Long-time registrar bids farewell to UAlbany

Donning his required freshman beanie, a young Bob Gibson first entered the halls of the University at Albany during the fall of 1960. Fifty years later, Gibson will be retiring from UAlbany.

Little did  Gibson know that four years of schooling would only be the beginning of his tenure at the university. He is currently the school’s registrar.

In that year, 1960, all freshmen attended an orientation just before classes began rather than in the summertime as they do today. There were 300 students in the entire freshmen class.

The campus he knew then was not the campus we all think of today. “That campus is what is now known as the old campus,” said Gibson. “This was a golf course, where we are now.”

He had been planning to become a teacher, and there was no tuition for those in the NewYork State College for Teachers. In fact, Gibson participated in a protest down at the state Capitol because they were planning to institute a tuition for teaching students.
Ever since he was an undergraduate, Gibson has held many different positions at the school.

He worked in the then-Student Union as a desk worker who gave out equipment and made reservations for events. Gibson also was a part of the “passion patrol.”

“Every hour, one of the guys’ responsibilities was to go down to the lounge where all the soft couches were, and make sure everyone’s feet were on the floor,” recalled Gibson.
When it came time for Gibson to get his permanent certification as a teacher, Gibson needed money. He became a graduate assistant in the new University College which established the first ever summer orientation program at the UAlbany.

Instead of becoming a teacher initially, Gibson became an academic advisor on the nearly finished uptown campus.

“We were the first office on the new campus. We were actually in Stuyvesant Tower because the social sciences building was not finished yet.” He eventually made his way up to director of academic advising.

Gibson rose through the ranks in several ways at UAlbany. He served as chair of the university Senate, was on several difference councils, and was in charge of the committee on academic standing.

During his time on that committee, he heard some excuses that “were very memorable.” The excuses ranged from pets dying, to baldness.

Volunteer work is also an area where Gibson has devoted much of his time. He was the president of the board of education in the school district where he lives, the board for the new tech valley high school which is a project learning initiative.

“I teach parliamentary procedure, the world’s most boring topic, and I work for not-for-profit groups,” said Gibson.

The biggest change Gibson has seen on this campus since his days is what he described as “knowing everybody.”

“Even if you didn’t know anyone, you still saw there face on a regular basis. Now that everything is done by e-mail and remote and what-have-you, the personal feeling is gone.”
Gibson believes that “there is more school spirit than there was a few years ago.”

“I see more UAlbany stuff on students now than back in the 80’s. More students turn out for things. Fountain Day keeps getting bigger and bigger and bigger!”

His role as registrar has lasted since 1999 and Gibson said he has had the most fun in this role. He also sees it as the most diverse.

“One minute I’m helping figure out the records for a student from the class of ‘64, and the next minute I’m talking with a vendor about how can we improve the way you order your transcripts.”

Gibson is looking forward to be able to finally take a summer vacation with his family, including his wife who was a member of the 1964 UAlbany graduating class, just as Gibson was.

    He will continue to work in his volunteer programs and get a lot of work around the house that has been put off for a while.