Statement from Chancellor King and the SUNY Board of Trustees on Independence Day
July 4, 2026
"Two and a half centuries ago, the founders of our nation gathered to undertake the revolutionary task of creating a society that would be fully governed by its citizens. Since then, as each generation of Americans has worked to realize that goal and strive for a more perfect and inclusive union, the United States has served as an example throughout the world as others have followed in our footsteps to achieve freedom and democracy for themselves.
"As the founders outlined the principles that would lay the foundation of our country – life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness – they understood the role that a well-rounded, civically-minded education had in furthering those principles. As the nation's largest statewide comprehensive system of higher education, we understand SUNY's unique role in preparing the next generation of educated and engaged citizens and leaders. At SUNY, we are proud to offer our students civil discourse and civic engagement skills that allow them to appreciate the experiences and perspectives of others and to grapple with the triumphs and struggles in our nation's history.
"An engaged citizenry is a vital part of a vibrant democracy, and we remain committed to ensuring that all of our students receive an education that empowers them to participate in the democratic process and serve as leaders in their post-college pursuits. As we celebrate our 250th Independence Day, we celebrate the values that are at the core of our identity as a nation and recognize that achieving the promise of opportunity remains a work in progress."
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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