Council proposal would pave way for apartment housing

The proposal amends a state law that allowed the UB Foundation to contract with a developer to build The Commons and the UB Bookstore. "We would like to build on that precedent," noted UB President William R. Greiner. The proposal sent by the Council would take out space limitations, as well as restrictions that allow building to occur only on the North Campus and only on Lake LaSalle.

The goal: To make land available for the development of housing and other services, and to enhance the quality of life on the North and South campuses.

The agreement is "the only feasible way" to build the type of housing that university officials say is essential to the quality of student life at UB, and providing apartment-style student housing is integral to that goal, Greiner said.

The resolution was the first step toward defining a new role for the University Council, which up until now has functioned largely as an advisory body.

"I think it's time to consider changing that," Greiner said, calling for the group to become an "activist council" involved in decision-making at UB

Among the changes Greiner told the council he would like to see considered:

· Allow the council to function to the full extent of its legal authority, "which I think is considerable," he said.

Greiner said he would like to see the council become involved in reviews of major institutional plans, including appraisal of faculty and other personnel; expansion or restrictions of student admissions; appraisal or improvements of academic programs and standards for earning degrees; expansion of the institutional plant; appraisal and approval of student activities and housing, and other major issues. Such plans then would be submitted, with council recommendations, for approval by the SUNY Board of Trustees.

"We are depriving ourselves of a great opportunity," Greiner said. "If we start to function more like a board of trustees, then sooner or later we will start to be treated like a board of trustees."

· Develop a mission and vision statement expressing the council's goals.

· Extend the body's authority to allow the council to function more as trustees.

· Enlarging the council from its current nine members, to possibly 15-21 members.

"It's time for us to think how we might provide some leadership" to the SUNY system, Greiner said.

For example, while it is within the council's authority to recommend to the SUNY Board of Trustees candidates for university president. "This is a crucially important issue," Greiner said. The UB Council "has to be a body very actively engaged in the institution to make that kind of recommendation."

Greiner added that he wants to make the council "a very functional body," and that "integration of the council and UBF ought to be part of the process."

Greiner said that he also would like to see the council's role expanded to include functions that would allow it to develop citizens' committees that are advisory to the council, name buildings and grounds, make regulations governing student conduct and behavior, prescribe for and exercise supervision over student housing and safety, and make an annual report to the SUNY trustees. He also suggested the formation of a faculty council that would advise the UB Council.

Chair Lawrence P. Castellani, conducting his first meeting of the council, proposed that the future role of the group be made the "sole topic" for the council's next meeting, scheduled for April 10.

In other business, the council heard a report by Senior Vice President Robert J. Wagner, who provided details of the Gov. Pataki's 1997-98 Executive Budget, and outlined its potential impact on UB. Although the proposal calls for a reduction in overall funding for operating needs, a cut to the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) and a tuition increase, he reminded the council that "this is just the start of a dance," and some budget restoration is likely.