M E M O R A N D U M


							May 11, 2010


To:	Members of the Board of Trustees 	

From:	Nancy L. Zimpher, Chancellor

Subject:	Approval Appointment of Dr. Linda E. Jones as Unit Head/Associate Vice President for Statutory Affairs � the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University 

           I recommend that the Board of Trustees adopt the following resolution.

Whereas the State University of New York and Alfred University  entered into an agreement, dated February 11, 2009 (�Agreement�), relating to the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University,  which provides that �[t]he State University and Alfred University commit to a partnership based upon mutual respect, cooperation, and open and frequent communication in order to advance the interests of Alfred University and the College of Ceramics as academically and financially strong and viable institutions�; and
Whereas the Agreement specifies that the unit head of the NYSCC shall have the title �Associate Vice President for Statutory Affairs,� and shall be the State University�s representative at, and the chief administrative officer of, the College of Ceramics; and
Whereas the Agreement also specifies that the State University shall conduct a search for the unit head, at its sole cost, in which Alfred University shall participate, to fill this position, and the search, now concluded,  was conducted by a search committee comprised of representatives of Alfred University, the State University, the Governor�s Office, and the community; and

Whereas the President of Alfred University, Dr. Charles Edmondson, has appointed Dr. Linda Jones, a finalist candidate of the search committee, as unit head with the title  �Associate Vice President for Statutory Affairs�; and
Whereas pursuant to Education Law �355(1)(e), the appointment must be approved by the State University Board of Trustees; now, therefore be it
Resolved that the appointment of Dr. Linda E. Jones as Associate  Vice  President  for  Statutory  Affairs  at  the  New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University, at a State salary of $190,000, effective July 1, 2010, be, and hereby is, approved. 

Background

        I am pleased to recommend your approval of the appointment of Dr. Linda E. Jones as Associate Vice President for Statutory Affairs/Unit Head at the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University, effective July 1, 2010.  Dr. Jones will succeed Dr. William LaCourse, who has been serving in an interim capacity since March 2006.
        
        Dr. Jones will receive an annual State salary of $190,000 of which $150,000 will come from the State University and $40,000 from the annual allocation made directly to the College of Ceramics by the New York State Legislature.
        
        A search committee, chaired by President Charles Edmondson of Alfred University, and comprised of representatives of Alfred University, the State University, the Governor�s Office, and the community, conducted a national search that attracted strong candidates.  Dr. Jones was the unanimous choice of the search committee.
        
	Since 2005, Dr. Jones has been serving as the Hewlett Professor and Chair of Engineering, and Director of the Picker Engineering Program at Smith College.  The Picker Engineering Program, begun in 1999, emphasizes rigorous coursework across engineering subjects in a liberal arts context.  Dr. Jones� role as director of the Picker Engineering Program is to oversee and manage the sustainable growth of the nation�s first and only accredited engineering program at a women�s college.  During her tenure as Director, Smith College completed the construction of a new 140,000 square foot building for Engineering and Molecular Sciences.  Dr. Jones was involved in the fundraising for the building and the engineering equipment, as well as development of the building design.  In addition to bringing an unranked program to a national ranking of 17th as reported by �U.S. News and World Report,� she oversaw the establishment of a new engineering degree � B.A. in Engineering Arts.  In her position as chair of the Materials Science and Engineering Program, Dr. Jones coordinated the program�s accreditation, a process that the Picker Engineering Program also underwent.   

	Prior to Smith College, from 1991 - 2005, Dr. Jones served as a faculty member at the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University where she rose from Assistant Professor in Ceramic Engineering and Materials Science to Professor and Chair of the Materials Science and Engineering Program.  While at the College of Ceramics, Dr. Jones served as president of Alfred University�s Faculty Senate and a member of the University�s Strategic Planning Council.

	Dr. Jones has received numerous teaching honors and awards including the State University of New York Chancellor�s Award for Excellence in Teaching (1999); and the SUNY Research Foundation McMahon Teaching Award (1998, 2001, 2003) at the College of Ceramics for excellence in research and scholarship.
	
	Dr. Jones earned her B.S. degree in Chemistry from Mary Washington College and received her M.S. and Ph.D degrees in Fuel Science, Material Science and Engineering from The Pennsylvania State University.

        Dr. Jones has numerous publications and has given over 100 national and international presentations.  She is involved with many professional affiliations.  She currently serves on the Board of Directors of the American Ceramic Society, and the Picker Institute at Colgate University as well as on the Executive Committee of the American Carbon Society.    She is a member of the Chaired Professorship Committee at Smith College, and the Deans Advisory Board at Cal Poly � San Louis Obispo. 

	Pursuant to Education Law �355(1)(e), the State University Board of Trustees is authorized to approve the appointment of the unit head of each statutory college, including the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University.

	Like other statutory colleges, the College of Ceramics operates under the general supervision and control of the State University Trustees.  While many aspects of the administration of the College are vested in Alfred University as representative of the State University Trustees (such matters as curriculum, appointment of faculty, educational policies), the State University Trustees maintain supervision over budget requests and expenditures.  The unit head of the College serves as the representative of the State University Trustees at the campus.



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Board Resolution		May 11, 2010