SUNY Board of Trustees Establishes Student Life Committee
September 14, 2016
Committee To Provide Oversight and Policy Direction on Issues Directly Related to the Student Experience
Cortland, NY – The State University of New York Board of Trustees today established a Student Life Committee, which will hold its first official meeting when the Board meets again in November.
The Committee will be co-chaired by the president of the SUNY Student Assembly, who also serves as a voting member of the SUNY Board, and Trustee Eunice A. Lewin.
"The Student Life Committee of the SUNY Board of Trustees will strengthen our connection to our most important audience—SUNY students," said SUNY Board Chairman H. Carl McCall. "Co-chaired by a new SUNY student every year, the committee will provide oversight and policy direction on issues directly related to the student experience, including safety and security, health and wellness, child care, financial aid, athletics, and much more. I look forward to hearing from the committee."
"Shared governance is a must in higher education and there is no voice that carries further than that of our students," said SUNY Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher. "I commend Chairman McCall and the SUNY trustees for re-establishing the Student Life Committee, which will renew our commitment to excellence in the programs and services that affect our students most."
"The creation of this committee is indicative of a growing trend in the SUNY system, one that gives students a seat at the table," said current President of the SUNY Student Assembly Marc J. Cohen. "SUNY students now have a board committee that is wholly dedicated to improving their education and college experience. More than just a feel good initiative, this committee will be led by students in perpetuity. We have a very real opportunity to advance a strong student agenda and improve the way that SUNY does business. I'm looking forward to working with all of our student governments to continue our work from this new platform"
Cohen serves as a voting member of the SUNY Board of Trustees by virtue of his role as president of the SUNY Student Assembly. He was democratically elected by his peers at the Student Assembly’s bi-annual conference, which brings together student government representatives from across all of SUNY’s 64 campuses.
About the SUNY Board of Trustees
The Board of Trustees is the governing body of the State University of New York. It consists of 18 members, 15 of whom are appointed by the Governor, by and with consent of the New York State Senate. In addition, the president of the Student Assembly serves as student trustee and the presidents of the University Faculty Senate and Faculty Council of Community Colleges serve as ex-officio trustees. All of the Board’s meetings are webcast live. More information about the Board, including member bios, meeting schedule, and materials can be found at: https://www.suny.edu/about/leadership/board-of-trustees/.
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, and manages one US Department of Energy National Laboratory. In total, SUNY serves about 1.4 million students amongst its entire 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 $1.1 billion in fiscal year 2023, including significant contributions from students and faculty. There are more than three million SUNY alumni worldwide, and one in three New Yorkers with a college degree is a SUNY alum. To learn more about how SUNY creates opportunities, visit suny.edu.
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