Despite concerns voiced by a half-dozen New York State legislators and the Middle states Commission on Higher Education, SUNY is confident it is making shared presidencies work.
In 2012, the SUNY Board of Trustees directed the Cobleskill and Delhi campuses and the Morrisville and SUNY Institute of Technology to share presidents.
SUNY Chancellor Nancy Zimpher has also called for SUNY Canton and Potsdam to share a president in the future.
A report by the middle States Commission of Higher Education, the agency that accredits SUNY colleges, however, questions whether the shared presidencies meets its standards for executive leadership on each campus.
Middle States has also warned that the schools' accreditation may be at risk "unless each college can provide an assessment of the effectiveness of institutional leadership and governance in relation to recently implemented shared services agreements" and has asked for reports, due back by April 2013, assessing the shared leadership.
Picking up on those concerns, a group of State Senators that includes local Senator Jim Seward, has written to SUNY Chancellor Nancy Zimpher to reconsider the plan of shared presidencies.
"When Middle states raises troubling concerns about how SUNY's shared presidencies is affecting the quality of our higher education, and requires an interim report to examine its impact, everyone who values our SUNY institutions should take notice," the letter begins.
"At a time when we are asking SUNY institutions to do more with less, it appears that the experiment...is hurting the quality of these colleges...
"At a time like this when we are asking our colleges to become more innovative and entrepreneurial, each institution desperately needs its own leadership..."
Senators also signing the letter were Patty Ritchie, Oswegatchie; Dave Valesky, Oneida; Joe Griffo, Rome; and Tom Libous, Binghamton.
Dr. Candace Vancko was named SUNY Cobleskill's officer in charge in August 2011 and remains president at SUNY Delhi.
In a written statement, Dr. Vancko said SUNY's shared services are designed to provide increased support to students and academic programs "and that's a goal we all share in higher education.
"Shared services are not uncommon in higher education, particularly in these challenging times, and I am confident that the SUNY system will resolve any concerns that Middle States might have."
In a September 20 response to Senators' concerns, Chancellor Zimpher said SUNY's $1.4 billion in funding cuts since 2008 have "forced us to think outside the box in order to do more with less.
"Quite simply, the status quo is not an option."
Chancellor Zimpher said SUNY has set a goal of shifting $100 million from administration to students by eliminating duplication and encouraging collaboration.
"SUNY would never allow one of its institutions to lose accreditation..." she added, and conversations with Middle States are continuing.
Referring specifically to SUNY Cobleskill and Delhi, Chancellor Zimpher said they've identified more than $700,000 in savings by establishing a joint cabinet, including a shared president and vice presidents for advancement, college relations, business and finance, and operations.
The campuses have also hired a shared culinary faculty member and are sharing an assistant vice president and director of research and sponsored programs and are exploring shared contracts for waste disposal and health and safety inspections.