GCC Board of Trustees Approves 2018-2019 Budget

Press Release:

Genesee Community College’s Board of Trustees, meeting at the Batavia Campus for its regular monthly meeting, approved a $40.15 million budget for the 2018-2019 fiscal year beginning September 1. The budget is down $770,000, or a decrease of about 2% from the current $40.92 million budget.

President James M. Sunser thanked members of the staff for their thoughtful and cautious approach to spending, and for helping reach 2018-2019 budget targets. “It’s rare that the budget for a new fiscal year is lower than the prior fiscal year,” Dr. Sunser said. “This budget is a continuation of our tradition of careful stewardship of the resources entrusted to us,” Dr. Sunser said.

The budget includes:

Maintenance of existing programs, with no increases predicted in the number of faculty and staff members.

A modest tuition increase. Full-time students will pay an additional $50 per semester, or a total of $2,075 per semester in 2018-2019.

Anticipated support from Genesee County, the College’s sponsor, of $2.586 million.

Support from other counties across New York State totaling $9.392 million.

New York State aid of $10.237 million, reflecting an increase of $100 per full-time-equivalent student. The State aid figure is still substantially less than the one-third state funding anticipated when the State University of New York was created in the 1950s.

A cost per full-time-equivalent student that is almost 5% less than the New York State community college average.
The College’s 2018-2019 budget must be approved by the Genesee County Legislature. The budget will be forwarded to the State University of New York for approval this summer.

In other business this evening, the Board of Trustees:

• Approved minor curriculum changes to the College’s Entrepreneurship A.A.S. degree program and Entrepreneurship Certificate program. The proposed changes will now be submitted to the State University of New York for review.
• Heard President Sunser report that Emma L. Hawke is joining the College’s staff as a Wyoming County Campus Center associate. She holds B.A. and M.S. degrees from Buffalo State College. She has held positions at Buffalo State and Canisius College. Ms. Hawke is a resident of Clarence.
• Heard Mary Jo Whitman, Art Gallery Coordinator, offer a preview of upcoming Roz Steiner Art Gallery exhibits to the Board. Running from August 23 to September 21 is Dion Hitchings’ Portraits on Trash. The artist uses children’s art supplies and consumer boxes to impart deep-seated messages. Ryan Gustman’s photography will be the focal point of an exhibit running from October 4 to November 2. Mr. Gustman is known for his compelling and stark portraits of abandoned buildings. Next, Emily Kenas will exhibit Assemblage from November 13 to December 14. Assemblage consists of pieces that are not quite paintings and not quite sculpture, but embody elements of each, using unusual combinations of materials. Finding Amal is next, from January 22 to February 22. This exhibit features universal messages created in urban calligraphy combining three languages: English, Arabic and Bangla.
• Heard Finance Committee Chair Peter R. Call report that the Committee reviewed the College’s third quarter financial statements. Mr. Call said that income and expenses are running according to plan. The Board approved the third-quarter statements.
• Heard Nominating Committee Chair Robert L. Boyce report that the Committee has endorsed the following candidates for Board of Trustees officer positions for the 2018-2019 year: Donna M. Ferry, Darien, Chair; Peter R. Call, Batavia, Vice Chair; Jacalyn F. Whiting, LeRoy, Secretary. The Board will accept nominations at its July 2018 annual meeting.
• Heard Virginia M. Taylor, recently retired Vice President for Student and Enrollment Services, reported that the College has received 349 applications for summer study. Dr. Taylor said that an increase in applications is likely over the next several weeks, as area high school students submit applications for the Genesee Promise Plus program. Genesee Promise Plus provides scholarship funding for one or two summer courses to area high school students.
• Heard President Sunser report that new external mandates include a New York State reporting requirement for interim statistics on sexual harassment, domestic abuse and other forms of sexual violence. The report, due June 15, is an outgrowth of New York State’s “Enough is Enough” law. Dr. Sunser also said that SUNY is attempting to standardize sexual harassment policies across all 64 campuses.