SUNY Plattsburgh Opens with President’s Welcome, First-Years’ Matriculation

SUNY Plattsburgh’s president reminded faculty and staff gathered for the opening of the 2024-2025 academic year that students are the heart and soul of the university.

“Each day, their passion for learning, growing and making a difference reminds us why were here, infusing our campus with vibrancy and purpose,” Dr. Alexander Enyedi said. “It is an inspiration to witness, and I am deeply proud of the work we do together to support their journeys.”

The annual welcome in the Warren Ballrooms traditionally held the Friday before the first day of classes is the official start of the semester. Enyedi told the 200-some faculty and staff in the Angell College Center venue that the three topics he’s asked about the most often are: Enrollment, the budget and Clinton Community College.

This year, as of Aug. 19, SUNY Plattsburgh’s cohort of new students was 1,887, which is 11 percent above the university’s enrollment target.

Enrollment

Graduate enrollment increased by 30 percent and transfer students are 31 percent of all new undergraduates. That shift in enrollment means 28 percent of new students will study exclusively online.

The Office of Student Financial Services was instrumental in the enrollment effort this year after a change to the FAFSA application delayed its release to student applicants.

“In mid-April we were one of the first two SUNY schools, systemwide, to have full financial aid packages on the street and in the hands of deciding students with other schools (being) weeks and months away from accomplishing this. This extraordinary work helped us to stay competitive, meet the needs of our students and assisted in exceeding our enrollment targets,” Enyedi told those gathered..

As for the budget, preliminary estimates show an increase in the university’s fund balance of state-side operating reserve, up from last fall’s balance of $14 million.

And SUNY Plattsburgh will update its financial stability plan with a shift to a new all-funds plan, allowing for for greater transparency to the university’s overall financial health and showing the status of student-fee accounts and dormitory funds.

The all-funds plan reflects a change in the mix of students the university enrolls, including fewer students living on campus and an increase in online students who don’t pay certain fees for on-campus services.

Changes to Orientation

This year, the university moved orientation for new students from the summer to the week before classes begin.

“This was a major new initiative that has taken full campus support and will aid us in helping our students feel a sense of belonging, have a positive academic transition, find their affinity groups and demonstrate to families that SUNY Plattsburgh is the right choice for their student,” Enyedi said.

Enyedi outlined new initiatives from the past six months. They include:

• The Accessibility Resource Office’s new space located on the first floor of Feinberg Library and the launch of OASIS, a living-learning community for students with disabilities. The new ATLAS program is designed to provide day-to-day support for students by creating a sense of belonging.
• The university exceeded the SUNY system’s goal for the new Advancing Completion Through Engagement program with 207 students participating. The program provides mentorship and financial support to students who qualify.
• The campus’s Educational Opportunity Program exceeded the SUNY system’s target with 89 new students.
• The Office of Wellness and Health Promotion opened in June and will focus on student programming across eight areas of well-being.
• The Counseling Center hired a new professional counselor who will develop a peer counseling program to further support students.

Current infrastructure updates totaling $22 million, separate from the university’s operating budget, are paid for by the State University Construction Fund and include:

• A $6.5 million investment in dining options, which includes the newly renovated Cardinal Market and café (formerly Campus Express), and opening of the Halal Shack in the Burghy’s Den space. The renovation of the former Sundowner is set to be finished by spring 2025.
• A $6 million parking lot replacement project that includes the lots adjacent to Banks, Yokum, Kehoe and the Angell College Center. The projects are estimated to be completed by mid-September.

Clinton Community College

“In less than one year, at the entrance to Redcay, we will be joined by the SUNY chancellor and leadership from Clinton Community College to launch a new era in the delivery of higher education in the North Country. This will represent a paradigm shift on how community college and universities work together synergistically to better serve local communities,” Enyedi said.

The move is part of a carefully considered plan to put the community college in a location that assures its future success, he said.

Clinton Community College recently filed a report with the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, which accredits institutions.

“This submission is a pivotal step in ensuring the institution’s sustainable future as they prepare for the move to our campus,” Enyedi said.

As SUNY Plattsburgh prepares for CCC’s arrival, departments in Redcay Hall and 133 Court St. will be relocated to equivalent, if not improved, space elsewhere on campus, he said.

“The relocation of Clinton Community College opens the door for potential shared services, expanded enrollment opportunities — think transfer students— and enhanced student services, benefits that will be explored in greater detail once the move is complete,” Enyedi said.

“We at SUNY Plattsburgh are committed to being greater partners in this exciting new initiative working closely with Clinton Community College and SUNY System Administration to build a brighter future for our students and region.”

Academic Program Updates

After the College of St. Rose closed, SUNY Plattsburgh served as a teach-out partner for some of its academic programs and secured SUNY and the state Education Department approvals to launch the university’s master of science in social work a year ahead of schedule.

The human development and family relations department is launching its program at the Queensbury campus this fall. A bachelor’s program in cybersecurity management and a master of science in accounting are awaiting state ed approval. And a stock market analyst certificate has been approved by the state.

The SUNY Plattsburgh education department is partnering with Champlain Valley Educational Services to launch a teaching assistant pathway, which will include a pre-apprenticeship, a 12-credit apprenticeship and on-the-job training.

The School of Business and Economics now offers management training workshops and certifications to employees at CVPH Medical Center, Alice Hyde Medical Center and Elizabethtown Medical Center.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

SUNY central administration recognized the university’s annual Black Solidarity Day teach-in format as a best practice for all 64 SUNY campuses, Enyedi said.

The university is working to add an accessible lactation pod to campus, which will supplement the lactation spaces developed last year with support from the Clinton County Health Department.

SUNY Plattsburgh is continuing in its goal to train all full-time employees as equity advocates by fall 2026. Equity advocates serve on job search committees to ensure a fair and equitable hiring process.

In an ongoing effort to create a safe and inclusive campus, employees will complete Title IX training and workshops on reporting bias incidents, harassment and hate crimes.

Local community members are welcome to join the campus at monthly healing circles hosted by the Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation Center.

Scholarships and Fundraising

Last year, the Plattsburgh College Foundation awarded $1.9 million to nearly 900 students, averaging $2,200 per student. The foundation directly supported university programs with more than $3 million last year.

SUNY Plattsburgh secured a $1.5 million response to a $1 million challenge gift from alumna Cindy Kansky ’77.

Faculty and Staff Awards

Two employees were honored at the President’s Welcome with Faculty and Staff Impact Awards from the Plattsburgh Alumni Association. The awards are given to faculty and staff, current or retired, who have a major or lasting impact on the life of alumni.

Dr. James Armstrong received the faculty award. Armstrong joined the faculty in 1981 as an assistant professor of anthropology. He was promoted to full professor in 1997 and in 1999 received the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching. In 2008, he was named a distinguished teaching professor. He retired in 2017 as the associate director of the Redcay Honors Program.

Emma Bartscherer received the staff award. In 2022, Bartscherer was promoted to director of the Queensbury campus after six years as an academic adviser and two years as assistant director of annual giving. She founded the Plattsburgh Activity Committee in 2017, which provides services like finals week refreshments and wellness activities. She also helps to ensure Queensbury students experience a meaningful graduation ceremony.

Seven employees were honored with SUNY Chancellor’s Awards for Excellence, which were handed out at the Aug. 23 welcome by Heidi Kelly, acting chair of the University Council. Recipients are:

• Margarita Garcia-Notario, adjunct lecturer of modern languages and culture, is the recipient of the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Adjunct Teaching. She joined the campus in 2000 after serving as co-founder and headmaster of the Bilingual School for Children in Madrid, Spain. She taught Spanish at St. John’s Academy in Plattsburgh before joining the university faculty.
• JoAnn Gleeson-Kreig, associate vice president of academic affairs, is the recipient of the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Professional Service. Gleeson-Kreig joined the nursing faculty as an assistant professor in 1997 and was promoted to full professor in 2011. She was appointed to her current role in 2015. She acts as the campus contact for SUNY system administration as it relates to policy and curriculum and is accreditation liaison for the Office for the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
• Heidi Schnackenberg, professor and co-chair of education, is the recipient of the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in scholarship and creative activities. Schnackenberg has been teaching in the School of Education, Health and Human Services since joining as an associate professor of education in 2001. She has served as interim chair of both communications sciences and disorders, and counseling and human services. She was chair and coordinator of the master’s in education program from 2008 to 2023.
• Beth Schaughnessy, administrative assistant 1, is the recipient of the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Classified Service. Schaughnessy joined the campus in 2002 as a University Police dispatcher. Since then, she worked for 10 years in admissions before moving to the Department of Sport and Wellness as a keyboard specialist 2. In her current role in athletics and recreation, she works with student workers, assists the director of athletics and tracks athletics expenses and revenue.
• Yong Yu, associate professor of education, is the recipient of the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching. Yu joined the campus in 2011 as an assistant professor of literacy education. She was promoted to associate professor in 2017. She served for five years as chair of the undergraduate teacher education department.
• Michelle Ouellette, associate professor of public relations, is the recipient of the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Faculty Service. Ouellette joined the university in 2007 as the director of public relations and publications. In 2014, she moved to academics as assistant professor of public relations. She was promoted to her current role in 2020. She holds the 2018 Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching.

• Michael Walters, associate professor and co-chair of physics, is the recipient of the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching. Walters was a visiting professor in 2011 and joined the university full time in 2012 and was promoted to associate professor in 2017.

In 2018, Walters launch the robotics bachelor’s degree, teaching classes like the robotics senior project and image processing as well as physics and engineering courses.

On Thursday, Aug. 22, new students packed the bleachers in the Memorial Hall gymnasium to be formally welcomed into the student body.

Matriculation Ceremony

“To our new Cardinals, welcome to this traditional matriculation ceremony. Today marks the beginning of your remarkable journey at SUNY Plattsburgh,” Enyedi said.

“Take changes, dream big and embrace new experiences. This is a place for you to learn from challenges, be grateful for opportunities and believe in your potential.”

Dr. Marcus Tye, provost and senior vice president for academic affairs, asked the students to stand and formally matriculated them into the student body to much applause from the faculty and staff gathered for the occasion.

‘You Deserve to Be Here’

Elizabeth Bernat, director of academic advising, was the featured speaker.

Bernat acknowledged students might be nervous and not know what to expect from college. She offered an analogy: the campus is like a gift with many activities, events and opportunities that should be opened and embraced.

“By saying ‘yes’ to things that serve you and lift others, one week, month, semester at a time, you know more, can do more and are more,” Bernat said. “You deserve to be here. You are worthy of this gift. Now go open it.”

Fall semester classes began Monday, Aug. 26.

— By Assistant Director of Communications Felicia Krieg

— Photos by Felicia Krieg and Hunter Mossey