[Important Information for Employees] Shift in Focus for Potential Clinton Community College Location

[Ken Knelly]

Dear Campus Community,



Our work to provide for a new location for Clinton Community College on the
SUNY Plattsburgh campus has keyed on several realms, with information
technology, academic areas and physical space the key early focuses.



After touring campus with SUNY and State Construction Fund officials, our
attention centered on Algonquin and Adirondack Halls. Banks Hall was also
considered but ultimately deemed too expensive for a full renovation at
this time.



For the past few weeks, a space consultant hired by the Fund has been doing
a full assessment on space scheduling, mapping and options for a Clinton
location. This has involved an extensive review of available square footage
and how a) this could be accomplished with no change in SUNY Plattsburgh
scheduling, and b) minimal or no changes to Clinton.


Neither the Algonquin nor Algonquin/Adirondack options meet these needs
without spreading Clinton classes in many more areas across our campus or
extensive construction costs and timelines. This also has the potential to
dilute their own identity and could step on one of our non-negotiables of
always protecting our campus and ensuring its continued success
academically, financially and regionally.



In reviewing further with SUNY and the Fund, we looked to consider other
options and turned to a new route -- Redcay Hall. While this would require
us to pivot from the planned renovation of the building, as we began to
explore the option with them, we immediately noticed it carries potential
advantages that would help both institutions. There are still approvals and
reviews to be done at the SUNY board level, but I am writing to share about
a working shift to Redcay and the potential to achieve the following for
each campus:



For SUNY Plattsburgh ....

   - Keep and pivot substantial funds and priorities in a timely manner. In
   a related development, as part of the just-passed state budget, new project
   labor agreements provisions will make all large SUNY capital projects more
   than $10 million take longer, including Redcay, currently scheduled to be
   completed in 2028.
   - Algonquin could be repurposed into an admissions-focused area with a
   shift of Fund dollars. It is also adjacent to housing, residence halls,
   dining center, and parking. It could also carry a book-end of red, matching
   the new Memorial Hall look down Rugar Street. This could also be done
   sooner.
   - Capital funds could also be used for new specialty academic spaces and
   potentially for the removal of Adirondack and Banks Halls, creating new
   greenspace areas and reimagining a new section of campus.


For Clinton Community College ....

   - All of Clinton would be contained in a single, edge-campus area, with
   limited use of labs, limited renovation. It keeps some overflow space for
   growth. The adjacent Canadian Studies house would also be included as a
   part of a planned transition, which would involve Clinton moving once in
   summer 2025.
   - Keeps associate degree programs and an open-access campus in the
   county and in its own area.


As the joint coordinating committee processes this work and we clear the
balance of our respective semesters, the group will dig deeper into other
key pieces and begin setting timelines and phases more directly. These
include shared services and costs for Clinton, specialty space needs and
arrangements, and related information technology needs. Thoughts, ideas and
concerns raised in two open community Zoom sessions have also been
categorized and shared with the committee. These will be further reviewed
and inform next steps. An in-person two-campus session is anticipated for
the fall.



Two other notes ....

   - Clinton Community College still needs to manage its own risk factors.
   This includes its Middle States accreditation status, sufficient
   enrollment, staff continuity and its budget.
   - Work on planning for a change will begin with the Fund and will be set
   for further review and approval over the next few weeks. Any change in that
   directed by the Fund and SUNY could alter this new path as we prepare
   options.


Please let me know any questions or concerns. I will be attending the
Faculty Senate meeting at 3:30 p.m. today. Glad to address then what can be
done, time permitting ,but I will also be around after the meeting to meet
with anyone.


Best, kk


- 30 -

-- 
KEN KNELLY
Chief of Staff, Office of the President
Special Advisor to SUNY, Clinton Community College Transition
155 Hawkins Hall
101 Broad Street
Plattsburgh, NY 12901
Work: 518-564-3622 <+1-518-564-3622>
Mobile: 518-335-1304 <+1-518-335-1304>
Home: 518-310-3289 <+1-518-310-3289>
Office of the President: 518-564-2010 <+1-518-310-3289>
plattsburgh.edu <https://www.plattsburgh.edu/>
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