Welcome back for the fall 2026 semester!
The two mission pillars of SUNY New Paltz are:
(i) To provide an excellent education to our students that prepares them for lifelong learning and success, and
(ii) to be a clear value to the citizens of New York and beyond.
These two pillars reinforce each other when we realize that our graduates are our most valuable contribution to the wider world.
In his State of the University address this past Friday, President Wheeler emphasized again the importance of working together to create the ideal student experience. This experience is unique for each student, but for all it is challenging and accessible, inclusive and equitable. It asks students to think about sustainability and responsibility, and it is connected to place and purpose. He emphasized that the SUNY New Paltz experience is fundamentally a humanistic experience.
President Wheeler spoke of the accomplishments of every unit of the university, and he spoke of the challenges we must face together. His goal-oriented approach is focused on a continued commitment to academic excellence and providing value to our community. Practical challenges include increasing enrollment and retention, managing our employee expenditures, and finding efficiencies in our processes. He spoke repeatedly of the “Big Four” student metrics by which we must judge our effectiveness:
(i) recruitment (and yield),
(ii) retention,
(iii) persistence, and
(iv) completion.
And, while recruitment is the immediate priority, he recognized the need to allow for strategic investments across the university. While the bar for new initiatives will be higher, SUNY New Paltz will continue to respond to the ever-evolving needs of our students.
Academic Affairs will continue to play a central role in the work of creating the ideal student experience. We will be working more intentionally with Enrollment Management and Student Affairs as part of this effort. We will continue our role in the implementation of the Strategic Plan, and we will be leading the preparation for our 2028-2029 Middle States reaccreditation cycle. More details of this work will be forthcoming in my September report to the Faculty Senate.
At the conclusion of his speech, the president called on all of us to renew our commitment to work together to build an effective and strong community and to manage and grow our resources. It will require persistence and hard work. We are one team with one goal. I echo those sentiments, and I am confident that we will succeed.
With classes having begun today, I’d like to ask you to please remember a few important dates.
- Wednesday, August 26
Convocation, followed by BBQ for all - Thursday, September 17
Celebration of Retired Faculty and Staff - Friday. September 18
President's Reception for New and Newly Promoted Employees and Celebration of Chancellor's Award and Presidential Classified Award Winners - Monday, September 15-21
Enrollment Census/Early Alert Survey run dates
A particular note on the Enrollment Census/Early Alert Survey. This is a semesterly obligation that seems routine and, if not completed, without consequence. In fact, it is very important, and failure to fill out the Enrollment Census/Early Alert Survey can have serious adverse consequences for our students. The survey allows us to know early in the semester if there are students who are registered for but not attending classes. Those students are contacted, and if their absence is intentional, they are removed from classes early enough that they avoid financial penalities. In the past, we have had students not reported as absent in spite of never having attended classes. These students can end up owing from a few hundred dollars to more than $10,000 for government financial aid that was received and spent. Please fill out the Enrollment Census/Early Alert Survey accurately and on time. Its three brief and easy-to-complete items can, in fact, make a very big difference for an individual student.
Additionally, Registrar Sarah Roberson sent an email earlier today titled “Important information for Fall 2026.” Please make note of the following: “Students who have not registered or have not confirmed enrollment should not attend class and will not have access to the Brightspace course site.” Enrollment confirmation status is listed on the course roster. Students with questions about this should be directed to the Office of Student Accounts in Wooster Hall 114.
At SUNY New Paltz, we very much value the diversity of our campus. One way we demonstrate respect for that diversity is in how we acknowledge and make accommodations for our various traditions and religious beliefs. As a new academic year begins, I would like to remind everyone of our policy regarding religious observances. To quote the Undergraduate Catalog:
Throughout the academic year, many students and faculty will need to miss class or reschedule assignments, exams, practices, or other school commitments to observe religious holidays that fall on class or work days, whether specified or not specified on the academic calendar.
Students who wish to observe these holidays should communicate with faculty, coaches, etc. as soon as possible regarding absences and discuss plans for making up missed work. Faculty must comply with New York State Education Law (Section 224-a).
Faculty who wish to observe on scheduled work days should communicate with their department chair and arrange for make-up sessions or alternative content delivery. (See the Faculty Handbook, Section 3: Instruction.)
Please read below for information that may be familiar to many of you but that still will be useful to all.
Guidance and Resources
Academic Affairs Information and Resources
Brightspace and Online Course Resources
Please make yourself familiar with the six teaching modalities recognized at New Paltz and be sure to align your practices with the modality definitions for the courses you are teaching.
New Paltz uses Brightspace (DLE). Brightspace can be helpful in fully seated classes as a means of distributing course syllabi, handouts, and as a way of maintaining your gradebook. It is the expected platform for any courses with remote learning elements. Brightspace training and certification is available to all faculty through the Brightspace portal; certification is required for faculty teaching online.
Resources for Students
Thanks very much for taking the time to read this memo. I look forward to speaking with more of you at the first meeting of the Faculty Senate on Sept. 2 and at events throughout the fall. I hope we all have a great semester.
Sincerely,
William McClure
Provost & Vice President for Academic Affairs
