Dear Members of the SUNY Oswego Community–
After thoughtful consultation and planning among administration and faculty, I am pleased to announce the renaming of our academic schools to colleges. This change aligns with our recent attainment of university status, highlights our commitment to Vision 4040 for a more educated region, and responds to the increasing breadth and depth of our academic offerings and the national trends in higher education.
Effective July 1, 2025, our academic college/schools will adopt the following names:
- College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) becomes College of Liberal Arts, Sciences, and Engineering (CLASE)
The renaming of our largest academic unit emphasizes our deep commitment to the liberal arts while highlighting the growing significance of engineering and applied sciences in our curriculum. By integrating engineering into the name, we aim to increase the visibility of these programs, enhance interdisciplinary opportunities, and better serve students pursuing careers in STEM fields. This change is a step toward achieving greater external recognition for the exceptional quality of education and research within this college.
Under this plan, CLASE would comprise three schools: School of Humanities, School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, and the School of Engineering and Natural Sciences. Each of the schools will be led by a director reporting to the Dean of the College.
- School of Education becomes College of Education, Health, and Human Services
This expanded name reflects the unit's broad scope, encompassing teacher preparation, school leadership, mental health counseling, health promotion, and the helping professions. This change sets the stage for future growth in critical areas such as technology management, nursing, and social work, among others, allowing us to meet emerging workforce demands while honoring our long history as a leader in educator preparation.
- School of Business becomes College of Business and Entrepreneurship
This renaming preserves the identity of our top-notch and AACSB-accredited business programs, known for their strong alignment with industry needs, global perspectives, and focus on preparing students for leadership roles, but also acknowledges a strong commitment to innovation and enterprise.
- School of Communication, Media, and the Arts becomes College of Communication, Media, and the Arts
The new name emphasizes its vibrant role in fostering creativity, critical thinking, and technological innovation. This college, to be housed in Hewitt Hall, our new $80 million state-of-the-art facility, will continue to prepare students for leadership in fields such as media production, art and graphic design, performance, and communication studies. Highlights of the new facility, which will open in early Fall 2025, include two broadcasting studios, a podcasting studio, a newsroom, an animation lab, a film screening room, a white box gallery, a virtual reality suite, a music performance space, and various specialized labs and classrooms.
The renaming initiative brings several advantages for SUNY Oswego:
- Opportunities for Programmatic Growth and Fundraising
The new names provide a framework for future development, including the addition of new degree programs, interdisciplinary initiatives, and professional credentials. For example, the College of Education, Health, and Human Services is positioned to expand into high-demand fields like nursing and social work, while the College of Liberal Arts, Sciences, and Engineering offers opportunities to further integrate STEM with humanities and social sciences. These new pathways offer myriad opportunities for fundraising from individuals and corporations, as well as grant funding.
- Improved Interdisciplinary Collaboration
By emphasizing unique strengths in each college, this renaming fosters a more cohesive academic identity while supporting collaboration across units. This is essential for preparing students for careers that demand cross-disciplinary knowledge and skills.
- Stronger Alignment with External Partners
The renaming improves our ability to attract grants, research funding, and partnerships with employers and community organizations. Furthermore, it signals our readiness to lead in addressing regional and global challenges through innovative programming.
- Enhanced Prestige and Visibility
This change aligns SUNY Oswego with peer institutions nationally and internationally, elevating the stature of our academic units. It allows prospective students, families, and external partners to immediately recognize the depth and quality of our offerings.
Looking Ahead
This change is not just about nomenclature; it reflects SUNY Oswego’s ongoing journey of growth and transformation. To ensure the success of this transition, we will be working closely with faculty, staff, and students to engage our stakeholders through marketing and outreach efforts to reinforce the values of our schools and programs, as well as the strengths of our outstanding faculty and students. For more information, please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions document we have prepared for this endeavor.
This renaming reflects the hard work, collaboration, dedication, and innovation that define the SUNY Oswego community. I want to express my deepest gratitude to the faculty, staff, and leadership teams who contributed to this vision, as well as to the students who inspire us to grow and evolve as an institution.
Let us celebrate this moment as we take another step toward securing SUNY Oswego’s place as a leader in higher education, empowering students to make a difference in the world.
Engagements
Details about my internal and external activities in furtherance of SUNY Oswego’s mission and strategic priorities are available online.
Remain well,
Peter O. Nwosu
President