Welcome back, Red Dragons!
I hope you had an energizing summer, and I am excited to welcome you to the 2023 - 2024 academic year at SUNY Oneonta. I know the weekend will be busy as you all finish preparing for classes and setting up your living spaces. If I haven't been able to say hello in person yet, I look forward to seeing you at the free Opening Picnic lunch outside of Milne Library on Monday, Aug. 28.
I know the recent decisions by the Supreme Court regarding Affirmative Action, student loan debt and other important issues may raise some questions about what life at colleges and universities in the U.S. will look like in the future. I want to assure you that, now more than ever, SUNY Oneonta remains dedicated to providing affordable, equitable access to our transformative educational opportunities. With inclusivity as one of our three core values, we know that diversity is among the many critical factors in sustaining a community that produces the well-rounded, accomplished scholars that our region, state and nation need. As a public regional university, we will continue cultivating relationships and pathways to ensure promising students from all backgrounds are able to join and enrich our community.
Our commitments to you as our students will be front and center this year as the university community will be working together to develop our next strategic plan. This plan will provide goals and desired outcomes to guide the university's actions over the next 10 years. We will also work to ensure our strategies for supporting students, faculty, staff, the university community and the local region remain up to date and able to adjust to changes we may see in higher education.
I want each of you to know that I believe you belong here at SUNY Oneonta. It doesn't matter if you are just beginning your journey or returning, I know that you will have a transformational experience here as long as you take advantage of the opportunities to learn and get involved. I am thrilled for classes to begin and hope to see all of you around campus soon.
Sincerely,
