Patricia Hill Williams
2021
Greetings Colleagues,
It continues to be an honor and privilege for me to serve in the position as the ACT President after being re-elected at the 2021 ACT Conference. We have all learned to adjust to a very challenging environment and to appreciate many things we once took for granted.
ACT continues to be dedicated to the State University system in which we serve and to our commitment to continue moving forward in a positive, safe, and healthy manner during a global pandemic. We truly appreciate the ongoing support of the SUNY Board of Trustees Chairman, Dr. Merryl H. Tisch, and SUNY Interim Chancellor Deborah F. Stanley.
As valuable advocates and influencers for the State University and our individual campuses, communication is even more important today to our students, faculty, staff and communities. ACT members are in the position to serve as timely and knowledgeable voices for our campuses and strongly encourage our members to communicate updates to the organization so accomplishments can be shared widely.
We encourage Council members to volunteer and support ACT committees and to continue sharing your ideas. The ACT Executive Committee meets regularly throughout the year along with our other committees.
The next ACT Annual Conference, including our annual Scholarship Ceremony, will be October 14-16, 2022 at Turning Stone Resort in Verona, New York. We look forward to meeting with all of our ACT members in-person again.
We believe that ACT members represent exceptional resources and skill sets that are relevant to our mission. With the support of our very capable members, we will continue to step up and do our very best.
Sincerely,
Patricia Hill Williams
A.C.T. President
2019
It is truly an honor to serve as the newly elected ACT President. The recent conference in Cooperstown was another great opportunity to interact with friends and SUNY colleagues, as well as, to receive new information on the status of the State University, its campuses and our role as advocates. As an alumna of the SUNY system and a former campus staff member, I am always pleased to step up and serve as an advocate. Together, as Council members and College trustees, we will continue to build upon the vision set forth by Chancellor Kristina Johnson, our 13th Chancellor.
As ACT members we represent a unique body of diverse professionals with unique skill sets and resources that are relevant to achieving the goals set forth in SUNY's mission. As valuable influencers, we are also committed to doing our best on behalf of our students, campuses and for the future of one of the best systems of higher education in the country. We will continue to be actively involved in keeping pace through ACT conferences, workshops and other resources. Our responsibility as ACT is also to be a supportive entity in maintaining SUNY's impact on the global stage.
On behalf of your ACT leadership team, we welcome your support, your presence and your voices as we continue to move forward.
Sincerely,
Patricia Hill Williams
A.C.T. President
2017
Vita DeMarchi
Dear ACT Members,
Thank you for attending this year’s ACT annual meeting. We know that ACT members have demanding schedules and serving as council members and college trustees requires an additional time commitment – so thank you. The goal for our annual meetings is always to help you become even better advocates for public higher education by providing you with pertinent information on issues facing the broader spectrum of SUNY campuses and creating the opportunities for you to share experiences with one other. To that end, we are confident that this year’s “Tool Box Panels” will be helpful.
It is a year of change at SUNY as we welcome Dr. Kristina Johnson as the system’s thirteenth chancellor. Leadership change offers opportunity for ACT and all of SUNY’s colleges and universities to demonstrate who we are, what we do best, how we contribute to the broader SUNY mission, and to consider our vision for the future. We look forward to the coming years and learning together what it takes to keep SUNY strong and relevant in the world.
The challenges in public higher education are complex and require a multidiscipline approach by diverse individuals to find solutions that make a difference in the lives of our students and the world they enter. As ACT members, we have a responsibility to be part of those solution discussions and to influence responsible change. In many ways the members of ACT are underutilized resources to SUNY and their colleges and universities. The diversity and professional mix of people comprising ACT is remarkable in that together we bring real-world business and public service experiences and opportunities to campuses. We are needed now more than ever to support public higher education and bring our expertise to the table. It is time for Council members and Trustees to be vocal advocates ACT-ing on behalf of their colleges’ and universities’ needs, as well as contributing to the collective strength of SUNY.
If you have ideas and interest in setting future ACT agenda’s, please be vocal and involved in the coming year. Your voice matters and can guide our direction. Then in turn, we can help guide the future of SUNY and make certain our colleges and universities are places that shape the future of the world.
Green regards,
Vita DeMarchi
A.C.T. President
2016
Dear A.C.T. Members,
Being an active member of A.C.T. has provided me a broadened perspective of SUNY that has supported my role at SUNY ESF as a College Trustee Board member and Chair. Being able to receive updates and insights from SUNY on pertinent issues, from financial allocations and budgets to legislative process and advocacy, has made me a more productive and informed Board member. Engaging in conversations with fellow Council members from other colleges is one of the best ways to exchange experiences, lessons learned, and recognize that diversity is SUNY’s strength. We are all contributors in the largest higher education system in the United States, together.
As Chancellor Zimpher said, "SUNY is really good, and we want to be simply the best." Being the best means all hands and minds are engaged to take SUNY to the highest level. This is where you, individually and as a group, have direct impact through informed college engagement. A.C.T. is here to support Council and Trustee members in achieving their best through our annual conference and other outreach venues.
The recent SUNYCON held in NYC was an inspiring event, please visit the web site to view the plenary sessions and to hear the Chancellor’s opening remarks. The theme, Building a New Business Model for the Academy, emphasizes that business as usual in higher education is not an option for the future. It is time to brainstorm on ways to be Simply the Best.
At Your Service,
Vita DeMarchi
A.C.T. President
March 2015
Dear A.C.T. Members,
Friday’s A.C.T. Annual Breakfast was a resounding success – well-attended, lots of networking, meaningful exchange with students, and gratitude and inspiration from both Chancellor Zimpher and Chairman McCall. Hart Lounge was packed for the breakfast and so was the Egg for the Chancellor’s State of the University Address. Her presentation was nothing short of out-of-the-ballpark-visionary. If you missed it, here’s the link to watch it; if you were there, you will want to watch it again.
A higher degree of ACCESS through EARLY ADVISEMENT, EARLY ENGAGEMENT and DIVERSITY; a higher degree of COMPLETION using Remediation, “Finish in Four” and Open SUNY; and a higher degree of SUCCESS through Master Innovators and SUNY WORKS will be supported by an unprecedented Investment Fund of working dollars. SUNY is already the largest system in the country, and these efforts will make it the undisputed best in class. College Council Members and Trustees will play a critical role on their campuses and as an association in supporting these initiatives and taking SUNY to this new level. There are exciting and challenging times ahead.
Best regards,
G. Angela Henry
President
December 2014
Dear Colleagues,
We have just concluded the 2014 Annual A.C.T. Conference, where we enjoyed informative panels and presentations from campus representatives and SUNY administration. With a better understanding of priorities and timetables on both the legislative and System sides, there are great opportunities for A.C.T. to have a positive influence on funding, especially for rational tuition and capital projects. What about a lobby day after the Chancellor's State of the State address in January? Let me know your thoughts.
This weekend was also a wonderful time of camaraderie and sharing. We were fortunate to have Senator Betty Little join us and share useful legislative information. I learned about a number of exciting, Council-driven programs happening around the state. I am interested to hear from you about the idea of next year's conference including formal presentations from members on their Councils' practices and initiatives.
In the meantime, I am delighted that this missive is reaching you through the A.C.T. Listserv that the membership requested. Thanks go out to Teare VanDenburgh, Jim Campbell and their team for creating it. This listserv is your vehicle for getting information, answers and feedback from your A.C.T. Colleagues. Wondering what sexual assault policies other councils are implementing? You can send a query through the listserv. Publishing your annual report or announcing your new president? Share it with all of us through the listserv. As a matter of fact, Oswego's report is linked below, hot off the press. Also below are presentations from the conference.
Some final words of additional thanks:
View photos of the ACT member group.
All the best wishes for the weeks ahead, and let me hear from you GraceAngelaHenry@gmail.com - January will be here before we know it!
Warm regards,
G. Angela Henry, President A.C.T.