ODEE Programs
Faculty Diversity Program
The Faculty Diversity Program is designed to assist campuses with the recruitment, retention, and promotion of outstanding scholars from different backgrounds, including individuals from groups that have been historically underrepresented in higher education. Under this highly competitive program, state-operated campuses compete for salary support and start-up packages to recruit outstanding scholars who have attained a record of distinction. The Faculty Diversity Program provides state-operated campuses with a percentage of the faculty member's salary for three years. Effective for the 2009-2010 award cycle, the total amount that will be allocated for each faculty member appointed under this initiative will increase to $140,000. The salary support will be allocated to the campuses as follows:
2009-2010 -- 80% of negotiated salary up to $75,000
2010-2011 -- 75% of negotiated salary up to $50,000
2011-2012 -- 25% of negotiated salary up to $15,000
Campuses are also eligible to receive up to $15,000 to develop competitive start-up packages for faculty appointed under this initiative.
Graduate Diversity Fellowship Program
The Graduate Diversity Fellowship Program is a SUNY-wide initiative that offers fellowships to students who have been admitted to graduate or professional study. This program is intended to assist in the recruitment, enrollment and retention of students in doctoral and master's level programs who can demonstrate that they contribute to the diversity of the student body, especially those who can show that they have overcome a disadvantage or other impediment to success in higher education.
For the 2007-08 year, ODEE distributed $6,248,500 to 25 campuses that awarded fellowships to 494 graduate students: 199 Latino recipients (43%); 178 African-American recipients (38%); 68 White recipients (15%); 36 Native American recipients (6%); and 13 Asian recipients (3%). Sixty-four percent (64%) of the awards went to women, thirty-six percent (36%) to men. At the end of the 2007/08 academic year, 54 students earned master's degrees, 13 earned doctoral degrees and 4 earned medical doctor degrees.
Empire State Diversity Honors Scholarship Program
The Empire State Diversity Honors Scholarship Program is a statewide undergraduate scholarship program for students from a broad range of backgrounds who will contribute to the diversity of the student body in their campus or academic program. Eligible students must be enrolled in a degree program and have demonstrated high academic achievement characteristic of an honors program. For the 2007-08 academic year, ODEE awarded scholarships averaging at $662 to 980 undergraduates at 53 institutions.
Native American Initiative
The Native American Initiative is part of a consortium of post-secondary institutions in the North Country and Western part of NYS whom have come together to provide programs that address the specific educational needs of Native American students. SUNY's support of the NAI funds programming at two campus locations Fredonia and Potsdam. The overall goals of these two programs focus on recruitment, retention and graduation of Native American students by providing activities and services such as: campus and community involvement, student development, counseling, networking, information sharing, cultural events and academic support.
Doctoral Diversity Fellowships in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)
The Doctoral Diversity Fellowships in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics is awarded to academically exceptional students who have been admitted to SUNY's doctoral granting institutions and will commence their graduate studies in STEM fields. The President of the National Academy of Engineering explained that the nation's economic leadership and national security would likely decline if universities fail to increase the participation of minorities in STEM fields. As one of the nation's largest public universities in one of the most demographically diverse states in the union, SUNY has a particular interest in developing creative approaches to expand diversity in its science and engineering doctoral programs.
Access to Success
ODEE represents SUNY in the National Association of System Heads Access to Success Initiative. The 23 participating public higher education systems seek to reducing the gaps in both college-going and degree completion rates that separate low income and underrepresented minority students from others.
Veterans' Affairs
ODEE serves as SUNY's liaison with veterans' organizations and is actively engaged in developing programs and services to assist veterans in their transition and educational success at our colleges and universities.