Miller made millions for 'Wick as president

ONEONTA _ Hartwick College needed a "rainmaker" five years ago when it hired Richard P. Miller Jr. as its president.

Since then, Miller has helped shower millions of dollars upon the Oneonta college, which has undertaken major construction and renovation projects during his tenure. His initiatives and management have increased student enrollment and faculty ranks, increased the endowment and consequently generated enthusiasm about the college.

Speaking just days before his retirement, he described his years at Hartwick as ``exhilarating, gratifying, humbling, wonderful'' and ``more positive'' than he expected.

``I've stabilized the college financially _ it's not in any short-term peril,'' he said Thursday during a tour of the campus.

The long term will be subject to the private college's ability to attract students and deliver its version of liberal arts education, said Miller, 65, who will step down later this month.

Among faculty, staff and friends of the college, Miller is known for his energy, ability to build consensus among different groups, seeing projects to completion, friendliness, and respect for the work of faculty and staff, according to interviews recorded for a DVD.

Dr. James Elting, a trustee involved in the presidential search, said in the tribute that the board had been concerned about Miller's non-traditional background in business. ``He has fulfilled every single promise that he has ever made,'' Elting said.

Miller said that if the board had wanted an academician for president, he wouldn't have been the right person. But now, the college is financially ready for an academically oriented leader. He said that emphasis will be clear when Margaret L. Drugovich takes office _ close to the library instead of near the admissions office.

``I have great confidence in her understanding of the situation and her talent,'' Miller said. ``She is exactly the right person.''

Miller's tenure as president ends at midnight June 30, and Drugovich, 49, will be taking calls starting at 12:01 a.m. July 1.

Miller said he took Drugovich on as a partner after she was named Hartwick's 10th president in February, consulting her about decisions as she wrapped up her work as vice president for strategic communication and university enrollment at Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware, Ohio.

Miller said he earns $260,000 annually. Hartwick College officials wouldn't reveal Drugovich's salary.

Most students are gone for the summer, but the campus hummed Thursday with construction activities. Miller greeted staff and construction workers as he walked through buildings and traveled across campus in a golf cart.

Miller said that since joining Hartwick, he has generated $35 million for the college. With the resources established and additional marketing and development staff, financial gifts and awards will continue, he said.

``The hardest part of momentum is overcoming inertia,'' Miller said. The money raised includes about $18 million for construction, $10 for the endowment and $7 million for the annual fund, he said.

Hartwick's endowment was $47 million in 2003, and the college had refinanced that spring, Miller said, and though it wasn't in a position to borrow money, it had many needs without apparent sources of support.

Now the endowment is close to $75 million, the college hasn't borrowed in five years, he said, though it could borrow for further improvements. Renovations are needed in three more dormitories, the gymnasium and the arts center, he said.

Two students at the college working on a project Thursday said they had often seen Miller around the campus, especially cheering on teams at athletic events.

``I always thought it was pretty cool,'' said Rebecca Nemchick, 19, a junior majoring in biology. ``He was always one of the louder members of the audience.''

Austen Groener, 20, a senior majoring in physics, said Miller was ``one of the most outgoing guys I've met. ... He has a good reputation not only as a good businessman but as a good president.''

ä Cutting endowment spending and reaching a goal to spend about 5 percent of its endowment annually; five years ago, about 8 percent was being spent. Next year's budget is $46 million.

ä Increasing enrollment to 1,500 students, up 120 from five years ago. With each student on average paying $25,000 a year in tuition, room, board and fees after financial aid, the increase means about $3 million more in revenue annually. Miller said the college could support 1,600 students but doesn't have sufficient housing on campus.

ä Implementing major construction projects such as Golisano Hall, upgrading Wright Field and renovating the residential town houses. Businessman Tom Golisano, who gave Hartwick $5 million seed money for the hall's construction, is the biggest living contributor to the college during Miller's tenure.

ä Generating resources to hire 10 additional faculty members. The college has a faculty of about 120, and 40 percent are new to the college in the past five years. Miller said the college is closing the gap on competitive faculty pay.

Also during Miller's tenure, the faculty re-created the core curriculum, ``Liberal Arts In Practice,'' which will begin in the fall term. The program combines academic courses with life experiences from studies abroad, internships and civic involvement. Miller said he provided resources and moral support for the project but takes no credit for it.

Miller's leadership has set the college in a strong position for the future because it offers an exceptional education at an affordable price, said Larry Malone, vice president of enrollment. The strengthened financial status, the new curriculum to start this fall and tuition increases linked to inflation are factors that mean Hartwick not only is sustainable but also can thrive, he said.

``We are now in a position that is very unique for small, private liberal arts colleges,'' said Malone, former faculty chairman and economics professor.

The next step, he said, is to continue recruiting students who will benefit from Hartwick's liberal arts education.

Miller has recognized the work of faculty at every public appearance and encouraged but didn't meddle in the curriculum development, Malone said, and his respect for the faculty resulted in a new state-of-the art curriculum.

Miller said he wished he'd succeeded in switching Division I soccer and women's water polo to Division III, which he described as a cost-allocation measure.

``Presidents have to build a consensus on major issues,'' Miller said. But there wasn't enough support for the change, and soccer supporters and alumni rallied to successfully oppose the plan.

Miller said he also would have liked to raise the freshman retention rate above 77 percent.

Many projects remain, from renovating Slade Theatre and other residences to replacing outdoor stairways, Miller said, continued financial support is needed. Drugovich won't face the urgent demands he faced when he became president, Miller said, and his advice to her is ``pace yourself.''

``There's a lot more to do,'' Miller said. ``But that is true on any college campus.''

Miller and his wife, Andi, bought the former fraternity house at 55 Maple St. and moved there in April. Miller said that after leaving Hartwick, he will continue on the boards of an out-of-town bank and the Future for Oneonta Foundation.

He will golf, he said, and otherwise will see ``what it feels like'' to be retired.

The abandoned fraternity house was run-down, Malone said, and the Millers renovated it. Malone said he hopes Miller will become involved in the community and, as with Hartwick, apply his business and interpersonal skills to make it better and stronger. Miller is very interested in athletics, ``passionately believes in the O-Tigers'' and appreciates the city's parks, Malone said.

``I haven't heard anyone in the entire time he's been here speak ill of him _ not once,'' Malone said. ``Having Dick Miller in our community is a really great thing.''

Photos

Richard P. Miller Jr. stands on the Hartwick College campus overlooking an infrastructure project of new sidewalks and steps near Dewar Hall on Thursday.