President Gary A. Olson
President Gary A. Olson held his annual town hall forum on Monday, April 18 before a crowd of Daemen College faculty and staff. Audience members asked questions on a range of issues pertaining to the college’s future, including enrollment trends, campus improvements, parking fees, and campus security.
The president updated the audience on a planned move of the Daemen Office of Institutional Advancement into the former presidential residence in the Marshall years at 109 Getzville Road. This move would be a first step in achieving the goal of allowing all of Enrollment Management to occupy Rosary Hall, all of Student Affairs to occupy the Wick Campus Center, and all of Business Affairs to be housed in Duns Scotus Hall.
“These moves will improve efficiency and contribute to better workplaces,” said Olson.
He also announced that the animation program will return to Daemen’s main campus this summer after being housed over the last few years at the Tri-Main Building.
Olson reminded the audience that unlike at public colleges where money unspent at the end of the year is returned to the state, end-of-year money at private colleges stays in the college. “It makes sense to spend every penny you have on anything you can at the end of the year when you are at a state college,” said Olson. “But at a college like Daemen there should be no pressure to spend end-of-year money because that’s just money that we won’t have as a college for next year.” Olson went on to ask departments to avoid unnecessary spending in the next few months.
When the forum adjourned, audience members met at a faculty-staff reception. “The town hall forum was a great opportunity to address questions and receive information directly from President Olson on various matters related to the college,” said Jeffrey Pagano, director of financial aid. “The event was very informative for the college community.”