University Life Council
Minutes of Meeting
October 17, 2005
LC 31J
Present:
Guest:
Joanne Razzano, Michael Christakis, Roslyn Jefferson, Sumedha Tagare, John Murphy,
Dan Smith, Ben Shaw, Martin Hildebrand, Bob Yagelski, Bill Reese, Jennifer StromerGalley, Candace Merbler, and Joan Savitt (Chair)
John Rohrbaugh, Director, Office of International Education
Meeting commenced at 3:33 p.m.
Chair’s Report
Chair Savitt welcomed everyone to the meeting and briefly reviewed the Senate meeting report
regarding the suspension of classes in observance of religious holidays. Chair Savitt indicated that
ULC would revisit this discussion after the guest speaker.
John Rohrbaugh – Director, Office of International Education -- 3:40 p.m.
John Rohrbaugh was invited to speak about some issues affecting the Office of International Education
(OIE). He provided handouts of the OIE’s organizational chart and discussed the goals and services of
OIE.
Within OIE, there are three units: Study Abroad and Exchanges; International Student Services (which
supports international students); and the Intensive English Language Program (supporting international
students who are here to learn English with the intent on pursuing higher education opportunities in the
United States).
There are approximately 1200 international students/visitors who pass through UAlbany each year.
International Student Services (ISS) socializes, acclimates and educates all of these students on a
$6,000 annual program budget.
ISS is generally affiliated with Student Affairs on other campuses. At UAlbany, it is part of Academic
Affairs.
John Murphy, Associate Vice President for Student Affairs, stated that UAlbany’s Division of Student
Affairs works with the Student Association, the student government structure that maintains a $1.7
million dollar budget that is distributed towards programming and among student-run organizations.
International students can affiliate with the many cultural groups that fall under the Student
Association umbrella.
ULC members asked what the demographic breakdown as for international students. J. Rohrbaugh
stated that approximately 400 are undergraduates and 800 are graduate students. He also pointed out
that in terms of percentages, UAlbany is about the same as other institutions and that the majority of
students are from Asia (referred to handout providing percentage breakdown by country).
J. Rohrbaugh emphasized that OIE and ISS needs to be an advocate for international students, similar
to how Disabled Student Services is an advocate for their students, and UAlbany needs to recognize
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the special needs of international students. He then reviewed some of the issues that have come to the
attention of ISS.
Food: Selection needs to be more appropriate and reasonable given the food needs of international
students. Religious needs/beliefs should also be taken into consideration
Health Services: The University requires American students to show evidence of standard
immunizations and to present their health records. For international students, providing health and
immunization records can be more difficult. In certain instances, i.e., the tuberculosis test, some
international students have had difficulty getting the test completed.
John Murphy stated that the international students have done a great job getting immunizations and
that currently only 20 were not in compliance with the required New York State Public Health Law
2165 requiring all students to provide the University proof of immunization against measles, mumps
and rubella.
J. Rohrbaugh suggested that it might be helpful if there were an organized transportation system to
help students get to clinics to get the immunizations as the immunizations can not be done at the
University Health Center. Other members said that the student health center has students immunized
through Albany County clinics. J. Murphy stated that in September, the University hosted a
tuberculosis and measles, mumps and rubella clinic on campus.
ULC members suggested working with Albany County to bring immunization clinics to campus but
also discussed that it may be cost prohibitive for Albany County to support. J. Rohrbaugh stated that
they have looked at what Union College (Schenectady County) and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
(Rensselaer County) do for immunizations but that compared to them, UAlbany has many more
international students and little resources. Candace Merbler inquired about what other University
Centers are doing and J. Rohrbaugh answered that other counties (where the University Centers are
located) may be more supportive. Members suggested researching what the University at Buffalo
protocols are, given they have a larger population of international students.
J. Rohrbaugh addressed a final issue of concern to ISS, residential facilities. He explained that visa
restrictions allow international students to arrive only four weeks before the start of the semester,
which is usually in the beginning of August when hotel prices are at a premium in the area. The timing
of their arrival poses financial challenges and social challenges such as having no phone access, being
unfamiliar with the area and neighborhoods and, essentially, needing to find an apartment and furnish
it on their own.
ULC members inquired as to whether this was OIE’s responsibility and if there was someone within
OIE who could assist students with acclimating and adjusting to the area. J. Rohrbaugh suggested that
Off-Campus Housing may be able to provide better assistance with the housing challenge. J.
Rohrbaugh also reviewed the impact that holiday breaks have on international students because there is
limited space in on-campus housing to give to students who have no place to go for prolonged holiday
recesses. He specifically referenced the practice of placing students in the basement of Alumni Quad
for three weeks during winter recess when the downtown sidewalks are especially dark and empty of
other students.
J. Rohrbaugh inquired as to how a request for assistance would be submitted, given that ISS falls under
Academic Affairs but some of the needs his unit needs help with falls under Student Affairs (i.e.
housing, food services etc.).
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John Murphy, Associate Vice President for Student Affairs, explained that although Residential Life is
part of Student Affairs, services such as food are part of Finance and Business (two different vice
presidential units). J. Murphy further explained that there was an awareness regarding the food options
and attempts were being made to diversify offerings and provide more selections. He also provided
details on the situation regarding housing over holiday recesses and that one of the main issues is that
the University can not leave buildings unsecured and that students staying over break must be housed
together. He suggested that it might be possible to consider special interest housing for international
students as a housing option.
Chair Savitt asked how many international students live on campus. J. Rohrbaugh approximated that
200 freshmen and sophomores, 50-100 graduates, 75 exchange and 50 Intensive English Language
students live on campus. He also pointed out that it is important for international students to live with
American students and in some instances it is required as part of the program.
Michael Christakis, Assistant Director of Residential Life, explained that Empire Commons
accommodates international students through the recesses and also addressed the Alumni Quad
housing situation stating that if you have students with certain needs, then you provide specific
programming for them. He also explained that the off-campus housing office is more of a website than
an actual office.
ULC members discussed the situation with freshmen being placed on Alumni in triples if they were
“walk-ins” (i.e. did not register for housing but showed up on campus needing a place to stay).
Members asked who is in the residence halls during the summer and Michael Christakis explained that
residence halls have only 10-month staff and the University can not place people in halls to reside if
there are no staff to oversee and maintain the buildings.
Chair Savitt stated that OIE staff focuses on documentation, paperwork, counseling, advisement and
working with students who have special needs. It can be hard to find an on-campus point of support.
Sumedha Tagare stated that the GSO works with student groups and partners up with them to support
international students, such as offering to give them a place to stay until they find an apartment. Chair
Savitt said that while the “kindness of strangers” is appreciated, this issue should also be looked at
institutionally.
J. Rohrbaugh emphasized the need to provide stronger community links and hoped that on-campus
initiatives could be set up that would encourage faculty/staff to get more involved (i.e. hosting holiday
dinners, road trips etc.).
In closing, J. Rohrbaugh emphasized that the biggest issue for international students is when they first
arrive in the country.
Update on Religious Holidays Issue – 4:22 p.m.
Chair Savitt stated that the first meeting of the Senate devoted most of its time to the religious holiday
issue. The Senate did not vote because of the following reasons:
1. No bill was presented
2. Students have not had a chance to speak to the issue
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The GSO is scheduled to meet on November 11 to discuss the religious holiday issues. Additionally, a
query of the faculty brought up some suggestions including reabsorbing students into other sessions, if
they miss class due to observance of a religious holiday and/or having classes on Saturdays and
Sundays.
The question was raised as to whether ULC wants to bring its bill back to the table. Members
discussed that any Senator and even the University Planning and Policy Council (UPC) could bring it
back.
ULC members were adamant that they did not want to spend another year on this topic. There was
significant discussion regarding this issue.
Dan Smith and Jennifer Stromer-Galley will attend the November 11, GSO meeting (on the East
Campus). J. Stromer-Galley suggested that the GSO be presented with ULC’s position. It was
emphasized that graduate students are an important audience because they are both students and
teachers and they could provide a gauge on what might come if the classes are not suspended for any
religious holidays.
Members discussed faculty feedback and if ULC should solicit additional input. Ideas such as creating
a survey were suggested and the emphasis was that this feedback should be more quantitative in nature
than qualitative. Members also stated that when feedback was solicited the first time around, the
committee heard from many faculty who wanted to get rid of the holidays but did not hear as much
from the other side.
John Murphy stated that a legal opinion was needed and referenced the previous ULC meeting in
which John Reilly, University Legal Counsel, stated that the non-secular reason to suspend classes
must be evident.
Members discussed letting the current bill “die” and return to the status quo (recognizing only the
major Jewish and Christian holidays). Concerns regarding how this would be received by University
administrators, faculty and students was discussed. Members emphasized the significant population of
Jewish students and that, as a whole, they have an organized, strong voice.
Members pointed out that there is legal rationalization to support the bill that the ULC pushed forward
-- there is no administrative problem with Muslim holidays.
Bob Yagelski stated that the bill recommending recognition of no holidays has legal justification (with
John Reilly’s support) and agrees with those members who believe the ULC created a strong bill and
wants to move it forward.
J. Stromer-Galley said that the bill the ULC voted on was created after a lot of information gathering
and giving. She proposed that the no holiday bill be moved forward. Michael Christakis seconded that
motion. No further action was taken with the motion.
Members discussed University recruitment issues that may arise over not suspending classes for
certain religious holidays.
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Dan Smith reviewed a handout showing statistics on the religious demographic breakdown in New
York State and nationally which suggested that a high percentage of Muslims reside in New York
State. Michael Christakis, referring to a Chronicle of Higher Education survey, stated that the
Chronicle survey did not reflect those numbers.
Ben Shaw asked what the ULC’s Charge is and who the ULC represents. Chair Savitt explained that
the ULC represents the entire University community (students and faculty) and needs to see all points
of view.
J. Stromer-Galley emphasized again that the ULC should not spend another year on this issue and
asked if we should be factoring in recruitment, politics and retention in making a decision on which
way to go.
Chair Savitt raised the concern regarding safety issues with students identifying themselves as Muslim.
Members discussed the attendance policy for classes and how it affected other student populations
going or not going to class prior to the recognition of the Muslim holidays. The Committee concurred
that it depended on the professor/class policy.
Roslyn Jefferson suggested asking someone for Admissions what their position was on this issue and
John Murphy reasoned that Admissions would probably say that we compete with other major
Universities that do recognize the holidays and that it would affect UAlbany’s recruitment.
Candace Merbler suggested that surveying the faculty could raise some additional issues regarding
teaching obligations and union relations.
Chair Savitt stated that the Senate is reflecting on this and if a bill is not brought forward then the
Senate will probably not address it. If a bill is brought forward, they will vote. Members agreed that
they should consider the political ramifications with regards to whatever bill is moved forward.
Jennifer Stromer-Galley motioned that this issue be tabled until the next meeting to allow members to
reflect on the topic.
Chair Savitt moved all other agenda items to the next meeting.
Martin Hildebrand briefly reviewed Athletics Committee minutes and copies of the meetings notes
were distributed.
Next Meeting is on November 14, 2005 at 3:30. Room location is LC 31J.
Meeting was adjourned at 5:10 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Nancy Lauricella, Recording Secretary
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