September 19, 2023
Dear colleagues,
When I accepted the presidency at SUNY Potsdam, I did so with open eyes and an open heart. From the start, it has been clear that the College faces challenges. Yet ever since I stepped foot on campus for the first time, I knew that this institution could overcome just about anything, thanks to our long history and strong sense of community. That’s why today, we meet one of those challenges head-on.
This morning, along with members of our leadership team, I outlined our financial stability plan, a framework which will put SUNY Potsdam back on course to fiscal health and ensure a strong future.
Learn more: Read the overview here.
I am a believer in being totally straightforward, so I want you to know that these changes are going to be very difficult. The reality is SUNY Potsdam does not possess sufficient resources to support our current operations, due to fiscal constraints facing our campus, like many others across the country. SUNY Potsdam has worked hard to cut costs over the years. Unfortunately, with demographic challenges hampering enrollment growth, we still haven’t been able to close the gap.
Considering this, we are beginning a process of aligning our offerings and our staffing to match the level of student need and campus workload that we can sustainably support. Among other measures, the financial stability plan will include proposals for academic program discontinuations, which would impact programs that collectively enroll 6.3 percent of our total student body. Under the proposal, the College would phase out these programs over the course of three to four academic years, providing individualized plans for degree completion for all current active students.
Further cuts will be evaluated for other campus areas as well, following a lengthy analysis of student demand and workforce need. Initial recommendations have been reached following a lengthy holistic review, including data analysis and extensive deliberation, and that review will continue, in accordance with shared governance, collective bargaining agreements and civil service rules.
This is critical: None of these recommendations are based on the rigor of those programs, the quality of the faculty, or the experiences had by alumni who hold these degrees. We have simply had more programs than are supported by enrollment revenue. Our framework is designed to put the College back on a path to stable finances and strategic growth to ensure a strong future.
As the campus evolves and adapts to changing circumstances, we must do so with compassion and with care. The sense of family we all cherish will make these changes hard, as each of us will be personally impacted in some way. But that sense of family is also what will enable us to meet our challenges and overcome them.
I am committed to seeing us through this period of change, and I am confident that we will emerge stronger if we confront these challenges together.
Please read through the resources on the website for more detailed information on the plan. We are also open to your feedback. You may submit questions and comments on the form on our website, and we will continue these conversations in our upcoming Q&A sessions and our campus dialogues.
Thank you for being a valued part of the SUNY Potsdam community.
Sincerely,
Suzanne R. Smith, Ph.D.
President
SUNY Potsdam