Members of the Campus and Village Community,

As students return to Colgate and rejoin the Hamilton community this fall, we are taking this opportunity to write to you together to affirm our shared commitment to ensuring a strong and healthy relationship between Colgate University and the Village of Hamilton.

One key project that we will be working on together this year is ensuring that our local law enforcement professionals have the support they need to serve all members of our community effectively in a context of care and respect. Cities across the nation have learned of the damage caused and pain felt when the relationship between law enforcement officials and the community they serve breaks down. Today, it is not adequate to react to issues and concerns as they arise, nor is it responsible to expect the citizens and the officers who are most likely to be affected by these issues to have the burden of identifying them when they occur. We must instead move together towards an ambitious and proactive plan for affirming and reinforcing a sense of trust and collaboration between the Hamilton Police Department and our campus community.

Before Chief Gifford departed at the end of July, he identified some steps that might be taken to improve communication, understanding and respect between the police department and the groups on campus who have raised specific concerns about law enforcement during the 2015-16 academic year. Along with several other ideas, he encouraged the review of procedures for reporting and reviewing possible instances of profiling as well as regular “coffee breaks” with small groups of students to casually discuss issues of police/student relations.

We will implement and expand on these initiatives, with the goal of making the Village of Hamilton, which includes the Colgate campus, a consistently inclusive and welcoming community. Given the national climate and our shared national history, this will sometimes be challenging work, requiring the best efforts and wisdom of all Hamiltonians, including Colgate students. But we can, and we must, undertake it.

As a first step we will create a working group that brings together members of the campus community (students, faculty, and staff) with members of the wider Village community. That group will review Chief Gifford’s recommendations, map out pressing concerns, and identify best first steps to take to secure the strong relationship between Hamilton police and all campus constituencies. This work is complex and challenging, even daunting. But progress is possible if, and only if, we work together.

We will update members of our shared community as we move forward, and will provide opportunities and mechanisms for those community members who would like to help shape this important work.

Sincerely,

Brian W. Casey, President
Robert McVaugh, Mayor, Village of Hamilton

SHARE

Friends,

I write to update everyone on the status of a regional phone outage that continues to disrupt landline telephone service throughout the area.

This outage impacts anyone using a campus phone to call off campus and those trying to call on-campus landline phone numbers from off campus. Calls can be made from one campus landline to another.

Your safety is our number-one priority. Please note the important information below:

In case of an emergency, please remember to call 911 from a cell phone, or use one of the outdoor campus emergency telephones, which are identified by overhead blue lights. They automatically dial into the campus safety office; an officer will be dispatched to provide assistance.

(For students living on campus)
Non-emergency medical attention—Contact your community leader (CL)
Student Counseling and Psychological Services—Contact your community leader (CL)

(For all students)
Student medical transportation—e-mail tips@colgate.edu
Problem with a ’Gate Card—e-mail tips@colgate.edu

For anyone who needs to call campus, please use these temporary numbers: 315-690-4283 or 315-750-4419. In addition, if you are unable to use a cell phone to call off campus, please use these directions for using Google Voice.

Steve Fabiani
Chief Information Officer

SHARE

We write to inform you of the transition of responsibility for Student Employment from the financial aid office to the human resources department. Effective immediately, the human resources department will assume oversight of student employment, including collecting I9s from students, receiving Student Employment Request Sheets from supervisors, and assisting supervisors with posting jobs on the Student Employment Portal. During the upcoming semester, the financial aid office will be helping the human resources staff to ensure a smooth transition in meeting the needs of our student employees and their supervisors.

If you have any questions about student employment please contact human resources at x6442 or you may send questions to studentemployment@colgate.edu. The human resources department is located in the upper level of the Saperstein Center. Office hours are 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

Please note that students should continue to contact the financial aid office with any questions related to their financial aid package.

For the information of supervisors, the 2016-17 Student Request Sheets that have been submitted by hiring departments have been transferred to HR and further communications will be sent shortly.

Human Resources will very soon be sending additional information to students and supervisors about student employment for the 2016-17 academic year.

Kim Waldron
Associate Vice President for Administration

Gina Soliz
Senior Associate Dean and Director of Financial Aid

SHARE

Dear Colgate Faculty and Staff,

I am pleased to announce the duties within the Office of Equity and Diversity that two faculty colleagues have agreed to undertake for 2016-17.

John Palmer, Associate Professor of Educational Studies and Arnold A. Sio Chair in Diversity and Community, will take on a position as Associate Provost for Equity and Diversity in addition to his other duties as department chair and Sio Chair. He will assume primary responsibility for diversity initiatives in OED. With support from Marilyn Rugg, he will continue to have responsibility for affirmative action in faculty hiring.

Marilyn Rugg, Professor of Romance Languages and Literatures, will continue to serve as Associate Provost for Equity and Diversity and Title IX Coordinator. She will oversee all matters related to Colgate’s Equity Grievance Process, and will provide campus training to ensure that we are in compliance with our obligations under Title IX.

I am very grateful that these two talented and dedicated colleagues have agreed to lend their energies to this important work. With their assistance, I look forward to a year in which we can continue to make progress towards creating a Colgate that is truly for all.

Sincerely,

Constance Harsh
Interim Dean of the Faculty and Provost

SHARE

Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff,

The tragic events of these past few weeks have resulted in profound personal and national grief and loss. Our country is grappling with how best to balance responsible law enforcement and public safety with care and justice in all communities affected by discrimination and violence. Many in the Colgate community seek support and reconciliation as they respond to these events.

Our values call on us to denounce any act of violence, especially those motivated by bias or hate. While putting our reactions into words may sometimes be difficult, it is important that we provide opportunity to react and respond.

In light of these difficult events, we encourage each of you to take care of yourselves and others in your communities. Many share the desire to help but may not know how. If you need support, in addition to your friends and loved ones, it is offered at the Counseling Center, the ALANA Cultural Center, LBGTQ Initiatives, the OUS office, and the Dean of the College Offices (McGregory, 1st Floor).

Our actions as a community will continue to include proactive measures aimed at acknowledging and addressing the ways bias operates in the Colgate community and our rights and responsibilities as community members. On campus, there are steps we all must take to establish an environment of safety and respect.

Bias, hate, and violence have no place in our nation or on our campus. We are committed to doing everything in our power to make our Colgate community a safe place for all our students, faculty, staff, and neighbors. Please join us in those efforts.

Brian W. Casey
President

Constance Harsh
Interim Dean of Faculty and Provost

Mark Thompson
Interim Vice President and Dean of the College

SHARE

To the Colgate community:

I write to express sorrow and sympathy on behalf of Colgate University following Sunday morning’s tragic mass shooting in Orlando, Fla. Our thoughts and prayers go to all those affected and to everyone who feels the pain of this tragedy in a deeply personal way.

We grieve this senseless loss of life and injury, with echoes of, and links to, other acts of historical violence as well as contemporary terrorism. It is a tragic instance of the violence that LGBTQ people continue to suffer despite many recent legal gains for the community.

I write, as well, to affirm the values of this institution in creating and maintaining an inclusive, welcoming, and safe place for all — a place where we recognize injustice, challenge intolerance, and combat hate. As Omid Safi, former Colgate philosophy and religion professor, told our graduating Class of 2016 in his baccalaureate address, “Continue expanding your circle of compassion until every sentient being and every human being is included.”

In that spirit, the Colgate community is invited to join a vigil of contemplation, reflection, or sharing this evening outside Memorial Chapel on the Academic Quad at 8:30 pm. In case of inclement weather, the gathering will take place at the ALANA Cultural Center. Staff from the LGBTQ Initiatives Office will be present to assist, counsel and refer.

Members of the counseling center (315-228-7385) staff are available to talk with any students on campus for the summer who are feeling distressed or troubled about this tragedy or any other concern.

Sincerely,
Jill Harsin
Interim President

SHARE

To the campus community:

On behalf of President-elect Brian Casey, I am pleased to announce that Mark Thompson, longtime director of counseling and psychological services, will serve as our interim dean of the college as of July 1.

Mark earned his PhD in counseling psychology from the University of Arizona in 1986 and both undergraduate and master’s degrees from St. Bonaventure University.

With Dr. Merrill Miller, Mark co-founded and served as the initial co-director of Colgate’s wellness initiative. He founded the Colgate Men’s Group, actively promoting and leading sexual assault prevention workshops for undergraduate men at Colgate. He has helped lead Yes Means Yes seminars since the program’s inception and served on a number of steering committees addressing issues such as eating disorders and alcohol consumption.

Mark plans to retire at the end of the 2016-2017 academic year, and I appreciate his willingness to step into this interim leadership role before that time.

I am also pleased to announce the promotion of Dr. Dawn LaFrance to director of counseling and psychological services, effective July 1.

Dawn attended Lafayette College and earned her PsyD from the University of Indianapolis. She completed her doctoral internship at Utah State University’s counseling center.

During her 14 years at Colgate, Dawn has built an outstanding record of service and leadership as a psychologist, assistant director, and associate director, managing mental health and crisis services.

Dawn has led and contributed to several cross-campus committees, including ALANA Affairs, the Sexual Climate Advisory Committee, Women’s Studies Advisory Board, Multicultural Recruitment Committee, and National Coalition Building Institute. She has worked closely with student-led initiatives such as Yes Means Yes and This is not a Play about Sex.

In addition to serving as director, Dawn will be developing sexual assault and relationship violence initiatives.

Please join me in congratulating Mark and Dawn on their new roles and thanking them for their important work on behalf of Colgate students.

Jill Harsin
Interim President

SHARE

To the campus community:

I write today with news that Associate Vice President and Dean of Students Scott Brown has been named vice president for student affairs and dean of students at the College of Wooster, effective August 1.

Scott has been an energetic and trusted presence on campus since 2008, supervising a variety of departments within the Office of the Dean of the College, including the ALANA Cultural Center; the Max A. Shacknai Center for Outreach, Volunteerism, and Education; the Center for Leadership and Student Involvement; the chaplain’s office; fraternity and sorority affairs; and more. His dedication to the well-being of each student has been a benefit to our entire community. During his busy tenure, Scott:

• established and chaired presidentially appointed committees to coordinate campus responses to sexual violence as well as drug and alcohol abuse;
• built campuswide coalitions as co-chair of the university’s National Coalition Building Institute team; and
• fostered proactive crisis management by co-chairing Colgate’s Emergency Management Team.

As interim dean of the college (2011–2012), he initiated the reframing of transgender student support, and he reengaged faculty in the strategic planning process to integrate living and the liberal arts.

As we announced earlier in the semester, Scott was scheduled to reprise his role as Colgate’s interim dean of the college beginning July 1. We are making new arrangements to fill the interim position and will share the outcome shortly.

The Office of the Dean of the College comprises numerous offices and departments, each staffed with skilled professionals whose work is crucial to the Colgate experience that we offer our students. The university’s administration, led by incoming president Brian Casey, is committed to providing support and facilitating a smooth and speedy transition in division leadership.

We offer our best wishes to Scott and his family, along with our many thanks for his service to Colgate. We will soon have a chance to celebrate him and thank him in person.

Jill Harsin
Interim President

SHARE

Description:
ITS recently upgraded network equipment that our community uses to connect wirelessly to the network. This upgrade will provide a significant leap forward in network management, security and capability.

If you are having difficulty accessing the wireless network, please perform the following:

1. Connect to the “Colgate” SSID (network name) on your wireless device.
2. Use the password “wireless” when prompted.
3. Open a web browser if one does not automatically open.
4. Enter your Colgate username and password (the same credentials you use to access the portal).
5. A registration confirmation message will appear. Wait approximately 25 seconds.
6. Your device is now registered on the Colgate wireless network.

Impact:
Newly installed wireless network software may require some users to register their device(s).

Affected Users:
Wireless network users (laptop, tablet, smartphone).

If you continue to experience difficulties, please phone the ITS Service Desk at 315-228-7111 or send an email to itshelp@colgate.edu.

SHARE

Dear members of the Colgate community:

Over the last several months, our purchasing department has worked with an advisory committee of staff, faculty, and students to facilitate two Requests for Proposal (RFPs) for the university’s bus service. The first was for the Colgate Cruiser and on-demand service, and the other was for charter bus service. I am writing to announce the outcome of their efforts, whose recommendation I have approved.

Cruiser and on-demand service will be operated by First Transit Inc. A national firm that provides transit services to campuses around the country, First Transit has a hub in nearby Norwich, and will have a presence on campus once service begins with Colgate, effective June 1, 2016.

For charter service, there will be a choice of two companies, Wade Tours and Hale Transportation, also effective June 1. Wade Tours, located in Schenectady, N.Y., provides charter services throughout the region, including Syracuse, Binghamton, and Ithaca. Hale Transportation, located in Clinton, N.Y., also has experience in providing charter service to the central New York area. Both companies have provided limited service to our campus in the past, and we look forward to growing these partnerships.

Please join me in thanking the members of the Bus Service Advisory Team (listed below) for their outstanding and comprehensive work. We are confident that the companies selected will provide a high level of service to the community.

Details regarding the implementation of each service will be communicated in the coming weeks; in the meantime, if you have specific questions, you can contact Alan Leonard in the purchasing office at extension 7477.

Sincerely,
Brian G. Hutzley
Vice President for Finance and Administration
Colgate University
315-228-7766

Bus Service Advisory Team

• Derek Baker ’18, SGA
• Rene Beers, Biology
• Joanne Borfitz, Community Affairs & Auxiliary Services
• Lori Chlad, Human Resources
• Sue Dolly Lathrop, Admissions
• Frank Frey, OUS
• Lori Godshalk, Athletics
• Ann-Marie Guglieri, Athletics
• Ellen Holm, DOC
• Steven Huang ’17, SGA
• David Kim ’16 , SGA
• Frank Kuan, OUS
• George (Nick) Laub ’16, SGA
• Alan Leonard. Purchasing
• Marni Manwarren, Economics
• Thirza Morreale, Advancement
• Aisha Musa, Religion
• Tom O’Neill, Accounting and Control
• Helen Payne, Provost & Dean of Faculty
• John Pumilio, Sustainability
• Providence Ryan ’16, SGA
• Jorge Soto ’19, SGA

SHARE