The Ithaca College Faculty Council met Dec. 3 to discuss the college’s ongoing work with the Huron Consulting Group and hear from two guest speakers about actions the college can take to increase enrollment and revenue.

Ithaca College started working with the Huron Consulting Group in October to conduct a budget and resource planning study, which aims to address declining enrollment and decrease the budget deficit. Administrators will share a study update in February 2025 and incorporate some of Huron’s suggestions in the Fiscal Year 2026 budget, which is due in May 2025.

In January 2025, Ithaca College is opening up applications to a new resource for some college staff and faculty. The Employee Emergency Relief Fund, managed by the college’s Office of Human Resources, distributes money to the college’s employees in times of need and is entirely supported by voluntary donations from other employees. 

Ithaca College will be expanding its on-campus electric vehicle charging stations. In the past, use of an EV charger on campus was free, but now the college will be implementing a fee that will charge users per kilowatt-hour.

At the beginning of Fall 2024, the Park Center for Independent Media at Ithaca College hired its third director. Mickey Huff, distinguished director of PCIM, is a well-known media critic and scholar in independent media and came to the college with plans to make media literacy more accessible across campus. While Huff is new to the college, efforts to promote media literacy on campus have existed since 1996. Project Look Sharp is the college’s nonprofit media literacy program and aims to provide materials to teachers and students that promote critical thinking and a deeper understanding of media. 

Kari Brossard Stoos, associate professor and associate chair of the Department of Health Sciences and Public Health, is helping train future health professionals at Ithaca College by offering health courses that focus on concentrated topics about primary global health issues. 

Reginald Briggs, senior director of Dining Services, met with the Ithaca College Student Governance Council at its Dec. 2 meeting to discuss the meal exchange service and hear about its suggestions for dining.

Public Safety Logs

The Ithaca College Student Governance Council met Nov. 18 to hear from Caryanne Keenan, director of New Student and Transition Programs, about Fall 2024 orientation and plans for Fall 2025 orientation. The SGC provided suggestions on how Keenan could further help new students get acclimated to the college.