our university above all, then she needs to be terminated by the Board of Trustees asap. Personal agendas have no place in our collective or in this university's planning process. This university is a unique institution located on one of most beautiful campuses in America, with a dedicated faculty, offering an outstanding and affordable private Catholic education, with a super strong sense of community. If she feels this is somehow a detriment, then she needs to resign, and move on. Maybe the presidency of Hilbert is open. Does Bonas need to offer more and diverse majors and grad programs, yes it does. There is a topic we can all comment on, but lets put the fait accompli of a merger with Hilbert to bed right now. It is a wrongheaded plan, and will do immense damage to our sterling reputation, and to our storied traditions. By the way our frosh enrollment is up nearly 10% from last year (and the final figures are not yet in), due to the extremely hard work by our admissions/recruitment staff and yet no mention of this very positive work by our president in her doom letter (or as cynics would call it her Hilbert magic bullet set up letter). Pax
|
|
|
Post by firstdev on Jul 4, 2014 8:04:06 GMT -5
Sorry for the typo it should read "is of".
|
|
|
Post by thesenator on Jul 4, 2014 8:17:18 GMT -5
it is a worthwhile read...includes specific numbers that i think many on this board would find interesting/informative...
|
|