Shoals Marine Laboratory and "Reimagining Cornell" 

Colleagues and Friends -

Cornell University is engaged in a major internal reexamination, a process called "Reimagining Cornell." A website describes this effort: http://www.cornell.edu/reimagining/index.cfm. A major focus of Reimagining Cornell is cost control, which, inevitably, means program consolidations and cuts.

SML's revenue increases and cost savings in the just-completed FY2009 help position us to make the strongest possible case for the continuation of SML. In addition to increased revenue from tuition and fees, much credit for SML's revenue increases goes to our remarkable donor community, which stepped up in FY2009 to contribute $240K in unrestricted gifts, $335K in gifts-in-kind, and more than $50K in restricted gifts for scholarships. This was a record year, particularly given the state of the general economy, and we are very grateful for the help. Many gifts received in the last twelve months were unique, however, and are unlikely to be repeated. This puts us under special pressure to secure new donor support during FY2010.

It is also vital that persons committed to the future of SML engage in Reimagining Cornell in appropriate, proactive ways by responding to opportunities to send messages about the importance of SML directly to the Cornell administration. Over the last several years, we have worked to "Reimagine SML" in new and positive ways. An example of this is our plan to relocate the SML Director's base and many of SML's office functions from Ithaca to Creek Farm in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Such a relocation and consolidation will not only help SML to control costs but also will solve many long-term problems that stem directly from the challenges of remotely managing programs and personnel. In this way, Reimagining Cornell may help pave the way for the kinds of real change that will strengthen SML and Cornell's 40-year investment in the program.

If you have questions or comments about the process, email me at: web24@cornell.edu.

Sincerely,

Willy