Central to Our Community’s Success

Dear Members of the Orange Community:

Earlier this month, Syracuse University conferred degrees on nearly 7,000 students from across the country, including many from Central New York, and around the world. That number doesn’t even include the many who completed our non-degree training programs this year, including more than 20,000 U.S. veterans and military personnel, thousands of high school and grade school students enrolled in our college courses, hundreds of individuals participating in programs supporting people with disabilities, and a wide range of camps, competitions, internships, and other initiatives designed to serve local community members from kindergarten through adulthood.

This is our core mission. And through all the challenges and distractions of recent years, our faculty and staff have continued to deliver on that mission, consistently, without cancellations or disruptions. We’ve continued to serve our students and our community every single day.

In recent weeks, I’ve heard from many people, on campus and beyond, concerned about federal policy changes that have significantly impacted colleges and universities, and ones that may be forthcoming. The reality is that higher education institutions, including those here in Central New York, face tremendous uncertainty. Some proposals under consideration threaten the economic viability not only of elite universities, but perhaps even more so, the institutions that have uplifted our region for decades.

Central New York, like Syracuse University, is resilient. When our region lost much of its manufacturing base, our colleges and universities became its backbone. Institutions like Le Moyne College, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF), Upstate Medical University, Onondaga Community College (OCC), and Syracuse University have provided tens of thousands of good jobs with good benefits. More than that, they’ve contributed to our region’s identity. They have driven economic opportunity, cultivated cultural vibrancy, and fostered community pride and engagement around sports, music, and entertainment. The families of those who work at these institutions are the lifeblood of Central New York, contributing to emergency services, small businesses, houses of worship, and countless civic organizations.

Our region has benefited enormously from these institutions. They are part of what has long been the best system of higher education in the world. Just as we once lost our place in a world-leading manufacturing economy, we risk losing our standing in higher education and in the Central New York community if drastic cuts are made to funding for financial aid, research, libraries, veterans, and both local and international students, among others. If that happens, every college and university in this region will be deeply impacted.

For my part, I remain fully committed to advancing our mission, upholding our values, and championing the well-being of our people. I will continue to engage with elected officials and advocate on behalf of our community, and remain resolute in protecting those among us who are most vulnerable.

The stakes for Central New York are high. Our region is growing again. New employers and new families are arriving every month. For that growth to continue, we need a strong Le Moyne, SUNY ESF, OCC, Upstate Medical University, and Syracuse University. The success of these institutions is our community’s success.

Sincerely,

Chancellor Kent Syverud