<div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif"><div class="gmail_default"><span style="background-color:transparent;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12pt">Hello,</span></div><div class="gmail_default"><span style="background-color:transparent;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12pt"><br></span></div><div class="gmail_default"><span style="background-color:transparent;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12pt">I’m excited for the start of fall semester, and hope you have had a restful and productive summer.</span></div></div><span id="m_-4739139403763753214gmail-docs-internal-guid-68f29c95-7fff-4d5a-dc5d-931d4a5b0ea0"><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">By “productive,” I don’t just mean our professional work including research, scholarship, creative work, curriculum development and the continual process of course improvement. I include personal growth, reflection, time with family and friends, and contributions to the greater good.</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">One of the most important projects for many of us this summer has been the Academic Planning steering committee. With hard work building on the summit, and in recognition of the urgent need to align academic programs with evolving student needs, financial realities, and long-term institutional priorities, the committee has finalized four working groups with an aim to share a draft plan with the community by mid-October or thereabouts.</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">The four working groups are: Academic Affairs Communication and Operations, Academic Portfolio Health and Financial Modeling, Student and Employee Academic Support and Retention, Societal Needs and Market Trends. </span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1sptAbNX58BE6fRN1iqv_JHkprf92mLc7PQoYwv4qUBE/edit?usp=sharing" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,255);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline">The charge of each working group</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline"> was shared with the community in the first week of August for input. Between now and September 3rd, the steering committee will refine the charges into a shorter prioritized list of deliverables. There is still time for campus community colleagues to volunteer for joining a working group—</span><a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdtZzN_02DStjDdPvAlQdx7AjP7hiSNMqEO7P4Q1qpCUXN9Og/viewform" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,255);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline">just click on this form to volunteer</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline"> by Wed 03 Sep! Questions to Bridget Haina or me. The working groups, with the additional volunteers, will review their respective charges and make any additional refinement, guided by the steering committee. It is our hope that we will have a draft plan with both strategy and concrete recommendations by mid-to-late October for broad community input and review under shared governance in November and December.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">Our dedicated individuals and teams in Academic Affairs are not on pause during Academic Planning! Our academic programs and faculty continue to respond with innovation and excellence. A few highlights of accomplishments wrapped up in spring and summer:</span></p><ul style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:0pt" role="presentation"><span style="font-size:12pt;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">New academic programs approved or launched:</span></p></li><ul style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:circle;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt" role="presentation"><span style="font-size:12pt;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">Proposal for Business Administration MBA with SUNY system for approval</span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:circle;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt" role="presentation"><span style="font-size:12pt;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">Lean Sig Sigma Certificate fully approved and registered, with online approved by SUNY</span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:circle;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt" role="presentation"><span style="font-size:12pt;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">We are working on building a new music recording studio for the new Music Technology degree program.</span></p></li></ul><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt" role="presentation"><span style="font-size:12pt;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">Faculty searches:</span></p></li><ul style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:circle;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt" role="presentation"><span style="font-size:12pt;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">We have 13 new teaching faculty joining us this fall and one UUP non-teaching faculty person. Of the teaching faculty, 8 are tenure-track.</span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:circle;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt" role="presentation"><span style="font-size:12pt;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">We will have at least 14 full time UUP faculty searches in Academic Affairs this year to start next fall, of these 2 are lecturers, and the rest tenure-track/permanency-track. These 14 searches to be undertaken in 2025-2026 include 9 new searches, and 5 searches from the prior year that were unfilled that we are starting over. </span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:circle;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt" role="presentation"><span style="font-size:12pt;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">The allocation of these new searches was determined in Spring 2025 following careful deliberation with Provost's Cabinet. Decisions were based on available funding after meeting previously planned budget targets for 2025–26 & 2026–27 and an evaluation of needs across Academic Affairs.</span></p></li></ul><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt" role="presentation"><span style="font-size:12pt;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">A few of many grants, partnerships, accreditations, and honors:</span></p></li><ul style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:circle;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt" role="presentation"><span style="font-size:12pt;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">The Student Support Services grant was renewed for 5 more years ($636,868/year). ESS led this grant, headed by Shatawndra Lister, with the support of our Sponsored Research team and others.</span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:circle;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt" role="presentation"><span style="font-size:12pt;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">Drs. Portia Turco (Counselor Education) and Donna Van Alst (Social Work) received a HRSA (Health Resources and Services Administration) grant totaling ~$600,000/year for 4 years. This grant will provide 16 graduate students per year with $25,000 stipends.</span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:circle;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt" role="presentation"><span style="font-size:12pt;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">Drs. Gillian Crane-Krame and Justin Lowry (Anthropology Department) received a grant jointly funded by the UK and US. The grant amount is 1.2 million British pounds from the UK side (UKRI) and 266 thousand dollars from the US side (NSF). Dr. Jo Buck Berry (UK) and Dr. Gillian Crane Kramer (US) are the project leads. Dr. Lowry is Co PI, working on the GIS portion of the research. </span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:circle;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt" role="presentation"><span style="font-size:12pt;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">a new Science of Reading, Early Literacy (ELITE) Grant in EHHS building on the strengths of the education faculty in this important area</span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:circle;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt" role="presentation"><span style="font-size:12pt;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">MSW Accreditation was received for the full 8 years by CSWE</span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:circle;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt" role="presentation"><span style="font-size:12pt;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">a University Assisted Community Schools Partnership with Beekmantown Central School is launching</span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:circle;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt" role="presentation"><span style="font-size:12pt;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">Dr. Tim Mihuc has had an insect named after him, </span><span style="font-size:12pt;background-color:transparent;font-style:italic;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">Perlesta mihucorum</span><span style="font-size:12pt;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">, with much work by the team at the Lake Champlain Research Institute, including Luke Myers.</span></p></li></ul><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt" role="presentation"><span style="font-size:12pt;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">Clinton Community College Co-Location on Plattsburgh’s Campus</span></p></li><ul style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:circle;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt" role="presentation"><span style="font-size:12pt;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">More areas of the University than one can list herein worked to pull this off, including the faculty and staff in academic departments and programs that moved (Anthropology, Criminal Justice, Sociology, Women and Gender Studies, and Canadian Studies / Center for the Study of Canada—Institute on Québec Studies), the teams in ITS, Feinberg Library, M&O and A&F that worked with SUNY Construction Fund, and many other areas engaged in exploring and preparing for this, including the work of the coordinating committee led by Holly Heller-Ross.</span></p></li></ul><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt" role="presentation"><span style="font-size:12pt;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">ITS and technology upgrades: </span></p></li><ul style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:circle;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt" role="presentation"><span style="font-size:12pt;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline">Campus portal upgrade</span><span style="font-size:12pt;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline"> On August 1, ITS launched our new campus portal—a simpler, more personalized platform designed to make it easier to access the services you need. This launch also includes brand-new mobile apps for both iOS and Android, an important addition that helps us “meet students where they are.” Building on our previous portal, which had reached the end of its life, the new platform provides a centralized hub to quickly find and interact with essential campus services, while improving our ability to deliver timely, “just-in-time” messages. It also incorporates emergency alerts, access to commonly used resources, and much more.</span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:circle;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt" role="presentation"><span style="font-size:12pt;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline">Clinton Community College Datacenter Relocation</span><span style="font-size:12pt;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline"> On August 1, 2025, after months of meticulous network planning, new application development, and the creation of a secure data exchange process, our Information Technology Services team—working closely with Clinton’s IT staff—successfully migrated Clinton’s datacenters to our campus. This transition unlocked a full suite of shared services, including NetID creation, parking registration, Clinton-branded ID card production, shared library access, wired and wireless network services, firewall and internet connectivity, copy and print services, and more—all backed by the ongoing support of our dedicated ITS team. This achievement was a critical step in enabling Clinton’s successful relocation to our campus for the Fall 2025 semester.</span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:circle;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt" role="presentation"><span style="font-size:12pt;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline">Zoom phone update</span><span style="font-size:12pt;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline"> Last fall, we announced our transition from an on-premises phone system to a modern, cloud-hosted Zoom platform. As of today, 30 percent of the campus has made the move—spanning more than 50 departments, 450 phone numbers, and the placement of 326 new physical phones. This multi-year project is well underway and will continue until its planned completion in 2026.</span></p></li></ul><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt" role="presentation"><span style="font-size:12pt;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">Candidates came to campus in August to direct the new Center for Instructional and Program Innovation (CIAPI), which will combine the teams of the existing Center for Teaching Excellence faculty fellows and Technology Enhanced Learning instructional designers. CIAPI will serve as a central hub for instructional support, helping faculty strengthen course design, innovate teaching strategies in-person and online, and expand quality programming across modalities while supporting new online program design. CIAPI will launch once the new director is on board, who will then search for a presently vacant instructional designer. We continue with two Teaching Excellence fellows this 2025-2026 year, Kelly Theisen and Renee Bator</span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt" role="presentation"><span style="font-size:12pt;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">I’m delighted to announce that Marcus Marenda has accepted the position of Associate for Academic Budgets and Resources (previously the Assistant to Provost, who retired). Marcus will start by September 1. My thanks to the search committee, chaired by JoAnn Gleeson-Kreig, for their extensive work. Mr. Marenda brings a wealth of experience including finance and institutional investing, compliance, K-12 education as a teacher and more recently as a senior administrator, and both undergraduate and graduate degrees in philosophy, integrating a respect for academia and budgets alike.</span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt" role="presentation"><span style="font-size:12pt;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">Feinberg Library employees have spent the summer readying new resources for our faculty, staff, and students. We will soon receive 14,000 books—equivalent to 900 full banker boxes of books—from Clinton Community College, which will be added to our general collection. This significant expansion deepens access to regional scholarship and enhances research opportunities for students and faculty alike, while helping to replace sources that are no longer as useful. The library has conducted a study on utilization and developed criteria for de-accessioning that was shared last spring. Our Special Collections and University Archives, already the premier repository of North Country, Adirondack, and Lake Champlain Valley historical materials, will now also be home to Clinton’s archival collections. And expect announcements soon about two new digital resources available to all Plattsburgh patrons: Overdrive and the Wall Street Journal.</span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt" role="presentation"><span style="font-size:12pt;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">JoAnn Gleeson-Kreig, our dedicated and accomplished Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs, announced her retirement at the end of January 2026. We will shortly launch a search for an AVP, and once successful, launch a search for a UUP associate to assist the AVP, a role that has grown in complexity over the years. I also hope to add one or two faculty fellows in Spring 2026 to the Office of the Provost to advance support for tenure and promotion, cross-School curriculum efforts, and other new initiatives. We are also continuing Transfer Fellows to support expanded efforts for transfer students.</span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt" role="presentation"><span style="font-size:12pt;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">Dr. Amy Ryan has been named the Faculty Athletics Representative by President Enyedi. Congratulations, Amy! And thanks to those who volunteered.</span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt" role="presentation"><span style="font-size:12pt;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">The 2025-2026 Honorary Degree Committee led by Dr. Shakuntala Rao is reviewing nominations for honorary degree candidates for May 2026 and beyond for the president’s and SUNY’s consideration.</span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:12pt" role="presentation"><span style="font-size:12pt;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">SUNY announced in August they are launching a new SUNY Academic Momentum campaign. Much more to come on this as we learn more, for now we know it may focus on factors such as retention and outcomes for graduates including salary upon graduating, both areas that are important to mission and look to be of growing importance for our students to be eligible for financial aid. The Academic Planning committee especially will be paying close attention to the interface between our Academic Plan priorities and these priorities that come from SUNY administration.</span></p></li></ul><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">In closing, my personal gratitude to all those who’ve worked this summer on the academic plan, and to an amazing team in the provost’s office and cabinet. I believe we are stronger seeking understanding and working together, and indeed this is essential for humanity at the micro and macro level. In our own community at SUNY Plattsburgh where we have the most influence, we are privileged to be in careers that contribute to a greater good. I look forward to all we will accomplish together this year, as we continue advancing our academic mission and supporting student success.</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.8;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline"><span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif"></span><b style="font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px">Marcus Tye, PhD <i>[he,him]</i></b><br></span></p><div style="font-size:12px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;box-sizing:border-box;line-height:18px;margin:0px">Provost & SVPAA</div><div style="font-size:12px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;box-sizing:border-box;line-height:18px;margin:0px">802 Kehoe, 101 Broad Street</div><div style="font-size:12px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;box-sizing:border-box;line-height:18px;margin:0px">Plattsburgh, NY 12901</div><div style="font-size:12px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;box-sizing:border-box;line-height:18px;margin:0px"><span id="m_-7347799577275035388phoneIcon" style="box-sizing:border-box;display:inline">(o) </span><a href="tel:+1-518-564-5402" title="Office Phone Number" target="_blank" style="color:rgb(200,16,46);box-sizing:border-box;line-height:18px;display:inline;margin:0px;text-decoration-color:rgb(200,16,46)">518-564-5402</a> <font color="#c8102e"><span style="box-sizing:border-box;text-decoration-color:rgb(200,16,46)"><b><a href="http://plattsburgh.edu/" target="_blank">plattsburgh.edu</a></b></span></font></div><br style="font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;color:rgb(0,0,0)"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;color:rgb(0,0,0)"></span><span style="font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;color:rgb(0,0,0)"></span><span style="font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;color:rgb(0,0,0)"></span><span style="font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;color:rgb(0,0,0)"></span><span style="font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;color:rgb(0,0,0)"></span><span style="font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;color:rgb(0,0,0)"></span><span style="font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;color:rgb(0,0,0)"></span><span style="font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;color:rgb(0,0,0)"></span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px"></span><img alt="SUNY Plattsburgh logo.png" src="cid:D122DDAA-1658-4912-8104-998E14D7ECC6" class="gmail-CToWUd"><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br></span></div>
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