Additional Information on Report Card Metrics

Diversity Counts in a Competitive New York

The educational and social benefits of diversity within higher education are clear. The concept is vital to American and international business efforts to hire and maintain a diverse workforce. Major American businesses, the U.S. military, and other entities have clearly expressed the skills needed in today's increasingly global marketplace, which can only be developed through exposure to widely diverse people, cultures, ideas, and viewpoints. The U.S. Supreme Court acknowledged this need, and the supporting social science, in its seminal examination of, and justification for, diversity in higher education in the case of Grutter v. Bollinger (2003).

The modern SUNY System was created more than fifty years ago through Governor Nelson D. Rockefeller's vision to greatly expand New York's educated citizenry. His goal was to provide opportunities where none existed for the racial and religious groups that were targets of discrimination and the economically disadvantaged who could not afford private colleges. Today, New York is the third most populous state in the nation and one of the most culturally diverse. SUNY reflects and values that diversity, which is truly one of our greatest strengths.

SUNY's diverse educational environments create an intellectual climate that fosters respect for differences, stimulates innovation, encourages collaboration, and prepares students to live and work productively in a multiracial and multiethnic society.  Ethnicity statistics are broken down as follows: White Non-Hispanic, Black Non-Hispanic, Hispanic, Asian/Pacific Islander, Native American/Alaskan, Non-Resident Alien, and Unknown. For the purposes of data integrity, we have used federal Department of Education classifications.

Graduates in STEM Fields by Ethnicity and Gender

Nation-wide there is a significant lack of STEM graduates and women and minorities are substantially under represented within the pool of graduates. The Obama administration considers this a national security concern as STEM credentials become a requirement for a rapidly increasing percentage of knowledge economy jobs. The Power of SUNY commits the University to address this shortfall, particularly among women and ethnic minorities.

Intervention Strategies Developed for Historically and Economically Disadvantaged Populations (Associated With Our Strive Cradle-to-Career Sites)

Strive seeks to close the education attainment gap in underperforming neighborhoods/cities by employing a community driven, evidence based framework developed in Cincinnati and adapted in a number of other cities. SUNY will bring this model to five New York cities. Each adaptation will assess and support a series of intervention strategies selected because data proves their effectiveness. This metric will first track the assessment and implementation of those select strategies, as Strive adaptation take hold in New York this metric will evolve to track outcomes and strategy effectiveness.

Graduates With Healthcare Credentials by Ethnicity and Gender

Nation-wide there is a significant shortage of healthcare workers and women and minorities are substantially under represented within the pool of qualified healthcare professionals. The Obama administration considers this a national security concern particularly as life expectancy lengthens and healthcare reform becomes a reality. The Power of SUNY commits the University to address this shortfall, particularly among women and ethnic minorities.

Measure Campus-Based Programs Designed to Educate Low-Income Families in Becoming Energy-Smart

SUNY campuses provide outreach and training programs across the state that educate the public about energy. This metric will be a subset from the programs included in the “Continuing Education and Energy-Smart Job Training” metric and will only include programs that are designed to educate and/or support low income families in becoming energy-smart.

Certified Diversity Counts Service-Learning Opportunities

SUNY campuses bring together all kinds of learners with different personal histories and heritages. But it's when they venture into their local communities that many of our students encounter diversity in its most enlightening and rewarding forms. We will encourage those experiences by expanding our service learning programs that connect our students with people of different races, ethnicities, ages, and economic backgrounds. Service learning creates bonds of fellowship, erodes stereotypes, and deepens our commitment to civic responsibility. 

Study Abroad by Ethnicity and Gender

Unfortunately, underrepresented minorities and low-income students often miss out on experiences that help them develop cultural fluency. SUNY will redress this by creating more accessible and affordable opportunities for these students to gain firsthand international experience, including programs for study abroad, and foreign teaching internships and assistantships. By making these experiences a key feature of every SUNY education, we will instill across the system not only global thinking but a deeper appreciation for the nuances of cultural difference.

Diversity Counts in a Competitive SUNY · Diversity Counts in a Competitive New York

A Competitive SUNY · A Competitive New York