THE STATE UNIVERSITYof NEW YORK 
A PLAN FOR THE STATE UNIVERSITY 

Over the past 18 months, more than 100 University administrators, 
presidents, faculty and student leaders have developed a plan under 
which the University wi l l move to the front ranks of higher education. 
This effort was based on the Chancellor’s State of the University speech 
in December, 2000, in which he called for the creation of $5 billion of 
additional resources over five years. Recognizing that resources by 
themselves are not sufficient, the Chancellor directed a planning group 
to develop specific action plans and metrics for measuring progress. 
This document and the attached action plans summarize the work of 
the planning group. University leaders recognize that plans such as 
ours are living documents subject to constant change, further input, 
and adjustment. We are committed, however, to moving the agenda 
outlined here ahead even as we refine it. Accordingly, your comments 
and additional input are always welcome. 

w w w . s u n y . e d u 

April 11, 2003

SUNY Strategic Planning 
Who We Are, Vision, Mission, Core Values 

Who We Are: 

The State University of New York is an intentionally 
integrated system of post-secondary institutions 
comprised of a continuum of learners and scholars 
that serves the educational, social, and economic 
needs of the state, the nation, and the world. 

In today’s knowledge-based economy, the State 
University of New York is one of the most effective 
tools to promote economic development in the 
state. 

The State University of New York is unique, and each 
of its institutions distinguishes itself in the broader 
post-secondary marketplace; we undertake 
an active role in the generation of new knowledge 
through research; we serve diverse populations of 
learners; we provide a broad range of programs at 
different venues across the state and electronically; 
and the university is both financially and physically 
accessible through competitive tuition and its pervasive 
presence across the breadth of New York State. 

Teaching/Learning: The State University of New 
York is committed to providing the highest quality 
undergraduate, certificate, professional, graduate, 
and life-long learning programs. 

Research/Scholarship: Our faculty are leaders in 
an exciting global community of academicians and 
scholars that create and mould knowledge as well 
as teach it. 

Service: The State University of New York disseminates 
knowledge for the public good and provides 
public services, enrichment, and cultural programs. 

International Dimension: The State University of 
New York seeks to increase its international ties 
in order to prepare its students to face an array of 
increasingly complex global challenges and to 
support economic development in the State of 
New York. 

Vision: 
The State University of New York will be recognized 
as the premier comprehensive system of public higher 
education in the world. Its distinctive institutions 
and learning environments will each be recognized 
as individual leaders in the creation, application, and 
dissemination of knowledge. 

Mission: 
The Mission of the State University is to excel in 
teaching, learning, research, and service in order to 
serve New York, the nation, and the world. We will 
provide access to higher education for all New 
Yorkers. 

Core Values: 
The State University of New York is committed to 
excellence, integrity, and accountability in all that 
it does. 
We believe: 

• that students/learners are the primary reason 
for our existence; 

• in an atmosphere of mutual respect, responsibility, 
and collegiality; 

• that a diversity of people and perspectives 
enriches the university community; 

• that faculty and staff colleagues are fundamental 
to our success; 

• in academic freedom; and 

• that a spirit of collaboration across and within 
institutions provides seamless access to 
students/learners. 

Finally, we embrace great expectations and a 
commitment to change.


INITIATIVES 
In addition to the day to day activity of the University, 
we will focus our energies in ten areas. Our progress 
in total will be evaluated based on the metrics on 
page 4. 

1 - Focus on Student Success 
Improve student success and identify and implement 
ways of measuring its progress. Assure that students 
develop intellectually and personally in significant and 
meaningful ways. 

2 - Enhance Campus Excellence and Distinctiveness 
Invest in strategies that enhance campus excellence 
and distinctiveness while minimizing intra-system 
competition and maximizing intra-system collaboration. 
Develop and maintain programs capable of 
garnering national recognition, as well as measurable 
improvements in the teaching and learning process, 
research and scholarly productivity, student achievement, 
and public service. 

3 - Extend Access to Technology- 
Mediated Learning 
Increase student access to SUNY courses and 
degrees through the SUNY Learning Network and 
other effective technologies. 

4 - Enhance International Activities 
Be a major force in promoting global competency 
in New York State. Increase student access to 
international experiences. 

5 - Develop Predictable Streams of State, 
Local, Federal, and Private Support including 
Tuition Revenue 
Maximize revenues from all sources, with special 
emphasis on entrepreneurial business-related 
activities of the campuses. 

6 - Optimize Investment in Capital Facilities, 
Infrastructure, and Technology 
Create a rolling multiyear plan for facilities, infrastructure, 
and technology. This will ensure an up-to-date 
physical plan, expanded as necessary, and the use of 
technology to support teaching, learning, research, 
and administration. 

7 - Establish SUNY Leadership Initiative 
Upper management of State University Plaza and the 
State-operated and community colleges and 
will develop and implement their own leadership 
and development programs for faculty and staff 
in partnership with existing constituent groups 
including faculty governance and unions. 

8 - Increase Business and Industry Collaboration 
Enhance, promote, facilitate, and stimulate the 
role of our educational services and of our alumni 
in New York’s economic development.
 
9 - Optimize our Systemness 
Realize the full benefits of leadership, management, 
facilitation, and support possible within a highly 
diverse, multi-campus system, while respecting our 
long-established tradition of significant campus 
autonomy. 

10 - Enhance Public Perception 
With the cooperation and support of our campuses, 
significantly enhance the public perception of SUNY 
and its leadership. Achieve positive recognition, at a 
level comparable to front rank public universities, by 
the news media and other opinion makers within the 
State and throughout the higher education industry. 
Become a magnet for students, SUNY alumni, and 
businesses to remain in New York.
 
SUNY SYSTEMWIDE PERFORMANCE METRICS 

The following metrics will be used to measure our 
progress in seven areas key to the overall mission of the 
State University. The individual goals of the 
campuses and the strategic initiatives we pursue 
contribute to our success in these areas. 

1 - Access 
The State University provides individuals of all racial, 
social, and economic strata access to affordable higher 
education. 

Market Share: Proportional increases in numbers 
of New York State high school graduates enrolling 
in the State University. 

Affordable Tuition: Net in-state tuition below the median 
tuition levels of comparable public colleges and universities 
in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic States. 
Scholarships: Annual increases in scholarship awards 
encouraging participation and continued enrollment of 
talented students that otherwise would not attend higher 
education. 

Student Diversity: Student populations that reflect 
the social, economic, and geographic diversity of the 
markets served by the State University. 

2 - Student Quality and Success 
The State University attracts and enrolls students that 
succeed in higher education. 

Student Selectivity Profile: Freshman classes that meet 
or exceed the five-group selectivity profile based on 
SAT/ACT score and high school average. 

SAT/ACT Profile: SAT/ACT median scores and 
quartile ranges that exceed the median scores and 
quartile ranges of comparable public colleges and 
universities. 

Freshman Graduation Rates: Six-year graduation 
rates of first-time, full-time students in the top decile of 
comparable public colleges and universities. 

Transfer Student Graduation Rates: Six-year baccalaureate 
graduation rates of two-year degree recipients 
transferring into the State University in the top decile 
of comparable public colleges and universities. 

3 - Research/Scholarship 
The State University attracts a community of scholars 
who provide global leadership in the discovery and 
application of knowledge. 

Total Sponsored Research Revenues: Increases 
in sponsored research revenues that exceed the 
increases in comparable public colleges and 
universities. 

Publications & Citations per Full-time Faculty: Increases 
in the number of publications and citations per full-time 
faculty member that exceed the increases of faculty in 
comparable public colleges and universities. 

Programs of distinction: Increases in the number of 
nationally ranked academic programs. 

4 - Economic Impact 
The State University is a major force in the New York 
State economy contributing to business development, 
workforce training, and job creation. 

Economic Impact: Estimates of the aggregate economic 
impact of the State University on the regional and state 
economies of New York (updated every 3 years). 

Degrees Awarded in Key Disciplines: The number of 
degrees awarded in disciplines key to the State’s economy, 
e.g., science, engineering, business, education, 
nursing, etc., compared to levels in previous years. 

Business/Industry-Sponsored Expenditures: Total 
business/industry-sponsored expenditures compared 
to levels in previous years. 

5 - Distance Learning 
The State University is a leader in the application of 
distance learning technologies. 

Distance Learning Course Registrations: Total number 
of registrations in SUNY Learning Network (SLN) sponsored 
courses compared to levels in previous years. 

Number of Fulltime Faculty Teaching: Total number of 
full-time faculty teaching one or more SLN courses compared 
to levels in previous years. 

6 - International Emphasis 
The State University prepares students to live and work 
in a global economy and is competitive in the global 
higher education market. 

Students Studying Abroad: The number of students 
studying abroad compared to levels in previous years.

International Student Enrollments: The number of 
international students enrolling compared to levels in 
previous years. 

7 - Philanthropy 
The State University expands the financial resources 
available to support its programs and activities by 
building on a foundation of philanthropy. 

Annual Gifting: Annual increases in the amount of 
financial philanthropy received by the State University. 

w w w . s u n y . e d u