Happy New Year! Here is hoping that you had a wonderful holiday season and enjoyed your time with friends and family.
On Monday, we honored the important role Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. played in advancing civil rights in America. His vision is reflected in our University’s ongoing commitment to inclusivity. The importance of this commitment is highlighted by the challenging problems presently at the fore in our country and in the broader world.
The start of a new year and semester provides an ideal time to reflect on where we have been and where we are heading as a University. Here are just a few examples of some noteworthy recent accomplishments:
• Our University has seen a significant increase in enrollment this academic year, with 519 new undergraduate students joining our Main Campus, an increase of nearly 30 percent in such matriculants over the prior academic year. Enrollments in our AUNY programs also are trending above projections.
• In the Fall, our Board of Trustees approved moving forward with a $30 million project to construct a new sports and recreation facility on 200 acres atop Jericho Hill in the town of Alfred—pending securing $10 million in philanthropic support for the endeavor (a target which we shortly anticipate surpassing). The Saxon Hill Sports Complex, which is set for completion in the Fall of 2025, will significantly enhance our student enrollment and retention efforts. The Saxon Hill facility will include fields used by new intercollegiate baseball and women’s and men’s rugby teams. Varsity baseball, which launches this Spring semester, will play home contests at Saxon Hill beginning in 2026. Women’s and men’s rugby will play as club teams initially, with women’s rugby set to become an intercollegiate sport next academic year.
• We continue to offer new academic programs. Over the last year, we have gained New York State approval for new Bachelor of Science degrees in equine business management, physics, and astrophysics. In addition to these new degree programs, the University has added Bachelor of Science degrees in data analytics and business analytics, as well as in biochemistry, biology, chemistry, and mathematics. We have also reintroduced our computer science and electrical engineering majors. In the Fall, New York State approved our proposed concentration in equine-assisted psychotherapy within the Division of Psychology.
• Registration is open for Alfred Summer Arts 2024, scheduled to run from June 24 to July 19. The program features workshops in a variety of media areas designed for participants working at all levels: artists, high school students, teachers, community members, and visiting professionals. In addition to workshops, high school institutes and courses for credit will be offered.
• We received a $467,000 grant from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) which will benefit students in our renewable energy engineering and electric engineering programs by providing them with access to state-of-the-art equipment and preparing them for jobs in the growing renewable energy industry. General Electric Digital funding of $786,000 will provide grid planning and operations software in support of the NYSERDA project. EPRI, an independent, non-profit research and development organization, will subcontract with our University to conduct industry-standard training short courses for our students.
As the spring 2024 semester begins, let us remember the role we all play in advancing our University’s mission: helping students realize their purpose.
Fiat 2024!
Mark
