State University of New York facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
State University of New York

Motto	To learn, to search, to serve
Type	Public university system
Established	1948; 77 years ago (1948)
Endowment	$4.84 billion (2022)
Budget	$13.37 billion (2022)
Chairman	Merryl Tisch
Chancellor	John King Jr.
Vice-Chancellor	Robert Megna
Provost	Tod Laursen
Academic staff	32,496
Students	363,612 (fall 2022)
Undergraduates	319,011 (fall 2022)
Postgraduates	44,601 (fall 2022)
Location	New York , United States
Campus	64 campuses
Colors	Blue and Gray

The State University of New York (SUNY /ˈsuːni/ SOO-nee) is a huge group of public colleges and universities in New York State. It's like a big family of schools!

Led by Chancellor John B. King, SUNY has many employees and offers thousands of different study programs. It has a large budget to help students learn and grow. Some of its most well-known universities are SUNY Stony Brook on Long Island and SUNY Buffalo in western New York. Other important research universities include SUNY Binghamton and SUNY Albany.

SUNY's largest campus is the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry. It has 25,000 acres of land. Right next to it is the State University of New York Upstate Medical University. This medical university is the biggest employer in the SUNY system.

The State University of New York started in 1948. Governor Thomas E. Dewey helped create it. This happened after a special group studied the need for a state university. Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller later helped SUNY grow a lot. He was very interested in building new SUNY schools. Since 1978, SUNY's main offices have been in Albany. They also have smaller offices in Manhattan and Washington, D.C..

SUNY includes almost all of New York State's public colleges. The only other big public university system is the City University of New York (CUNY).

History of SUNY

Stony Brook University on Long Island is one of SUNY's main schools.

The State University of New York Upstate Medical University in Syracuse helps train future doctors.

The University at Buffalo in Buffalo, New York, is another large SUNY campus.

Binghamton University has campuses in Binghamton, Johnson City, and Vestal.

The University at Albany is one of SUNY's four main university centers.

The College of Environmental Science and Forestry in Syracuse has a very large campus.

New York was one of the last states to create a public college system. Before SUNY, most colleges were private. The state did support education in other ways. The oldest college now part of SUNY is SUNY Potsdam. It started in 1816 as the St. Lawrence Academy.

In 1835, the state wanted to train more public school teachers. They chose certain schools to help with this. St. Lawrence Academy was one of them. Later, Potsdam became a special school for teachers in 1867.

On May 7, 1844, the state decided to open the first college just for teacher education. This was the Normal School in Albany. In 1865, Cornell University, a private school, became New York's "land grant college." This meant it received state support for certain programs. By 1894, the state directly funded four of Cornell's colleges.

A special group studied New York's colleges from 1946 to 1948. They found that many private colleges were unfair. They didn't accept all New Yorkers. Because of this, the group suggested creating a public state university system. In 1948, a law was passed to create SUNY. It was built on the teacher-training schools that already existed.

In 1953, SUNY made a big decision. It banned all national fraternities and sororities from its campuses. This ban lasted until 1977. The goal was to fight unfair treatment based on race or religion. Many national groups at the time had rules that were not fair. The courts agreed that SUNY had the right to make this rule.

In 1986, L. Eudora Pettigrew became the first African-American college president in the SUNY system. She became president of SUNY Old Westbury.

Even though it started late, SUNY grew very quickly. This happened when Samuel B. Gould was Chancellor and Nelson A. Rockefeller was Governor. Governor Rockefeller was very involved in designing new SUNY buildings. He also helped the private University of Buffalo join the SUNY system. It became the public State University of New York at Buffalo.

How SUNY is Organized

The SUNY System Administration Building in Albany is sometimes called "The SUNY Castle."

SUNY is managed by a group called the State University of New York Board of Trustees. This board has eighteen members. Fifteen of them are chosen by the Governor. The student leader of all SUNY students is also on the board. The board chooses the Chancellor, who is like the CEO of SUNY.

New York State helps pay for the SUNY system. This makes college more affordable for people who live in the state. Students from other states and countries also attend SUNY. However, they pay higher tuition fees.

There are many different types of colleges in the SUNY system. They offer a wide range of subjects. SUNY groups its campuses into four main types:

• University Centers: These are large universities that offer many advanced degrees, including doctorates.
• Comprehensive Colleges: These offer a wide range of bachelor's and master's degrees.
• Technology Colleges: These schools focus on hands-on learning and technical skills.
• Community Colleges: These offer two-year programs and help students prepare for jobs or transfer to a four-year college.

SUNY also includes "statutory colleges." These are state-funded colleges located within other universities. For example, some colleges at Cornell University and Alfred University are part of SUNY. New York residents at these colleges pay lower, state-subsidized tuition.

It's important to know that SUNY and the City University of New York (CUNY) are different. Both get money from New York State. Also, SUNY is not the same as the University of the State of New York (USNY). USNY is a larger organization that oversees almost all education in New York State.

SUNY Leaders: Presidents and Chancellors

Here are the people who have led the State University of New York:

No.	Image	Executive	Title	Term	Notes
1		Alvin C. Eurich	President	January 1, 1949 – August 31, 1951
–		Charles Garside	Acting President	September 1, 1951 – March 31, 1952
2		William S. Carlson	President	April 1, 1952 – September, 1958
3		Thomas H. Hamilton	President	August 1, 1959 – December 31, 1962
–		J. Lawrence Murray	Acting Chief Administrative Officer	January 1, 1963 – August 31, 1964
4		Samuel B. Gould	President	September 1, 1964 – January 11, 1967
			Chancellor	January 12, 1967 – August 30, 1970
5		Ernest L. Boyer	Chancellor	September 1, 1970 – March 31, 1977
–		James F. Kelly	Acting Chancellor	April 1, 1977 – January 24, 1978
6		Clifton R. Wharton, Jr.	Chancellor	January 25, 1978 – January 31, 1987
–		Jerome B. Komisar	Acting Chancellor	February 1, 1987 – July 31, 1988
7		D. Bruce Johnstone	Chancellor	August 1, 1988 – February 28, 1994
–		Joseph C. Burke	Interim Chancellor	March 1, 1994 – November 30, 1994
8		Thomas A. Bartlett	Chancellor	December 1, 1994 – June 30, 1996
–		John W. Ryan	Interim Chancellor	July 1, 1996 – April 20, 1997
9			Chancellor	April 21, 1997 – December 31, 1999
10		Robert L. King	Chancellor	January 1, 2000 – May 31, 2005
–		John R. Ryan	Acting Chancellor	June 1, 2005 – December 19, 2005
11			Chancellor	December 20, 2005 – May 31, 2007
–		John B. Clark	Interim Chancellor	June 1, 2007 – December, 2008
–		John J. O'Connor	Officer-in-Charge	December 22, 2008 – May 31, 2009
12		Nancy L. Zimpher	Chancellor	June 1, 2009 – September 4, 2017
13		Kristina M. Johnson	Chancellor	September 5, 2017 – August 31, 2020
14		Jim Malatras	Chancellor	August 31, 2020 – January 14, 2022
–		Deborah F. Stanley	Interim Chancellor	January 15, 2022 – January 9, 2023
15		John King Jr.	Chancellor	January 9, 2023 – Present

Student Voice in SUNY

Purchase College in Purchase, New York, is one of SUNY's university colleges.

Students at SUNY have a say in how the system is run. The SUNY Board of Trustees includes a student member who can vote. This student is also the President of the Student Assembly of the State University of New York (SUNYSA). SUNYSA is the official student government for all SUNY schools.

In the 1970s, students worked hard to get voting rights on college boards. By 1979, students at almost all SUNY schools had full voting rights. This means students can help make important decisions for their colleges.

SUNY Libraries

The SUNY Libraries Consortium (SLC) is a group that helps all the libraries in the SUNY system. They work together to share resources and support students.

SUNY Campuses Around the World

The College of Optometry in New York City helps students learn about eye care.

Buffalo State University is a comprehensive college within the SUNY system.

SUNY Oswego is located on the shores of Lake Ontario.

SUNY Korea is an international campus located in South Korea.

Most SUNY colleges are in New York State. However, there are a couple of exceptions. Jamestown Community College has a center in Pennsylvania. Also, SUNY Korea opened in 2012 in Incheon, South Korea. It offers programs from Stony Brook University and the Fashion Institute of Technology.

SUNY's only law school is the University at Buffalo School of Law.

Doctoral Degree Granting Institutions

These are schools where students can earn advanced degrees, including doctorates.

University Centers

• University at Albany
• Binghamton University
• University at Buffalo (a main university)
• Stony Brook University (a main university)

Specialized Doctoral Degree Granting Institutions

• Upstate Medical University
• Downstate Health Sciences University
• College of Environmental Science and Forestry
• College of Optometry
• Polytechnic Institute
• One college at Alfred University:
  • New York State College of Ceramics
• Four colleges at Cornell University:
  • College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS)
  • College of Human Ecology
  • College of Veterinary Medicine
  • School of Industrial and Labor Relations

University Colleges

Technology Colleges

Community Colleges

SUNY Medical Centers and Hospitals

Stony Brook University Hospital is one of SUNY's teaching hospitals.

Upstate University Hospital helps train medical students.

The University Hospital of Brooklyn is part of SUNY Downstate Medical Center.

The State University of New York runs three large medical centers. These centers combine a medical school with a university hospital. They are:

• Upstate University Hospital in Syracuse
• Stony Brook University Hospital in Stony Brook
• Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn

A fourth medical school, the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences in Buffalo, works with several hospitals in the area. SUNY also has the College of Optometry in New York City, which has its own eye clinic.

These medical centers are important for teaching new doctors. SUNY medical programs are highly rated. The hospitals also help many people who might not have good health insurance.

In 2020, more students wanted to apply to SUNY medical schools. To help more students, especially those from certain programs, SUNY started the Pre-Med Opportunity Program in 2021. This program helps students get ready for medical school.

SUNY's medical, health, and nursing schools train many health professionals each year. They educate a large number of the doctors, nurses, and dentists in New York State.

SUNY Facts and Figures

University Centers: Key Details

Stony Brook's West Campus is a large and active part of the university.

Kapoor Hall is a building at the University at Buffalo.

The State University of New York at Buffalo is the largest public university in New York by student numbers. It was started by former U.S. President Millard Fillmore. Buffalo has about 32,000 students and gets the most applications of all SUNY schools.

College Costs

The Weather Center at the University at Albany.

Going to a SUNY school can be more affordable than many other public colleges in the U.S. For example, in 2017–2018, tuition at the University at Buffalo was much lower for New York residents.

New York State also offers free tuition for families who live in the state and earn less than $125,000 per year. To get this, students must study full-time and stay in New York for a few years after graduating. Many SUNY students also receive financial help from the government.

Medical school tuition at SUNY is also generally lower than the average cost of medical schools across the United States.

Research Funding at SUNY

SUNY schools receive a lot of money for research. This funding helps professors and students study new ideas and make discoveries. Here's how some SUNY schools rank in terms of research funding:

Sports at SUNY Schools

Each school in the SUNY system has its own sports teams. The level of competition can be different at each school.

NCAA Sports Divisions

Division I

• The four main university centers compete in NCAA Division I. This is the highest level of college sports. Some of these schools also have football teams. The four Cornell colleges that are part of SUNY also compete in Division I as part of Cornell University.

Divisions II and III

• Most other SUNY colleges and technical schools compete in NCAA Division III. This division focuses more on academics than sports. The State University of New York Athletic Conference is a sports league made up entirely of SUNY colleges.

Other Sports Groups

• SUNY Environmental Science and Forestry is part of the United States Collegiate Athletic Association.
• Some community colleges compete in the National Junior College Athletic Association.

Sports Rivalries

There are many fun sports rivalries between SUNY schools!

• The Albany Great Danes and Binghamton Bearcats have a big rivalry. They are often called the I-88 Rivalry because they are at opposite ends of Interstate 88.
• In football, Albany and Stony Brook play each other every year in the "Battle for the Golden Apple."
• The University at Buffalo has basketball rivalries with two private colleges nearby: Canisius College and Niagara University.
• SUNY Oswego and SUNY Plattsburgh have a strong rivalry in Division III hockey.
• SUNY Cobleskill and SUNY Delhi have a rivalry in basketball and cross country.
• SUNY Oneonta and SUNY Cortland have a rivalry in almost every sport. They both have a red dragon as their team nickname, so their games are called the "Battle of the Red Dragons."
• There's even a unique rivalry between SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry and Finger Lakes Community College. Both schools have top teams in "woodsman" competitions, which involve traditional forestry skills.

University Police

The New York State University Police (NYSUP) are the police officers for the State University of New York (SUNY) system. There are about 600 officers and investigators who work at the 29 state colleges and universities.

University Police Officers (UPO) work to prevent crime and keep campuses safe. They also make sure state and local laws are followed. Officers talk to students, teachers, and staff about important topics like safety and crime prevention. They try to build good relationships with everyone on campus.

History of SUNY Security

In the 1960s, there were many protests and changes on college campuses. Because of this, SUNY decided to create a unified public safety program. The SUNY Security Force started on September 20, 1968. In 1974, the security force at the University at Albany became the first to carry weapons.

In the 1990s, some serious incidents led to calls for the security force to become full police agencies. On July 22, 1998, a law was signed to create the New York State University Police. This law meant that each campus police department would also work with nearby police agencies.

New York State University Police Today

The security forces officially became the NY State University Police on January 1, 1999.

In 2010, the New York State University Police at Stony Brook University became an "accredited" law enforcement agency. This means they meet very high standards for police work in New York State. Not all police agencies in New York meet these standards.

In 2015, a new law allowed University Police Officers to retire after 25 years of service. This change helped keep experienced officers working for SUNY. Before this, many young officers would leave to join other police agencies with better retirement plans.

See also

In Spanish: Universidad Estatal de Nueva York para niños

• SUNY Press
• Education in New York (state)
• List of colleges and universities in New York (state)
• List of largest United States colleges by enrollment
• List of largest universities by enrollment