College Council Meeting Minutes: October 3, 2025

Present 

  • Mili Makhijani, Chair
  • Dr. Nicolette Fiore-Lopez
  • Phillip Elliott
  • Martha Maffei
  • Theresa Regnante
  • Jason Sandoval

Call to Order/Welcome 

  • Chair Mili Makhijani called the College Council meeting to order at 12:30 p.m. on Friday. Acknowledging that everyone received a copy of the May 16, 2025, College Council meeting minutes. The chair called for a motion to approve the minutes. Dr. Fiore-Lopez motioned to accept, seconded by Ms. Martha Maffei. 

President’s Report

  • President Sams began his President’s Report by noting that he is unfortunately under the weather and unable to be at today’s meeting in person.
  • In his presentation, Dr. Sams discussed the following: New year, SUNY Update, Strategic Plan and the Upcoming Year.  
  • Chancellor’s Update
    • Litigation – no anticipatory compliance
    • Federal Budget (risk and recession measures), Grants and Contracts
    • House and Senate have partially restored dramatic cuts
    • Funding will continue to be lost or diminished for the foreseeable future
    • As of this summer, 84 SUNY awards, estimated at $32 M, were lost, 36 were related to DEI.
    • Locally, at Old Westbury, we lost two awards. Fortunately, we’ve been able to backfill the awards enabling the faculty researchers to continue their work.
    • New accountability metrics: a new expectation that states that a student graduating from our universities has to make more money than a high school graduate in the same position. 
      SUNY identified the top five programs that are at risk. Risk means that are graduates would be below what their high school counterparts would be making. Old Westbury came out really well in that treatment. Old Westbury received no red marks, meaning that none of our students, none of our programs, have students who are making less than their high school counterparts.
    • With the next tier, yellow, the only ones that Old Westbury received were due to $4,000 proximity in terms of the value.  
    • In conclusion, Old Westbury had two yellow and two green, meaning that in every category, our students are making more money than their high school counterparts. 
      New York State projects a decrease due to federal activity: $750 M this year, $3B next year, and more in the outer years. The state’s multi-billion-dollar cushion will dry up, and less funding is expected for funding overall. For SUNY in particular, we don’t expect any decreases and that the effort will be to sustain the budgetary measures.
    • Dr. Sams reminded all of the ongoing contract the state has with our largest union (UUP), and each year for us locally constitutes an additional million dollars and across the system about $110 million. If funding is not received for that, the expectation is that it will befall on the campuses.
    • Continuing to combat antisemitism and bias-related hostilities. This year, we began Title VI training for all student organizations as required by SUNY and reinforced our protest policy. 
      Recent DEI memo from the Department of Education, Dr. Sams noted that these are suggestions, not laws.
    • No change in DEI commitment from SUNY, and will move to remove race-based scholarships per OCR, which preceded this administration. Old Westbury has identified these scholarships, a total of 9 in which steps have been taken to remove them.
    • International Students: Monitoring, and Uncertain about the impact on enrollment
    • Undocumented Students: No ICE presence on campus, students and family members have been deported across the SUNY System. We maintain the practice that if we find ourselves talking to ICE, we will refer them to the University Police Department and the Office of General Counsel, and we will not intervene.
    • Four pieces of guidance from the SUNY system that are kind of shaping their work:
      • Greater focus on improving retention rates,
      • Greater focus on improving momentum towards graduation – constantly moving towards graduation, not becoming static in one place
      • Academic program accountability – want to ensure that our academic programs are returning on investment, enrollments are strong and that the right offering across our institutions.
      • Increased use of AI
  • Federal Shutdown
    • Minimal Impact, Pell – Maintained, VA benefits – Maintained, all depend on the length of time of the shutdown. SNAP should also not be impacted and should continue. No impact upon the state’s finances.
  • Strategic Plan:
    • Will be launched by the 22nd of this month.
    • We are in the final stages of having campus-wide listening sessions with three remaining.
    • The title of our plan is “Owning our Future Through Community, Excellence, Impact, and Distinction.
    • Dr. Sams then displayed the first page of the strategic plan that focuses on the first set of goals, which are around academic excellence and research.
    • The second page of the strategic plan, which focuses on innovation and creativity as well as the institutional resilience and external profile along with student and enrollment success.
    • Dr. Sams asked all to pay particular attention to the metrics and that the comment period is still open.
      • Council member Regnante asked Dr. Sams if race not being considered any longer with the scholarship is for the past or is that going forward? Dr. Sams replied yes and yes. Any scholarship, all of them are being grandfathered in. In our case, the five he had referred to are going back to globalize them and make them applicable to all students. Dr. Sams noted that you are able to talk about some niche activity, but you cannot have race and gender as part of the scholarship. Dr. Sams informed all that each scholarship comes with a covenant, which means that we would have to go back to those who originally funded, and sometimes the person is no longer alive.
      • Council member Regnante inquired if the restricted revenue available could be utilized. Dr. Terry said that this was possible in all but three cases. Council member Regnante mentioned that she will be willing to help the student(s) if they no longer fit the demographic within the scholarship. Dr. Terry notified all that we’re not allowed to advertise it.
    • Dr. Sams shared the roll out process for the Strategic Plan.
  • Top of Mind Items
    • Federal and State funding
    • Chaos and uncertainty: uncertainty among students, the ability to focus on educational enterprise, and the unforeseen intrusion by the federal government.
    • Morale – the national mood bleeding over to the campus community
    • Update: Ask the Chief of Staff and the Executive Director of HR:
      • Explore with leaders and managers:
      • Christmas break – remote work
      • Summer – 5 days of remote work
    • Vice President for Institutional Excellence (VPIE) – Dr. Sams introduced Elliott Dawes J.D. Elliott started on August 28, 2025, and will be responsible for pushing the strategic plan along, making sure we build greater and greater fidelity to the strategic plan while ensuring we remain compliant as an institution. Mr. Dawes will also oversee Title IX and Title VI.
      • Mr. Dawes also brings a legal mind to the Cabinet. Dr. Sams expressed the benefit of his legal acumen around the table to enable us to do the work within the lens at work.
  • As we speak:
    • Dr. Sams presented the OWWR (College Radio Station), which recently won a number of silver and gold slip man awards for their prowess in the radio space. 
      OWWR also launches World College Radio Day – 24-hour worldwide college radio day, one of only four schools within the U.S. to be asked to be a part of this day.
    • US News Rankings: #9 in Top Performers on Social Mobility in Regional Universities North, #13 in Top Public Schools in Regional Universities North, and #98 in Regional Universities North.
    • Dr. Sams also shared that accreditation was received for our Graduate Mental Health Counseling program by the Master’s in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council (MPCAC).
  • Diamond University:
    • Art Exhibition
    • Founders’ Day (Inaugural) taking place on November 12th. Chancellor King will be our speaker.
    • Homecoming – In the middle of it
    • President’s Medal (Inaugural)
    • Annual Gala/Celebration
    • Panels
  • President Sams closed his report by discussing the energy of our first-year students as they are engaging in the classrooms, and we are really excited about the energy they brought to the campus and we expect it to be an excellent academic year.
    • Council member Dr. Elliott inquired if Founders’ Day will be an annualized, and if it is a fundraising day? Dr. Sams replied that it will be annualized and it generally is attached to fundraising. Founders’ Day will not be a fundraising event this year, but Institutional Advancement is taking steps to have it as such in the future.
    • Dr. Sams also pointed out the lawn signs that have been placed around campus. With these signs, we are encouraging the bikers, walkers, and all those who come through campus to consider donating to the continuous improvement of the campus.

New Business

  • Student Affairs Code of Conduct Update
    • Chair Makhijani welcomed Dr. Randall Edouard, Vice President of Student Affairs & Dean of Students, and Ms. Maria Moreno, Assistant Dean for Community Standards, to provide an update on the Student Code of Conduct. Chair Makhijani pointed out the two copies of the code of conduct within each council member’s folder.
    • Dr. Edouard thanked all for the opportunity to speak before them today and went on to discuss how the council members approved the updated code for student conduct on December 19, 2024. The document was submitted to SUNY Legal for their final review.
    • Dr. Edouard thanked Dr. Jo-Ann Robinson for all her work on the code for student conduct.
    • Dr. Edouard informed all that after the feedback, we were directed to make a set of minor changes primarily related to clarity, transparency and the overall flow of the document.
    • Dr. Edouard discussed the communication strategy for the code of student conduct. Direct email campaigns, information sessions, residence hall programming, faculty/staff briefings, and updated web-based resources will be utilized. Social media orientation programs and student organization programs will be leveraged in order to ensure that our students understand and are ready for the new code.
    • Ms. Moreno began discussing the feedback from SUNY Legal and the updates that have been made.
    • Ms. Moreno went through the following updates to the code:
      • Page # 10: Act of dishonesty, added language: If any student violates the academic integrity policies, it will result in a violation of our code. Also added false claims.
      • Page #12: Same definition for disruptive conduct. Added the following line: obstructing or disrupting university activities included but not limited to teaching, research, administration, disciplinary procedures, or other authorized activity, including public functions.
      • Page #12: Same definition for fire safety. Added the following line: prohibited activities that include, but are not limited to the use of candles, incense, and open flames.
      • Page #19: Same definition for retaliation. Removed the following line: “any individual who participates in a sexual harassment or sexual violence reporting procedure has a right to do so without fear of retaliation.”  The council members confirmed that all information that is highlighted in yellow will either be removed or updated in the final version.
      • Page #20: Weapons and Dangerous Materials. Based on the feedback received, there will be two bullet points describing the definition of using weapons and dangerous. In the approved code for student conduct, the penal law would be attached and not copied.
        • Dr. Elliott inquired if #26 is going to be deleted or changed. Ms. Moreno confirmed that the definition and two bullet points were added along with the penal law. Dr. Elliott informed Ms. Moreno that weapons was misspelled on #26.
      • Page #32: Section V- Board Hearing process, added the following: “Witnesses: All parties will have 48 hours before the hearing to submit questions to the hearing administrator, and the chair will read the questions from all involved parties on that date. If questions arise during the hearing, the hearing administrator will collect the questions during the portion of the hearing, and the chair will read the questions. If a no contact order is in place, all questions can be asked by the hearing administrator.
    • Ms. Moreno closed her presentation. Chair Makhijani asked the council for a motion to approve the changes as presented in the green packet, as those changes will be implemented into the code of conduct.
    • Dr. Sams asked that if the code for student conduct were to be approved today, when would it go live? Chair Makhijani and Ms. Moreno confirmed that it would go live on January 1, 2026.
    • Dr. Elliott moved that we approve the corrective standards as cited in the green handout, and Council member Regnante seconded that motion.
    • Council member noted that as she went through the document that there were typos and relayed that another set of eyes is needed to proofread the document. Chair Makhijani agreed with Council member Regnante and discussed her comment made at a prior meeting to please give the proposed final code for student conduct to the English department and have them proof it for grammar and spelling.
    • Chair Makhijani asked if there were any further comments/questions. Any opposed? Any objections? Motion passes.
  • Enrollment Update
    • Dr. Bryan Terry directed the Council members to a Fall 2025 v 2024 SUNY OW document in their folders and provided the following update:
      • Overall headcount was up 8.5%
      • We hit every one of our goals minus the transfer goal, in which we missed by eight students.
      • Dr. Terry noted that while very excited with the performance, we have moved on to next year.
    • Dr. Terry presented a “we’re hitting the road” website. This website consists of scheduled events in which enrollment services will visit the schools to meet students, share helpful resources, and answer questions about SUNY Old Westbury.
  • Council members – general comments
    • There were no comments from the council members.  
  • Faculty Representative
    • Dr. Stephanie Schneider was not present to report.
  • Alumni Representative
    • Dr. Cochrane was not present to report.
  • Student Representative
    • Mr. Jason Sandoval, SGA president,  thanked everyone for having him here today.
    • Mr. Sandoval informed all that SGA is trying to launch a new structure using committees for the first time.
    • Mr. Sandoval also discussed how the SGA is working with the Faculty Senate on looking at their bylaws and updating them since their constitution was outdated.
    • With the committees, SGA is looking to establish a sense of continuity for the future.

Open Meeting

  • Dr. Elliott had inquired if voter registration is taking place on campus without endorsing and encouraging the student body meaningfully to participate in the voting process.   
  • Dr. Notaro had confirmed that we are still performing what was previously done. We are encouraging students to vote extensively, and we have received a small amount of funding to do that.
  • Chair Makhijani asked if there’s anyone who is participating in this meeting virtually and would like to be heard, to please utilize the raise hand function on Zoom so that we know you would like to speak.
  • The Chair recognized T. Naber, a former student. T. Naber discussed her suspension and interactions with various departments.
    • Chair Makhijani & T. Naber agreed to a more detailed discussion offline later that afternoon.  
  • Chair Makhijani reviewed the upcoming dates and asked for a motion to adjourn. Council member Dr. Fiore-Lopez moved the motion to adjourn, and Council member Ms. Martha Maffei seconded the motion. All voted in favor.