Candace VanckoIt's a sign of the times: The SUNY system is now officially so strapped for cash that several campuses are sharing presidents.
Yesterday, SUNY chancellor Nancy Zimpher announced that SUNY Delhi president Candace Vancko would take over the presidency of SUNY Cobleskill, in addition to her Delhi duties. SUNYIT and SUNY Morrisville will also be sharing a president: SUNYIT's Bjong Wolf Leigh. And a similar merger between SUNY Potsdam and SUNY Canton is expected by the end of the year.
The Albany Times-Union reports that the move is part of a larger cost-cutting measure:
The move is part of a system-wide effort to consolidate administrative expenses to put resources back into classrooms. SUNY Chancellor Nancy Zimpher proposed the Campus Alliance Networks in January.
Under the plan, each of the state's 64 campuses will remain open and will retain its unique identity, with mascot and insignia intact. Schools will collaborate on administration, human resources and information technology. Business and academic resources will be shared among schools. Financial savings will be put toward academics.
Presidents are typically the highest paid person on any given campus, and their salaries could pay for an additional faculty member or two.
The Schoharie Times-Journal called this one first, speculating on Tuesday that Vancko would be appointed to lead the two campuses. The Times-Journal says insiders are worried about what this means for Cobleskill:
Two sources close to SUNY Cobleskill worried that without a full-time president, the college wouldn't have a "public face."
But others pointed out that during the long period between former President Tom Haas and Dr. Zingale--well more than a year--SUNY Cobleskill had a solid public presence with Anne Myers as provost.
Several sources spoke highly of Dr. Vancko, describing her as a strong, innovative president who's done a good job at Delhi.
"She gets things done," one person said. "She's a worker."
