Campus Community
Posted: Thursday, April 2, 2009SUNY Turns 60
By Mary A. Durlak
The State University of New York will celebrate its 60th anniversary with a scholarly conference, “SUNY and the Promise of Public Higher Education in America,” at the University at Albany April 3–5.
Distinguished scholars from across the country will attend and participate in a variety of panel discussions, including “Accessibility and Quality Education in SUNY,” for which President Muriel A. Howard will serve as moderator.
Catherine Lange, assistant professor, Joseph Zawicki, associate professor, and Donald Birdd, professor emeritus, all of Buffalo State’s Earth Sciences and Science Education Department, will present “The Impact of Sputnik on Science Teacher Preparation at Buffalo State College” as part of a session titled “The State Teachers College Era and the Origins of SUNY’s University Colleges.”
The conference concludes on the 60th anniversary of the day in 1949 when campus leaders first gathered in Albany to launch the State University of New York, commonly known as SUNY, according to the conference Web site. Since 1949, SUNY has conferred nearly 3 million degrees and other formal awards. Buffalo State, founded in 1871, is a charter member of SUNY.
Today, SUNY’s 64 campuses bring educational opportunity within commuting distance of virtually all New Yorkers. In January 2009, 438,361 students were enrolled at SUNY institutions, choosing from among 7,669 degree and certificate programs. Almost 2 million alumni are estimated to be New York State residents.
SUNY campuses are divided into four categories: university centers and other doctoral campuses, colleges of technology, community colleges, and comprehensive colleges. Buffalo State is the largest comprehensive college in the SUNY system and the only one located in a city. Through the SUNY Research Foundation, Buffalo State receives more grants and research support than all the other SUNY comprehensive colleges combined. Many of our faculty members conduct applied research that makes a direct and immediate impact in the Buffalo Niagara community.
