SUNY Orange requests personnel changes, reports midyear budget shortfall and enrollment gains

Dr. Christine Young, president of Orange County Community College, asked the Education and Economic Development Committee on Feb. 20 to approve several staffing changes and delivered a midyear update on enrollment, contracts and capital projects.

The committee approved three personnel requests related to temporary and permanent staffing. Two of the approved items were described as legislative requests. First, the college asked to amend Act 23 of 1992 to change the auxiliary (temporary) appointment limit from an annual maximum of 520 hours to a weekly maximum of no more than 19 hours and to allow starting pay “no more than $3 more than the presiding minimum wage,” per the request presented by Dr. Young. The committee moved, seconded and voted in favor; the motion passed. The transcript records the motion and passage but does not identify the mover and seconder by full name in the meeting record provided.

The second approved personnel item reclassified a grounds/maintenance position to provide flexibility at the Newburgh campus; the item was presented as an effort to combine grounds duties with routine building maintenance for a vacant position. Committee members voted in favor and the motion passed.

The third approved action created one principal payroll clerk (grade 9) at $25.37 per hour or $52,772.94 annually, to align an existing, antiquated “payroll specialist” title with current job classifications in anticipation of an upcoming retirement. Dr. Young told the committee the college may not immediately fill the position depending on implementation of a new human resources information and payroll system. The motion passed unanimously, according to the meeting record.

In a midyear financial update, Paul G. Martin, vice president for administration and finance, told the committee SUNY Orange was roughly $333,000 behind budget five months into the fiscal year and that, if current trends hold, the college is projecting a $1.2 million use of fund balance versus the $880,000 expected when the budget was adopted. Martin attributed much of the variance to an unbudgeted capital safety project (a speaker system replacement) of about $200,000 and to lower-than-budgeted full-time equivalent (FTE) student counts (spring FTE reported at 4.2% growth versus a budgeted 6% increase). He said some offsets — $97,000 in other revenues and benefits savings — reduce the gap and that college leadership expects to work toward narrowing the difference as the year continues.

Dr. Young highlighted enrollment and program developments. She said this was “the ninth, consecutive semester where we have seen a bump” and credited program mix, marketing and supports for the increase. She described expansion plans for high-demand health programs: moving the radiologic technology (Rad Tech) program from Middletown to the Newburgh campus would permit an increase from 48 to 72 seats and allow equipment upgrades; she said the college has secured about $260,000 from a Mother Cabrini grant and is seeking additional support from the Dyson Foundation to fund the move and expansion. She also noted 100% first-attempt licensure pass rates for recent Rad Tech and dental hygiene graduating classes.

Dr. Young and Martin reviewed capital projects funded by ARPA and the college’s operating budget: roof and envelope restoration at Morrison Hall (tile manufacturing delays have resolved, with work expected to finish in mid-March), Horton Hall roof work (materials ordered; installation to begin in March), and a consolidated two-year camera/security upgrade across campuses (most Middletown cameras installed; Newburgh installation under way). Martin said bids for Morrison Hall and Horton Hall came in under budget, which allowed HVAC upgrades in Larson Hall.

Dr. Young also announced a tentative five-year agreement with the faculty association; details will be provided to the legislature next month. She asked the committee to support continued state operational aid advocacy, and to note several upcoming college anniversary events in May and June.

Questions from legislators touched on program capacity, licensure counts, and the timing of planned hires and system implementations. The transcript does not record roll-call vote tallies by name for the personnel motions; the record shows the motions were adopted and, where specified, passed unanimously.

Ending: The committee accepted the college’s personnel requests and information items and moved on to other agenda items. Dr. Young and Paul Martin said they would return with contract details, budget projections and additional documentation as projects and negotiations advance.