Revised


M E M O R A N D U M


								May 10, 2012


To:		Members of the Board of Trustees

From:		Nancy L. Zimpher, Chancellor

Subject:	Appointment of Dr. Meg Benke as Acting President – State University of New York Empire State College

Action Requested

      The proposed resolution appoints Dr. Meg Benke as Acting President of the State University of New York Empire State College.  

Resolution

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

	Resolved that Dr. Meg Benke be, and hereby is, appointed Acting President at the State University of New York Empire State College effective September 1, 2012, and that her  service as Acting President may continue until such time as the Board of Trustees, by resolution, appoints a successor; and, be it further 

	Resolved that Dr. Benke will be compensated at an annual salary of $205,000, effective September 1, 2012, and that as Acting President she may be granted use of a State vehicle.   	
	
Background

      I recommend that Dr. Meg Benke be appointed Acting President of the State University of New York Empire State College.  As permitted in the discretion of the Chancellor under the Presidential Search Guidelines, the Chancellor has agreed to grant Dr. Benke a waiver, so that she will be allowed to submit an application as a candidate for the permanent position of President if she so chooses.  The Chancellor also anticipates that between now and September 1, 2012 that Dr. Benke will serve as Officer-in-Charge at any times that the current President is not readily available to perform the duties of that office, and in the Chancellor’s discretion Dr. Benke may be granted an extra service pay stipend for such service between now and that date.

      A highly respected member of the Empire State College Community, Dr. Benke has been serving most recently as Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs.  However, she has served the College since 1991 as Associate Provost, Dean of the Center for Distance Learning, Associate Dean and Senior Academic Advisor.   As Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Benke serves as the college chief academic officer, is a member of the President’s executive management team, and assumes the responsibilities of chief executive officer in the President’s absence.

	Prior to her arrival at Empire State College, Dr. Benke had served as Director of Programs and Communication at the Hudson Mohawk Association of Colleges and Universities in Hudson, NY from 1990-91; Assistant Professor at Antioch College in Yellow Springs Ohio from 1988-90; Assistant Dean of Students at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio from 1986-88; and Assistant to the Dean from 1982-86.

	Dr. Benke has won numerous awards and published numerous book chapters and articles.  She received her bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Youngtown State University in 1979; her Master of Education degree in Student Personnel from Ohio University in 1982; and her Doctor of Philosophy in Education from Ohio University in 1986.

	A copy of Dr. Benke’s resume is attached.   

		
      



Board Resolution	-2-	May 10, 2012