[Important Information for Employees] May Campus Update

[Office of the President]

Dear Cardinal Community,

On the Friday before the first day of classes this academic year, we
presented Dr. Michele Carpentier with an inaugural award named in her
honor. The recognition was created to annually honor a SUNY Plattsburgh
employee whose investment in the lives of students, over a period of many
years, demonstrates an exemplary level of care, compassion, and
selflessness. Recipients will model the truest spirit of what we aspire to
as members of the Cardinal family and reflect our commitment to student
success.

Thus it was fitting that this past Friday, on the last day of classes in
the academic year, we celebrated Michele's contributions to this campus on
the occasion of her retirement. Faculty, staff, students, alumni and
community members representing generations of Cardinals paid tribute with
heartfelt words and mixed emotions.

Among the lessons from her work here is the root of why we are here: We are
for students and about students.

We can each take inspiration and lessons from a decades-long career that
has touched countless lives for the better. Today, and every day, we can
draw on Michele's example in the work we do. This is our 'why'.

*Commencement*
The 'why' is on display all this week through numerous department, school
and other celebrations. The richness of these events deepens the texture of
this campus and the work we do.

The culmination is this Saturday as we honor the Class of 2023. This class,
as much as any in recent memory, has borne the effects of the COVID-19
pandemic. For most of them, a shift to remote learning took place in spring
2020 of their first year. College changed from that day forward, as it did
for each of us. Only this year has a return to a regular rhythm occured.

We celebrate with them. We have returned to the school-based approach with
ceremonies at 9 a.m. for graduates in the School of Education, Health and
Human Services, at noon for graduates in the School of Business and
Economics, and at 3 p.m. for graduates in the School of Arts and Sciences.

I want to thank each of you who will be participating, either walking with
our graduates or serving in numerous volunteer roles. It would not be
possible to highlight our graduates and their families without this support.

*Enrollment*
Our admissions efforts to bring in the next class have been strong and
ongoing. As of yesterday, we have 1,335 deposits toward the 1,700 new
student enrollment goal, or 79 percent. That includes 1,081 undergraduate
and 254 graduate students. Undergraduate deposits are lagging a bit behind
where we were last year and graduate deposits are a bit ahead. We have seen
growth in North Country deposits, out of state deposits (especially
Vermont), and North Country EOP deposits. These are all areas where
admissions heavily invested time and resources in this cycle. Educational
Opportunity Program acceptances are still running behind where we would
like to be following some challenging SUNY system issues, but we continue
persistent outreach to applicants to make up for this gap.

Our deposit numbers have been pressured as university centers, after the
May 1 deposit deadline, broadened their admissions. These campuses are
growing with greater state investment. There are ongoing conversations
among comprehensive sector presidents and SUNY system on how to address
enrollment on a more holistic basis. These will continue through the summer
and beyond. For our part, a series of events hosted by the dean of students
will be held across the state in May and June (prior to on campus
orientation) to assist with minimizing melt for deposit paid students.

Our open houses held in March and April were well attended, with about 600
families on campus. We also held bus trips and overnight visits for
prospective New York City area students in conjunction with open houses.
These were made stronger by the participation of many of you in full days
of activities and information sharing. Thank you.


*Budget*The New York state budget process concluded earlier this month. We
are waiting to learn from SUNY details about what this means for us. We
will know more by next month's update. Overall, the system as a whole has
much to be thankful for. Ongoing state support for operations system-wide
will increase $163 million, with a legislative commitment of 4 percent
annual increases in each of the next two years. There will also be
set-aside dollars for technology improvements and what are called
transformational initiatives. This is critical as our operating aid has
remained flat for years.

The budget did create a special state matching fund of $1.5 billion for
endowments, but only applied that to the four university centers.
Additional capital spending of $200 million went only to UB and Stony
Brook. The state proposals did maintain the added funds for the new faculty
lines created last year.

All of this will be coupled with our own work toward the long-term fiscal
stability of campus. Divisional vice presidents are finalizing spending
plans for FY 2023-2024. This work, plus a considerable amount of vacant
positions and the use of other funding accounts, will ease our use of our
state-side surplus funds this year.

*Summer Ahead*
As shared previously, I am pleased that Karen McGrath will join SUNY
Plattsburgh as our new Vice President for Enrollment and Student Success on
July 1. She will come to the university after having served as Senior Vice
President of Enrollment and Student Success at Hartwick College in Oneonta,
N.Y.

Karen brings to us more than 35 years of experience in higher education
administration, ranging from shaping and implementing enrollment management
and student success plans to oversight of offices including Campus Safety,
Student HealthFraternity and Sorority Life, and Student Conduct.

As we prepare for Karen's arrival, I want to thank and recognize Cori
Jackson, who will be retiring at the end of the summer. Cori has served so
well in an interim role and provided direction and solutions that prepare
the path for the new vice president.

*Final Thoughts*
It will be a busy summer as we continue to press forward on the pillars of
Plattsburgh Next: Growing and stabilizing enrollment, strengthening student
success, prioritizing equity and inclusion and engaging the North Country
region. There is much work to do and more to be shared and detailed. As we
lean into that work, know that your efforts this academic year have been
life-changing and inspiring.

We should each be proud to be Cardinals. Thank you, again, for everything
you do for our students and each other.

Alex Enyedi
President
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