William R. Greiner (June 9, 1934 – December 19, 2009) was President of the University at Buffalo (UB) in the State University of New York (SUNY) system from 1991 to 2004, where he worked for 42 years.William Greiner dies at 75, UB Reporter, Buffalo, NY, 21 December 2009, Accessdate 8 December 2013.Remembering Greiner's legacy , The Spectrum, Buffalo, NY, 3 February 2010, Woods, A., Accessdate=8 December 2013.UB - University at Buffalo: Office of the President: Our Past Presidents: William R. Greiner , UB - University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 2013, Accessdate=10 December 2013. Prior to becoming president,UB industry university day 2002 , University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY: School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, 9 May 2002, Accessdate=19 December 2013. Greiner served in other capacities in the University at Buffalo Law School, and in UB's administration. He was educated at both Yale University and Wesleyan University, earning degrees in economics and law, including a doctorate in law from Yale. Under Greiner's leadership, research, educational, sports, arts, and student living complexes were constructed. Greiner co-wrote two books. He retired from UB in 2009, and died shortly thereafter due to heart surgery complications.Statement from UB: UB's 13th president was beloved leader, professor, WIVB, Buffalo, NY, 21 December 2009, Kineke, Z., Accessdate=18 December 2013.
Early life and education William Robert Greiner was born on June 9, 1934, in Meriden, Connecticut. An individual of Irish and German heritages,Bill Greiner's vision thing: New UB president preaches pragmatism, Buffalo News, Buffalo, NY: Berkshire Hathaway, 27 September 1992, Montgomery, D., Accessdate=21 December 2013. Greiner was raised in MeridenWe remember "UB 13" - Professor William R. Greiner , UB Law Forum, Vol. 22, No. 2, Buffalo, NY: University at Buffalo Law School, Headrick, T.E., Spring 2010, Accessdate=19 December 2013. as an only child. Greiner met Carol Morrissey, who would become his wife, when they were young children in Meriden. Greiner was awarded scholarships to both Wesleyan University and Yale University;Greiner remembered for dedication to UB, Buffalo Business First, Buffalo, NY, Chandler, M., 3 February 2010, Accessdate=18 December 2013. and he worked during his time as a student.Greiner remembered for his love of UB, Buffalo News, Buffalo, NY: Berkshire Hathaway, 22 December 2009, Davis, H.L., Accessdate=21 December 2013. Greiner earned his baccalaureate degree in economics from Wesleyan University; and three subsequent degrees from Yale University. At Yale, Greiner earned a master's in economics, master's in law, and doctorate in law. Before entering law school, Greiner married Carol Morrisey.Carol Greiner, 84, former UB president's wife 'was way ahead of her time', "The Buffalo News", Buffalo, NY: Berkshire Hathaway, 28 March 2020, Neville, A., Accessdate=23 March 2022.Carol Greiner Named Chair of NASULGC Spouses' Council, "University at Buffalo Community Health Equity Research Institute", Buffalo, NY: University at Buffalo, 7 July 1998, Wuetcher, S., Accessdate=23 March 2022. They then had four children - Kevin, Terrence,In memoriam: William R. Greiner , Buffalo Business, Buffalo, NY: UB School of Management, Spring 2010, Accessdate=19 December 2013. Susan,UB residence hall to be named for Greiner, WBFO 88.7: Buffalo's NPR News Station, Buffalo, NY, 3 February 2010, Kryszak, J., Accessdate=19 December 2013. and Daniel - within five years.Who's who and what do they do? , The Spectrum, Buffalo, NY, 1 October 2001, Accessdate=19 December 2013. Prior to taking a position as a UB Law School faculty member in 1967,Make a gift: Support our scholarship funds , University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY: SUNY Buffalo Law School, 2013, Accessdate=19 December 2013. Bill was a School of Business faculty member at the University of Washington in Seattle.
University at Buffalo career
Early career
Greiner began his career at UB in 1967 as a member of the University at Buffalo Law School, serving as Chair of the Legal Studies Department. He also served as Associate Provost and Associate Dean of the Law School. From 1980 to 1983, Greiner was Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs; and from 1983 to 1984, he served as Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs. Greiner became UB's first Provost in 1984 prior to serving as Interim President between from 1991 to 1992., Living Prime Time, July 1999, Scrivani, M., Accessdate=8 December 2013.Greiner, wife honored at Newman Center , The Spectrum, Buffalo, NY, 24 September 2003, Ward, K., & Brodie, T., Accessdate=8 December 2013.William Greiner retires after 42 years at UB, WBFO 88.7: Buffalo's NPR News Station, Buffalo, NY, 16 October 2009, Scott, M., Accessdate=8 December 2013.Former UB President William Greiner has died, WBFO 88.7: Buffalo's NPR News Station, Buffalo, NY, 21 December 2009, Buckley, E., Accessdate=8 December 2013. Among the classes Greiner taught at UB were Honors seminars, including Law and the Legal Process and Introduction to Law. Greiner also taught other classes in the UB Law School, including Tax LawWe remember: Reflections from Headrick, Joyce, Black, Letro, Carrel, and Niese , UB Law Forum, Vol. 22, No. 2, Buffalo, NY: University at Buffalo Law School, Spring 2010, Accessdate=19 December 2013. and Property Law.
University at Buffalo presidency
Highlights
There are highlights of Greiner's career at UB. Educational and research buildings and complexes were constructed during his leadership.President Greiner resigns position , The Spectrum, Buffalo, NY, 15 January 2003, Schultz, E., Accessdate=18 December 2013.At UB, a building boom: $400 million in construction is in the works, Buffalo News, Buffalo, NY: Berkshire Hathaway, 2 September 2001, Watson, S., Accessdate=20 December 2013. Greiner also provided the impetus for the creation of the biomedical education and research buildings, mathematics building, natural sciences complex, School of Management additions, and others. During Greiner's tenure, the Student Union and The Commons were built. The UB Center for the Arts was constructed, including the transfer to UB of the Anderson Gallery. The University at Buffalo Stadium was also constructed.A work in progress, Buffalo News, Buffalo, NY: Berkshire Hathaway, 14 January 2003, Watson, S., Accessdate=8 December 2013. Established were the Office of Public Service and Urban Affairs and the School of Public Health and Health Professions; and the College of Arts and Sciences was reconstituted. A UB admissions office was established in New York City.
While Greiner was president, a fundraising campaign was conducted that was the largest in UB's and SUNY's histories. The Campaign for UB: Generation to Generation, raised $291,600,000 for UB."No regrets": After 13 eventful years at the helm of UB - and a full share of praise and criticism - William R. Greiner looks back on a "ton of great memories", Buffalo News, Buffalo, NY: Berkshire Hathaway, 5 January 2004, Watson, S., Accessdate=21 December 2013. By locating a previously unused state law saying that alumni associations can utilize private monies for dormitories, Greiner's research led to the construction of five apartment-style buildings for 2,100 UB students. He was the leader in policy change for SUNY campuses in managing their own tuition monies.
Greiner secured NCAA Division I-A status for the Buffalo Bulls.Campus watch: UB remembers Greiner , The Buffalo News, Buffalo, NY: Berkshire Hathaway, 22 December 2009, McKissic, R., Accessdate=18 December 2013. UB Athletics Director Warde Manuel has stated that Bill is known as "the Father of UB Division I-A athletics." Greiner and his wife, Carol, hosted welcomes and send-offs for UB Honors students, including freshman entering UB, at their LeBrun Road home in Amherst, New York.Remembering Bill Greiner, UB - University at Buffalo: Honors Today, Vol. XXX, Spring 2010, Buffalo, NY, Capuana, J., Accessdate=10 December 2013. The UB Honors Program was tripled under Greiner's leadership, with an increase in the number and amount of scholarships provided to Honors students, including for those studying abroad by $60,000.
International education partnerships
Educational partnerships that Greiner established for UB were with other universities in Poland,International perspective: Polish award of merit goes to UB president , UB Today, Buffalo, NY: University at Buffalo, Spring 1996, Archive, Accessdate=19 December 2013.Honor roll, Buffalo News, Buffalo, NY: Berkshire Hathaway, 22 October 1995, Accessdate=21 December 2013. Turkey,President visits Turkey to sign exchange agreement and meet alumni, UB International, Spring 2003, Vol. XII, No. 1, University at Buffalo - Office of International Education, Buffalo, NY, Accessdate=10 December 2013. and Cuba.Cuban envoy to speak at downtown luncheon next Friday, Buffalo News, Buffalo, NY: Berkshire Hathaway, 26 February 1999, Accessdate=20 December 2013. In 1990, a formal exchange agreement was created between UB and the Jagiellonian University in Kraków, Poland, although both universities had a long-standing partnership prior to that time. In 1993 and during Greiner's tenure, the two universities expanded their agreement to include additional joint programs for students, faculty, and staff. While Greiner served as UB Provost, his actions aided the development of a relationship between UB and the Jagiellonian University.
In November 2002, Greiner led a delegation to Turkey, and signed an agreement with Istanbul Technical University for student and faculty exchanges. Greiner further developed international education ties with Cuba in 1999 regarding UB's program in Havana with Fernando Remirez de Estenoz, Cuban envoy to the United States. Under Greiner's leadership, UB became the first university in the United States to establish a partnership with China, with a university center in Beijing.
Concerns
Under Greiner's tenure, there were also concerns and controversy regarding several issues. In 1993, UB's basketball team was placed on probation by the NCAA for rules violations from 1989. By 1997, two of the team's coaches had been identified as having illegally watched and attended scrimmage games. Greiner was supposedly unaware of these actions, placing responsibility for them on UB's athletic director, Nelson Townshend. Resulting from this in 2001 was that UB's annual recruitment visits were decreased by two throughout the next two years, after UB had already voluntarily reduced annual recruitment visits by two. So, annual recruitment visits were decreased, overall, from 12 to 8, a reduction that UB's administration believed to be unnecessarily harsh and planned to appeal.
In 1996, UB held a university-wide referendum that was open to students regarding two issues on Greiner's agenda, including privatization and differential tuition.Greiner faces UB referendum on tuition, privatization policy, Buffalo News, Buffalo, NY: Berkshire Hathaway, 2 May 1996, Accessdate=20 December 2013. Michael Pierce, the University Council Student Representative who penned the referendum, stated that the issue was not about confidence, or lack thereof, in Greiner, but that new directions he proposed should "get a mandate from the university." Greiner stated that students should be concerned about affordability and accessibility rather than whether or not one SUNY institution costs more to attend than another. Of the 300 UB students who rallied about the issues on the UB Amherst Campus and who proceeded, en masse, to Greiner's office, the UB president stated that their actions were "divisive," that he was "not moved," and that they should register to vote in Erie County.