By Nate West
News Editor
On Friday, Sept. 13, the St. Bonaventure Board of Trustees approved a request for a study to be conducted which would examine the possibility for Hilbert College, a Catholic-Franciscan college in Hamburg, N.Y., and St. Bonaventure to work closer as academic institutions.
According to University President Sister Margaret Carney, O.S.F., the purpose of the study is to find out what could happen between the two universities in the future.
“With the economy being what it is and so much pressure that colleges have to bring down their costs, still create affordable education and use student aid as efficiently as possible, everybody is sincerely trying to do that,” Sister Margaret said.
Sister Margaret and Hilbert College President Cynthia Zane starred in a four-minute YouTube video (linked in the Tuesday Notice Board email announcing the study) where they discuss the history of the two institutions and some of the reasons for going forward with the study.
“Given our success in the past, we are now engaged in a feasibility study to discover the data and information necessary to determine whether our institutions can work even closer together,” Zane said. “Our boards have approved this feasibility study, which grants authority to share data and information on all relevant information on the past, present and predictable future of our organizations.”
The study will look into several aspects of both universities, Sister Margaret said. It will largely examine the financial status of each organization, investigate any legal issues and check the condition of the facilities (another reason for the boiler replacement project) and human resources situations, according to Sister Margaret. She added that academic programs will be evaluated to understand the differences between the programs offered at Hilbert versus those at St. Bonaventure. This evaluation will not be a critique, however.
Sister Margaret wouldn’t say what the furthered partnership could entail if the study shows that the two institutions will benefit from it. She did say, even without the study, the institutions can co-locate classes and broaden the options for coursework via new technology on both campuses. Additionally, they could share and split expenses when St. Bonaventure brings someone to campus for a special event. Although she wouldn’t offer a comment, in the aforementioned YouTube video, she said Hilbert and St. Bonaventure wouldn’t engage in this study if they didn’t believe the two could achieve greater synergy.
The first phase of the study will be conducted internally, according to Sister Margaret.
It will be the chief financial officers of the two. It will be the auditing firm that works with both of us,” she said. “Our Human Resources directors, our legal council as well. It will really be done by administrators at the cabinet level.”
The study started on Oct. 1 and will last until the Board of Trustees meeting in December, where the findings will be presented to the board. If more time is required to complete the study, the findings will be presented at the March Board of Trustees meeting.
If the study finds the two institutions can go further, a variety of committees will be established, which will include both students and faculty, to address and take the necessary steps toward a furthered partnership.
The worst possible outcome would be if the conclusions of the study would be if the study found a furthered partnership would not benefit either institution, Sister Margaret said.
Sister Margaret said there have been small fees for the services people have provided preparing the reports and discussions, but did not say how much they cost in total. The board has assistance from experts in finance and higher education. They have also brought a neutral moderator from Rochester for a discussion between both school’s boards and cabinets. If the study is approved to go forward once the findings are in, there will be a budget established. Sister Margaret said there is an “understanding” they will receive assistance to meet the costs.
Sister Margaret hasn’t heard faculty or staff opinions on the study, but she said there will be campus-wide discussions and conversations in order to hear the thoughts, opinions and concerns of faculty, staff and students.
“I’m sure there are some faculty who are thinking ‘I’m not sure I like the idea,’” Sister Margaret said. “We really do want to know what people’s concerns are, and that includes the students. Like President Zane and I have said consistently in our public statements, the students are the center of our concern. If this isn’t going to make for a better student education and experience, then why do it? We want to know.”
