Statement from Chancellor King and SUNY Board of Trustees Vice Chairman Cesar Perales, SUNY Trustee Eunice A. Lewin, and SUNY Trustee Marcos Crespo on Recognition of Hispanic Heritage Month
October 2, 2026
"In 1968, the country began a week-long observance honoring Hispanic heritage, which was later expanded to be a month-long celebration recognizing the impact and accomplishments of our Hispanic and Latino community members. At SUNY, we are proud to observe Hispanic Heritage Month alongside our approximately 67,000 Hispanic and Latino students, our campus presidents of Hispanic descent, and our faculty and staff.
"SUNY is proud to recognize our Hispanic and Latino community members as they pursue academic excellence and success on our campuses, including at our nine federally designated Hispanic-Serving Institutions. As we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, we also celebrate the diversity of SUNY's student body, and we remain committed to ensuring our campuses continue to reflect and celebrate all cultures and experiences.
Our mission clearly states that we will "...provide to the people of New York educational services of the highest quality, with the broadest possible access, fully representative of all segments of the population in a complete range of academic, professional and vocational postsecondary programs." During Hispanic Heritage Month, we reaffirm our commitment to ensuring students from all backgrounds have the tools they need to thrive both inside and outside in the classroom and after graduation, and we will continue our efforts to ensure all SUNY students, faculty, staff members, feel safe and welcomed on all 64 of our campuses."
Declaración del Rector King y del Vice Presidente de la Junta de Síndicos de SUNY, Cesar Perales, la Fideicomisaria de SUNY Eunice A. Lewin y el síndico de SUNY Marcos Crespo Sobre el Reconocimiento del Mes de La Herencia Hispana
"En 1968, el país inició una conmemoración de una semana en honor a la herencia hispana, que más tarde se amplió para ser una celebración de un mes en reconocimiento al impacto y los logros de nuestros miembros de la comunidad Hispana y Latina. En SUNY, nos enorgullece conmemorar el Mes de la Herencia Hispana junto a nuestros aproximadamente 67,000 estudiantes Hispanos y Latinos, nuestros presidentes de ascendencia hispana, y nuestros profesores y empleados.
"SUNY se enorgullece de reconocer a los miembros de nuestra comunidad Hispana y Latina mientras buscan la excelencia académica y el éxito en nuestros universidades, incluyendo en nuestras nueve instituciones designadas federalmente para servir a la Hispana. Al celebrar el Mes de la Herencia Hispana, también celebramos la diversidad del alumnado de SUNY y seguimos comprometidos a garantizar que nuestros universidades sigan reflejando y celebrando todas las culturas y experiencias.
Nuestra misión establece claramente que "... proporcionaremos a la gente de Nueva York servicios educativos de la más alta calidad, con el acceso más amplio posible, plenamente representativos de todos los segmentos de la población en una gama completa de programas académicos, profesionales y vocacionales." Durante el Mes de la Herencia Hispana, reafirmamos nuestro compromiso de garantizar que estudiantes de todos los orígenes tengan las herramientas necesarias para prosperar tanto dentro como fuera del aula, y tras graduarse, y continuaremos nuestros esfuerzos para garantizar que todos los estudiantes, profesores y empleados de SUNY se sientan seguros y bienvenidos en nuestros 64 universidades."
About the State University of New York
The State University of New York is the largest comprehensive system of higher education in the United States, and more than 95 percent of all New Yorkers live within 30 miles of any one of SUNY’s 64 colleges and universities. Across the system, SUNY has four academic health centers, five hospitals, four medical schools, two dental schools, a law school, the country’s oldest school of maritime, the state's only college of optometry, 12 Educational Opportunity Centers, over 30 ATTAIN digital literacy labs, and manages one US Department of Energy National Laboratory. In total, SUNY serves about 1.7 million students across its portfolio of credit- and non-credit-bearing courses and programs, continuing education, and community outreach programs. SUNY oversees nearly a quarter of academic research in New York. Research expenditures system-wide are nearly $1.5 billion in fiscal year 2025, including significant contributions from students and faculty. There are more than three million SUNY alumni worldwide, and annually one in three New Yorkers who earn a college degree is a SUNY alum. To learn more about how SUNY creates opportunities, visit suny.edu.
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Holly Liapis
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