Road Map winning proposals announced

Binghamton University's Road Map Strategic Plan will be updated with six winning proposals selected this month. A total of 124 proposals were submitted by students, faculty and staff, and were required to address current and emerging needs within the Road Map's six strategic priorities. The selected proposals represent projects that are best situated to have a direct and meaningful effect on the University.

"I would like to thank the many members of the Binghamton University community who took time to submit carefully designed proposals that mesh with the spirit of the Road Map," Binghamton University President Harvey Stenger said. "The Road Map has served Binghamton well as a framework for strategic planning for more than a decade and an influx of new ideas ensure that the Road Map continues to support our students, faculty and staff."

The selected projects were awarded support of up to $75,000 of continuing funds and $200,000 in one-time funds.

Four student proposals were also accepted, with those projects ranging from creating a campus community garden to adding student ambassadors to the Voter Engagement Team.

"We faced several challenging decisions in selecting the winning proposals," Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Donald Hall said. "However, I think we were fortunate to receive so many interesting and innovative proposals, because this feedback is crucial in guiding the Road Map Steering Committee and will inform future initiatives. We sincerely appreciate the skill and ability of the members of our community in defining realistic and practical ways to improve the resources and support the University can provide."

About the projects

Strategic Priority 1: Creative Activities

Selected Proposal: Office of Professional Development in the Graduate School

A new Office of Professional Development (OPD) within the Graduate School will provide support for graduate students, postdoctorals and faculty. The OPD will build on the success of the Graduate Community of Scholars by expanding the breadth and frequency of professional development opportunities, offering career-directed explorations with alumni and partners in industry and working with the Office of Graduate Recruitment and Admissions to identify programs that may be decisive for prospective doctoral candidates. The new office will also work with the Division of Research to cultivate competitive external fellowship applications with the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health and other funding agencies as well as to develop and expand microcredential opportunities in collaboration with the Center for Learning and Teaching.

About the Road Map process

A call for Road Map proposals was sent to the campus community in January through Dateline, B-Line and the President's State of the University address. Road Map interns publicized the call for proposals through visual messaging screens across campus and on coffee cup sleeves. Submissions were due by Feb. 15, 2024, and were required to include a 300-word project description, short-, medium- and long-term goals and an estimated budget.

Road Map co-chairs distributed proposals to the strategic priority committees, which designed an evaluation process. The Faculty Senate Budget Review Committee and the Professional Staff Senate also reviewed proposals before President Harvey Stenger and Provost Donald Hall completed their review. Stenger and Hall took their recommendations to the Senior Officers Group and the Road Map co-chairs for final input.

More information about the Road Map is available online.

Professional development opportunities offered through the new office will energize its constituency and cultivate effective mentorship skills and establish effective leadership training programs.

This proposal, submitted by Psychology Professor and incoming Graduate School Dean Terry Deak, will make strides toward a main goal of SP1, increasing the University's number of doctoral graduates.

Strategic Priority 2: Learning Community

Selected Proposal: Expanded UNIV 101/103 course offerings

This project, submitted by Jeremy Toulon, director of Student Transition and Success, aims to support the success and retention of first-year students by expanding UNIV 101/103 courses. Additional instructors will be added to create 10 to 12 new sections, with an allocation of $2,000 per instructor. This will allow for smaller class sizes and more personalized support for first-year students. UNIV 101/103 are two-credit seminar courses for first-year students that are co-taught by faculty and staff. Courses include academic components and other topics related to new student transition.

Recent data indicates that 97% of students enrolled in fall 2023 UNIV 101/103 courses continued enrollment into spring 2024, demonstrating a correlation of the positive impact of these courses on student progression and retention.

Additionally, the offices of the Provost, the dean of Harpur College and the vice president for Student Affairs have been asked to fund five additional proposals from among those submitted to further improve first-year retention. These proposals will include new staff positions and communication tools to support at-risk students, financial literacy programming, the continuation of successful pilots in academic recovery and first-year summer workshops in chemistry and calculus.

Strategic Priority 3: Inclusive Campus

Selected Proposal: Male Scholars Initiative

A new project, shaped by effective models established by CUNY and the California State University system, will take an intrusive and holistic approach to supporting the academic success and sense of community for Binghamton University's at-risk male students. The initiative will support the hiring of a new full-time staff position who will serve as a mentor and coach to first-year men who are at high risk of leaving the University, as well as events and activities.

Submitted by Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Karen Jones, the Male Scholars Initiative will recruit broadly during student orientation and offer culturally centered mentoring, intrusive advising, programming, an alternative spring break program through International Student and Scholar Services and Alumni Engagement and an orientation and early arrival program to partner with Residential Life's Diversity Empowerment Education Program (DEEP).

Strategic Priority 4: Engagement

Selected Proposal: Community-Engaged Teaching and Research

The Center for Civic Engagement will continue a faculty grant program to provide support to community-engaged learning courses and research that follows on the success of previous Road Map funding. Faculty can apply to receive funding to cover expenses related to engaged teaching and research, such as student transportation, supplies and materials, stipends and speaker honoraria. Community organizations will also be eligible to receive funding in recognition of their contributions to student learning and faculty scholarship. A $1,000 stipend will be awarded to faculty developing and designating new community-engaged learning courses.

These efforts will be an important part of Binghamton's efforts to achieve Carnegie Community Engagement status by increasing the number of faculty participating in community-engaged scholarship and offering community-engaged learning courses, among other factors.

The University will continue its membership in the Engagement Scholarship Consortium, which provides access to professional development opportunities, awards and an annual conference to support faculty, staff and institutional commitment to community engagement.

This proposal was submitted by Alison Handy Twang, director of the Center for Civic Engagement.

Strategic Priority 5: Strategic Investments

Selected Proposal: Employee Engagement Specialist

The University will create a new position for an employee engagement specialist who will work collaboratively with departments including Human Resources, the Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, the Employee Assistance Program and Campus Recreation, as well as professional groups like Professional Staff Senate and the Faculty Senate Executive Committee. The specialist will facilitate the establishment and growth of affinity groups, coordinate with existing groups and departments to organize social events that foster interaction and work to better orient and acclimate new hires to the campus culture. A comprehensive integration of employee engagement initiatives into the University's strategic plan will be the long-term goal of this new position.

Sharon O'Neill, director of employee engagement and program innovation, submitted the proposal.

Dual career support will also be part of the duties for this new position, offering assistance to employees with a spouse or partner. A dedicated professional providing career coaching, resume development and networking, as well as interview practice and preparation, could increase Binghamton's attractiveness to prospective employees.

Strategic Priority 6: Internationalization

Selected Proposal: Global Learning for All

A scholarship to enhance the participation of students in education abroad will broaden involvement in study abroad and strengthen faculty-led international programs. Preference for participants will include, but not be limited to: Pell Grant recipients, students with financial need, first-generation students, students with disabilities, students registered with the Educational Opportunity Program or TRIO programs, students in majors with structured curricula that do not typically study abroad and students who have not previously traveled abroad.

Scholarship amounts with range from $1,500 to $5,000 based on recommendations from a committee led by the Office of International Education and Global Initiatives (IEGI), working collaboratively with offices across campus. These funds will supplement faculty-led program budgets, reducing the overall program cost to students. IEGI will also implement a passport fair to cover the cost of fees for students who are applying for passports for the first time.

The winning proposal for SP6 was submitted by Linda Torricelli, associate director of International Education and Global Initiatives.

Selected student proposals

Campus Community Garden, submitted by Lindsay Holland

The garden will work to support SP2, Learning Community, by facilitating student interactions, sharing healthy habits and cultural conversations about food. Students will also learn about nutrition, food production and sustainable gardening practices.

Social and Emotional Support for Health (SESH), submitted by Sayeem Hossain, Arifin Chowdhury and Bhavi Patel

These students have created a video that will raise awareness about the services that the University Counseling Center provides and will engage students who may benefit from its services. Supporting SP2, this proposal will allow for additional social media and marketing aimed at students who are looking to address their emotional well-being.

Voter Engagement Team Funding, submitted by Jessica Sung

A proposal for SP4 (Engagement) calls for bolstering the Center for Civic Engagement's Voter Engagement Team with additional ambassadors to target outreach in the School of Management, the Thomas J. Watson College of Engineering and Applied Science and among students of color. Survey data has indicated that students in these groups register to vote and vote at lower rates than other segments of the student population.

Crossing Borders: A Health Literacy Journey for International Students, submitted by Inijesu Taiwo

A workshop for international students will help empower them with essential knowledge and skills to navigate the healthcare system in the U.S. during their time as students. Supporting SP6 (Internationalization), the proposal will lean on staff from University offices and from off-campus healthcare providers to share advice and resources.

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