SUNY Plattsburgh President Recaps Semester’s Successes, Progress
As SUNY Plattsburgh enters the final two weeks of the fall 2025 semester, President Alexander Enyedi highlighted progress made across campus divisions, advances in academic planning and initiatives that strengthened student success and the university’s connection to the North Country.
Enyedi’s recap of the 2025 semester touched on the offices of diversity, equity and inclusion, enrollment and student success, and academic affairs while highlighting ways campus leadership engaged with students, faculty and staff throughout the year.
“As we prepare for a new year, we continue our alignment with SUNY’s new Academic Momentum Campaign,” Chancellor John King’s system-wide program that “emphasizes timely completion, clear barrier-free pathways, and a student-centered approach to academic success,” Enyedi said.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
“Last month, we successfully celebrated our fourth annual Black Solidarity Day Monday, Nov. 3, an event that has grown from a modest observance into an all-day inclusive signature Social Justice Teach-In that engages students, faculty, staff, and community partners across our campuses,” Enyedi said. “This year’s program featured 47 in person sessions, five online sessions, and eight hybrid offerings, with additional participation at our Queensbury campus through a coordinated watch party with SUNY Adirondack.”
Engagement reached “record levels, with more than 400 in-person participants and 600
online streaming views throughout the day,” he said. “Black Solidarity Day continues
to embody our campus commitment to equity and inclusion.
“I was especially encouraged to see an increase in the number of academic disciplines and divisions represented among session proposals this year, along with expanded options for virtual attendance, including a full lineup of live streamed and synchronous Zoom sessions,” he said.
Other DEI Initiatives
Other November initiatives included healing circles facilitated by the Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation Center and training for 14 new equity advocates with additional recertification sessions planned for December.
Equity advocates serve as consultants, resources and advisers to search committees, hiring authorities, the affirmative action officer and the DEI office, advocating for principles and practices related to diversity, inclusion and equity throughout the search. Advocates are trained to think critically about ways that institutional and structural practices impact vulnerable populations. They are pivotal in disrupting biases and misuses of power that often manifest during the hiring process.
November also saw the DEI office and the Department of Gender and Women’s Studies co-hosting Transgender Day of Remembrance, proving space for reflection, solidarity, and education as our community honored the lives lost to anti transgender violence.
“I am grateful to all who participated in this important observance,” Enyedi said.
Additionally, the Title IX office, in partnership with the New York State Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence, and Aspire NY, hosted the second session in the Aspirational Masculinity Series, which “encouraged thoughtful dialogue about personal growth, responsibility, and healthy interpersonal relationships and was open to all students and employees.”
Enrollment and Student Success
Enyedi reported that the division of Enrollment and Student Success “continues to strengthen student support, community engagement, accessibility and recruitment.”
SUNY overall has experienced enrollment growth for the third consecutive year, “the first time this has occurred since 2007-2009,” Enyedi said. “System-wide, enrollment is up 2.9 percent year over year and up 6.5 percent over the past three years, with gains among first-time first-year students, transfer students and adult learners through programs such as SUNY Reconnect.
“This systemwide momentum and trajectory is reflected in the steady progress we continue to make h ere at SUNY Plattsburgh,” he said.
Enrollment Increases
SUNY Plattsburgh’s fall 2025 census showed a total enrollment of 4,561 students, including 3,831 undergraduates and 730 graduate students, a .5 percent increase from last fall and a 3.3 percent rise since fall 2023.
“Increase in our new student enrollment this fall, especially in first-time first-year transfer populations, placed us in line with SUNY’s broader systemwide growth and helped balance the impact of the larger Cardinal graduating classes during the 2024-2025 academic year,” Enyedi said.
As of Dec. 1, the enrollment breakdown is as follows:
- 3,357 students at SUNY Plattsburgh
- 1,129 online students
- 75 Queensbury campus students
- 131 international students
Enyedi reported that student retention remains strong, with first- to second-year
retention for first-time students increasing by 1.3 percentage points over last year.
Educational Opportunity Program retention increased by 10.2 percentage points, and
North Country student retention increased by 9.5 points.
“The overall undergraduate return rate for continuing students is 81.3 percent,” he said. “These results reflect our students’ commitment to degree attainment and sustained efforts by faculty and staff to support academic momentum.
“Our recruitment efforts for winter, spring, summer and fall 2026 continue to show positive momentum. Applications and acceptances are increasing across key regions including the Capital District, North Country, the New York City metropolitan area, New Jersey, New England, and Canada,” Enyedi said. Student Financial Services has begun sending scholarship notifications, earlier than in previous years, “and strengthened transfer pathways with our community college partners remain a priority.”
Academic Affairs
The fall 2025 semester saw an overall expansion of the university’s graduate program, with the master of science in accounting program in the final stages of approval and first student registration anticipated for fall 2026. Additionally, the STEM-designated master of business administration program proposal remains under SUNY review.
“Both programs reflect our commitment to aligning academic offerings with 21st century workforce needs and statewide priorities,” Enyedi said.
SUNY Plattsburgh’s experiential learning opportunities continued to expand, with the university’s social work program leading a federally funded initiative to strengthen behavioral health workforce development across four North Country counties.
Queensbury Programming
The Queensbury campus hosted a series of programs this fall, including a 24-hour “hackathon,” a career alumni panel, and other collaborative programs with SUNY Adirondack.
“Faculty across academic departments continue to advance research, scholarship and applied learning that connects students to the region and prepares them for future careers while students in the School of Business and Economics outperformed national averages overall and across every exam section of the national Major Field Test administered this fall in both face to face and online cohorts,” Enyedi said.
“Four students earned perfect scores, and assessment indicators exceeded national benchmarks by margins ranging from three percent to 36 percent. I extend my appreciation to Dean Brian Neureuther and to Dr. Kameliia Petrova, assurance of learning director, for their leadership in supporting this important work,” he said.
Administration and Finance
“I am always pleased to report that SUNY Plattsburgh remains in strong financial standing within the SUNY system, reflecting years of disciplined planning and collaborative stewardship,” Enyedi said. “Budget monitoring has continued throughout the fall, and Business Intelligence training sessions for account managers have strengthened transparency and consistency in financial processes across campus.”
Capital projects remain active across multiple buildings, with work continuing on the renovation of Algonquin Dining Hall into a new admissions center, masonry restoration at Myers and Yokum, HVAC and mechanical upgrades, and interior improvements in Harrington Hall.
“This fall, crews also completed improvements to the cross country track and advanced a major sewer line replacement serving Ward and Wilson Halls,” he said. “Planning and design work for future projects is underway, including several accessibility studies and essential facilities maintenance. Facilities and Operations teams completed several critical projects ahead of winter and continue to support campus readiness and safety.”
Institutional Advancement
“This fall, SUNY Plattsburgh secured more than $2 million in new gifts and pledges, representing significant growth from last year,” Enyedi said. “Alumni events and regional programs engaged more than 800 participants across virtual and in-person gatherings, including reunions, academic panels, and networking events. The Alumni in the Classroom Experience program expanded to include more than a dozen alumni guests whose visits reached more than 700 students.”
Institutional Advancement launched its Season of Purpose Dec. 2 with the #PlattsGive Powered by Purpose campaign.
“This initiative showcases the generosity of alumni, friends, faculty, staff, and students who share a belief in the power of education to transform lives,” Enyedi said. “The campaign began with a goal of inspiring 150 on Giving Tuesday and will continue throughout December with a goal of raising $300,000 in support of resources, programs, and opportunities that directly benefit students.
Ongoing Engagement:
Pizza with the President events that consistently draw strong student and employee
participation- Regular meetings with academic departments to support communication and address academic and operational needs
- Cross-divisional collaboration through Strategic Enrollment Management meetings, Academic Affairs and Enrollment working groups, academic planning groups, Strategic Plan Assessment Committee, and cabinet alignment discussions
- Twice-yearly all-campus gatherings in the Warren Ballroom that provide transparent updates on budget, enrollment, and institutional priorities
- Monthly presidential messages, University Council reports, and event remarks that outline progress and reinforce shared direction
- Active engagement with Faculty Senate by cabinet leadership, including regular attendance and consultation with Senate Executive leadership
- Recognition initiatives that honor faculty and staff accomplishments throughout the year including the celebration of all Chancellor’s Award for Excellence nominees
- Student engagement through DEI programs, EOP, TRIO, and student success initiatives that reinforce belonging and well-being
- Crisis communications coordination that strengthens transparency and timely updates during challenging circumstances
- Enrollment, recruitment, and academic planning collaboration across admissions, student success, and academic affairs
- University Cabinet participation in student events, recruitment weekends, divisional open houses, retention initiatives, and community forums
Enyedi praised faculty and staff for their help “in making SUNY Plattsburgh a welcoming and resilient community,” he said. “Your commitment to learning, service and collaboration has shaped this semester and will continue to guide us in the new year.”
— By Associate Director of Communications Gerianne Downs
— Photos by Hunter Mossey, multimedia coordinator
