Message From Our President
On June 28, 2021, I began my tenure as the seventh president of SUNY Suffolk. With that title, I immediately became accountable to the students who made Suffolk their choice, the faculty, staff and administrators who have committed themselves to the mission of this college, and the residents of Suffolk County who see our institution as a vehicle to personal and professional growth. Understanding that leading the largest college in the State University of New York (SUNY) system would require collaboration and planning at unprecedented levels, within the first few months of my presidency, one of my top priorities was to re-engage the college community in the strategic planning process.
With the help of the college’s Strategic Planning Council (SPC), the fall 2021 semester was used as an opportunity to bring members of the college community back together to endorse the strategic planning work completed prior to March 2020, while incorporating my vision for the college’s future within the process. Through extensive internal discussions with students, faculty, staff and administrators, as well as meetings with elected officials, K-12, workforce and community partners, a new plan emerged that speaks to the strategic planning theme, Honoring Our Past, Forging Our Future.
SUNY Suffolk’s 2022-2027 Strategic Plan is a vital part of the college not only surviving, but thriving in light of the challenges faced by community colleges across the country. Our five-year plan encompasses six goals including: Open Access, Student Learning, Student Engagement and Success, Equity and Social Justice, Community Partnerships, and Effectiveness and Sustainability. These six goals, along with the strategic objectives associated with each goal, will help shape and guide decision-making and planning at the college during these pivotal times.
With the full support of SUNY Suffolk’s Board of Trustees, the 2022-2027 Strategic Plan allows the college to launch a new chapter in creating a stronger commitment to academic excellence, data-based decision making, and a dedication to community-based partnerships that serve all the communities in our region.
A heartfelt thank you to the Strategic Planning Council for working collaboratively with me throughout this process, and to every member of the college community who invested time in seeing this plan to fruition. I look forward to working with each of you in making SUNY Suffolk a premier asset and the premiere destination for all of Suffolk County!
Edward T. Bonahue, Ph.D.
President – SUNY Suffolk
