In setting a tone for the year ahead, I must first reflect on our shared experiences and conversations over the last four months. As I have said at the 13 listening sessions with colleagues that have taken place since the end of the spring semester: The end of the 2023-24 academic year was without a doubt the most difficult I have experienced in my 32 years in higher education. As we move forward, I am enlightened by thoughts and energies generously shared by members of this community, and I am as committed as ever to fostering an inclusive culture rooted in civil discourse and universal appreciation of our shared humanity.
The full address includes important updates from our main divisions and areas – Enrollment Management, Development & Alumni Relations, Student Affairs, Administration & Finance, Human Resources, Diversity & Inclusion, Communication & Marketing, and Academic Affairs – that I encourage you to watch when your schedule allows.
I close by highlighting three key areas that I have asked vice presidents, deans and other campus leaders to prioritize as we enter the new year; these priorities are all in service to the two pillars of SUNY New Paltz’s institutional mission:
- To provide an excellent education to our students that prepares them for lifelong learning and success; and
- To be a clear value to the citizens of New York and beyond.
In no particular order, the three priorities are:
- Fiscal Sustainability: Continuing progress toward an imperative that we balance our budget by 2027-28;
- Campus Culture and Climate: Activating resources and leadership in all areas of the campus to ensure a safe working and learning space, improving communication across difference, incorporating new SUNY guidance on campus climate into our local practices and value systems, and revitalizing our work around civic and civil engagement;
- Strategic Planning: Collaborating to set strategic goals for building on our core principles and supporting our programming, fiscal and human resources. We will partner with an outside consulting group on this effort, and I hope to share more information about that soon.
As the fall semester dawns, I restate my sincere desire to work actively with and for the SUNY New Paltz community, its students, alumni, staff and faculty. I thank you all for the unique gifts, talents and aspirations you contribute to the excellence of this institution.
Let us now resume our journey together.
Sincerely,
Darrell P. Wheeler
President
