Dear colleagues,
The first week of classes is upon us, and I am thrilled to welcome you all to the 2023 - 2024 academic year. I hope you found time over the summer to enjoy activities that relax or reenergize you and spend time with people you care about. I also hope you are excited for classes, programs and events to begin again here at the university. One of the things I am most proud of at SUNY Oneonta is the willingness I see from faculty, staff and students to connect with others, work together and participate in activities as a community.
In fact, the sense of community at SUNY Oneonta was something many students and families pointed out to me during Commencement last spring and Orientation this summer. Excellent teamwork was on full display during the Day One Orientation program over the summer and now during move-in. This was especially the case with the rapid move into Alumni Hall, which included planning, preparation, coordination and work by Facilities Planning, Maintenance and Operations, the Lockshop, Custodial, the Bull Gang and ITS Networking, Telecommunications and Customer Support. These are just a few examples of the excellent efforts to collaborate and create an atmosphere of openness, comfort, and friendliness. It doesn't go unnoticed and is very much appreciated.
We will begin this year having hit many important milestones in improving enrollment and retention for our university community. We are bringing in nearly 1,800 new students (first-year, transfer and graduate). This includes 120 EOP students, our largest class of new EOP students ever. First- to second-year retention won't be finalized until October but is projected to be 79.8%, a significant improvement from the past two years and above the national average of 67% for public institutions. We improved persistence among students in need of extra support through the work of those involved in the Academic Success Program. It is clear the students are excited to be here. You can read the opening message I shared with them online. Each and every one of us plays an essential role in providing the outstanding academic and co-curricular experience we are known for, and I thank you for your efforts.
I ask that we continue fostering our strong sense of community and support one another as we build on these successes and work collectively on developing our next strategic plan throughout this year. Collaboration and creativity will be key as we plan for the future and to ensure we remain an excellent choice for generations of students to come. In that regard, there will be many occasions for us to work, learn and socialize together, like during the campus dialogues, teach-ins, mingles, campus picnic, employee breakfast, Alumni Hall ribbon cutting, Mills Distinguished Lecture, and programs offered by departments, offices and clubs. I look forward to seeing you all at some or all of these events.
Sincerely,
