Campus Champion

Anisha Saxena, the organizer of SUNY Cortland’s Women’s History Month events, finds that role to be a natural extension of her other work. An associate professor of history, Anisha coordinates the university’s women’s, gender and sexuality studies minor. She also is one of three faculty members leading SUNY Cortland’s Transformative Texts series this year. Thanks to her leadership, more than 10 events in March and April will foster conversations about women’s history and contributions. Anisha credits colleagues and the wider campus community for their enthusiasm and support, which help make important programming a reality on campus. 

Many biologists study just one species or family at a time.

Andrea Dávalos, an associate professor of biological sciences at SUNY Cortland, prefers to investigate the combined effects on native species of several different stressors in North America’s forests, including invasive jumping worms, the invasive plant Pale Swallow Wort and indigenous white-tailed deer.

She studies the relatively large, metallic invasive jumping worms that were introduced accidentally from Asia as long ago as the late 1800s or early 1900s. These earthworms are reviled by gardeners not only for their quick, snake-like movements but for the way they quickly degrade the quality of the topsoil. Her second major focus, the Eurasian invasive plant called Swallow Wort, has few predators and quickly crowds out native plants that support the local ecosystem.

“For many of the species that are classified as invasive, we don’t necessarily have strong evidence that demonstrates their negative impacts,” said Dávalos, who earned her doctorate in natural resources from Cornell University and completed her undergraduate studies at Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador in Quito.

And there are unusual patterns seen in her research mainly in soil changes — since replicated by other scientists — such as fewer invasive worms found in forest spaces fenced off from deer feeding. It’s a mystery.

“Ecosystems are complex and we just don’t know what happens when new interactions occur,” she said. “And what happens when you pull one piece out? There’s a lot of surprises. We need to make decisions about management and conservation, considering that there’s going to be surprises and uncertainty.”

Since 2017, Dávalos has participated as a principal or co-principal investigator in nine separate research projects focused on conservation of native ecosystems and developed with collaborators from multiple universities and government agencies. Much of her work has involved a partnership with the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation and the New York Invasive Species Research Institute hosted at Cornell University.

For her achievements to date, SUNY Cortland awarded Dávalos the 2026 Dr. Peter A. DiNardo ’68 and Judith Waring Outstanding Achievement in Research Award.

The award is given to an outstanding SUNY Cortland faculty or professional staff member for their record of research achievements. In addition to scholarly productivity and publication in journals, evidence for research achievements may include accomplishments in the creative and performing arts. The awardee is recommended by the Faculty Research Committee and selected by the provost based upon at least five years of research-related activities at Cortland.

Dávalos earned the honor for the applied research impact of her scholarship, collaboration across institutions and her overall contributions to addressing real-world environmental challenges.

Dávalos has co-authored numerous published scholarly articles and co-authored one book chapter on “Management of Invasive Earthworms in North America,” published in Sustainable Management of Invasive Species in 2025 by World Scientific, London.

She has developed and taught undergraduate courses in Conservation Biology, Biology and Plant Ecology. Her trendsetting approach to science has also reaped many benefits for the 23 student research assistants she has mentored since joining SUNY Cortland in 2015.

“I usually have two to three students in the lab per semester," Dávalos said. “They develop their own projects or aid in ongoing efforts. Sometimes they process samples from fieldwork; roots and worms. And we have a lot of field work during the summer months.”

The undergraduate student researchers have assisted her in the development, execution and dissemination of findings of projects assessing ecological impacts across multiple taxa and habitats. The future biologists can be found tending seedings and young plants in the laboratory beside her Bowers Hall office, setting up deer fencing or working on patches of non-native herbs in forests across the region to measure their abundance over time.

“Students engage in the projects in different ways,” she said, pointing to pictures of individual students monitoring pale Swallow Wort or putting up tall, mesh deer fencing or shocking worms out of the ground using a solution containing a mustard irritant. “Some want to come out with me into the field and some pick up on a piece of my research and develop an independent project.”

Developing individual plans for each student, Dávalos trains them in field and laboratory methods in ecology, including plant and invertebrate monitoring, earthworm collection and identification, experimental design, data analyses, result interpretation and writing of reports and research proposals. Some students participate in research for multiple semesters and complete independent projects, while others provide technical support for ongoing projects.

Many of her students take part in the New York State Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation’s Friends of Recreation, Conservation and Environmental Stewardship (FORCES) program.

“This is a fantastic program that offers internship for undergraduate and graduate students,” Dávalos said. “FORCES exposes them to different land-management projects, and we have a partnership to assess combined effects of invasive species.”

She has advised students pursuing internal or external grants to underwrite the expenses of their research.

Dávalos has supported the presentations of 16 students at both of the university’s annual scholarly conferences,  Transformations and the Michael J. Bond ’75, M.D. Alumni/Undergraduate Science Symposium.

She has included the research assistants in travel to professional conferences of the Northeastern Naturalist, Ecological Society of America, Botany, Society for Conservation Biology, Tribeta, Student Conference in Conservation, and Cuba Ties.

Her student research partners are co-authors on many of her articles and expected to contribute to publications, including one published manuscript and five in preparation with student co-authors.

In addition to a stipend, as part of the DiNardo-Waring Award, Dávalos will present a lecture on her scholarly work Thursday, April 30, as part of Transformations: A Student Research and Creativity Conference, SUNY Cortland’s annual celebration of student research and creativity.

Her talk, titled “Don’t Jump to Conclusions: We Know Less About Invasions Than We Think,” will begin at 4 p.m. at a location to be announced. It is open to the public.

The lecture will focus on her lab, where she studies the ecological impacts of invasive species and potential options to manage them, including biocontrol. She is investigating jumping worm impacts within the framework of multiple stressors, such as deer browse or invasive plant competition. She is also exploring current assumptions about jumping worm spread by tracing their expansion from known introduction points in urban parks.

The Dr. Peter A. DiNardo ’68 and Judith Waring Outstanding Achievement in Research Award is named in honor of the late Peter A. DiNardo ’68, a widely respected clinical psychologist and SUNY distinguished teaching professor, and Judith Waring. The endowed award’s creation in 2015 replaced the university’s Outstanding Achievement in Research Award, which had been presented since 2004. DiNardo-Waring Award honorees committed to a campus named lecture, first tied to Transformations in 2022.

Select an image to begin a slide show

A new strength and conditioning graduate program is coming to SUNY Cortland’s Kinesiology Department this fall. 

In development since early 2025, the degree’s in-person courses will let students develop professional skills as they prepare for the Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) exam administered by the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA). 

Students will take some courses with classmates pursuing SUNY Cortland’s M.S. in exercise science, according to Bryanne Bellovary, associate professor and chair of kinesiology. But the goals for each curriculum are different. 

“The M.S. in exercise science is broader in its programming, allowing for students to go on to a number of different career paths, whereas the M.S. in strength and conditioning program is more specific to becoming a strength and conditioning professional and preparing to sit for their specific certifying exam." 

Graduates will be prepared to work for organizations that span Olympic teams to military bases in roles that could include strength coach to sport scientist. 

Applications can be submitted online for the fall semester. 

Financial assistance is possible through the National Strength and Conditioning Association Foundation, which offers scholarship opportunities to assist with tuition costs and professional development. 

Bellovary said that thanks to the university’s existing B.S. in strength and conditioning for human performance, the master’s program already has strong connections with nearby internships in Division I and III collegiate sports, sports medicine, high schools and the private sector. 

“We also have practical hands-on experiences associated with our graduate lecture courses with activities being performed in three laboratories: the Exercise Physiology Lab, the Biomechanics Lab and the Human Performance Lab,” she said. 

Those resources will give students access to modern technology used within the field. Faculty with certified strength and conditioning specialist credentials will guide the coursework. 

Starting in 2030, the NSCA will require that students graduate from an accredited program to take its CSCS exam, Bellovary added. The Kinesiology Department plans to meet that requirement soon so students have access to what Bellovary calls the “premier certification for entry-level jobs in the strength and conditioning profession.” 

The program includes 27 credit hours of coursework in exercise technique, assessment and programming, strength and conditioning theory and practical application, and sport science. There is also a nine-credit practical experience requirement for students, who will need to obtain 360 hours of experience with a CSCS professional before graduation. 

Preference will be given to applicants with a GPA of 3.0 and above on a 4.0 scale for an undergraduate degree. Students who are accepted will need to show evidence of a minimum grade of C in the following higher education courses or equivalent:  

• Anatomy and Physiology I (with lab) and II (with lab) or Fundamentals of Human Anatomy and Physiology (with lab) 

• Exercise Physiology 

• Biomechanics 

• Statistics 

For more information, contact the Kinesiology Department. 

A SUNY Cortland senior was among 49 students from across New York state recognized for student excellence in the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP).

Joshua Jenkins, a psychology major from New York City, was the university’s recipient of the Norman R. McConney Jr. Award for Student Excellence, which is given to outstanding EOP students who demonstrate academic merit and perseverance. 

Jenkins received the honor at a March 9 awards ceremony in Albany, where he was recognized by SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr.

“Over nearly 60 years, SUNY’s EOP has supported tens of thousands of students and empowered them to achieve their full potential,” Chancellor King said. “Our McConney Award winners’ hard work as they move forward on their path to academic excellence and upward mobility makes them an inspiration for all of our students, faculty, staff and administrators.” 

Since it was established in 1967, EOP has provided educational access, academic support and supplemental financial assistance to students from disadvantaged backgrounds, many of whom are the first in their families to attend college. EOP currently operates on 54 SUNY campuses and serves more than 9,000 students, including 114 at SUNY Cortland.

Jenkins was selected as the university’s nominee because he embraced opportunity from his first days on campus, starting with the program’s first-year Summer Institute. He quickly became a model for his peers, serving as an EOP student staff member for future classes and a resident assistant for two years.

“Joshua is a light to those around him, especially other scholars in EOP,” said Kharmen Wingard M ’11, the program’s assistant director. “He came to Cortland with an open mind and a strong work ethic. Throughout his time here, he has shared those gifts with others. He’s a shining example of what students can achieve through EOP.”

Jenkins gained experience in many departments at SUNY Cortland, from the Research and Sponsored Programs Office to Campus Recreation, and earned a reputation for his welcoming attitude and willingness to learn. He plans to go on to graduate school and ultimately pursue a career in forensic psychology.

Jenkins shared more about his Cortland experience in the Q&A feature below. 

Activities at Cortland

“During my time at Cortland, I was a resident assistant for two years, so a lot of my activities included residence hall programming and events as well as attending events for different clubs like Multicultural Male Initiative (MMI) and other fundraiser events.” 

Why did you choose to attend Cortland?

“I was especially drawn to Cortland through the Educational Opportunity Program, which made my application process and transition to Cortland smooth and gave me the chance to meet many staff members across different departments and learn more about Cortland and the community. Cortland was very welcoming and school-spirited, with many different ways to get involved around campus, whether in sports, clubs or other campus activities.”

Advice for new EOP students 

“My biggest advice for new EOP students would be to know your priorities and goals. In college, it is easy to get overwhelmed or lose track of what you want to accomplish and do, even with simple everyday tasks. Prioritizing what is actually important is extremely valuable and something that you have to learn to balance between your schoolwork, social life and personal life. College is what you make of it, so make sure to also have fun and experience new things.”

If I had to describe EOP in one word, it would be:

Family

Favorite EOP memory 

“I have many memories with EOP, but my favorite would probably be when I became an EOP counselor for the first time and worked with the staff and incoming EOP freshmen in the summer before my sophomore year. I gained a lot of experience and had many fun memories throughout the summer. My other favorite memory would definitely be when I was a student returning to campus with my friends (after Summer Institute) and starting our freshman year together.”

Favorite class

“My favorite class would have to be forensic psychology because the connection between the legal system and psychology has always been a big interest of mine.”

Proudest Cortland accomplishment

“My proudest Cortland accomplishment was being awarded the 2025-26 Norman R. McConney Jr. Award.” 

Interesting fact about me  

“I have a lot of siblings.”

Future plans and goals

“In the future, I want to continue my studies in psychology and counseling to eventually get a doctoral degree focusing on forensic psychology, gaining experience and completing internships along the way to eventually obtain professional licensure.”

Cortaca’s famed status as “the biggest little game in the nation” helped SUNY Cortland earn a trophy off the field at the National Association for the Promotion of Campus Activities (APCA) Conference held March 5-8 in Hershey, Pennsylvania. 

The university’s Student Activities Board (SAB) took home the National Marjoree Harper Event of the Year Award for the 2025 Cortaca Pep Rally.

The annual event, designed to fire up football fans on and off campus ahead of the Red Dragons’ showdown with Ithaca College, was held on Main Street in Cortland. It marked the second year SAB has partnered with the city to host the event in the downtown area.  

It was also the second time the SAB has been honored at the APCA, winning Programming Board of the Year two years ago. 

“Over the past four years, the pep rally has become a key program within SAB’s Cortaca week of events, serving as the culmination of the weeklong celebration of Red Dragon pride and support for our SUNY Cortland football team,” said Kyle Cannon, assistant director of campus activities. 

The seven students who represented Cortland at the conference attended sessions that taught them about accessibility, marketing and other keys to event management. Winning the Event of the Year honor was an unexpected bonus. 

“There was a lot of excitement, and honestly a bit of disbelief at first,” said Juliana Franco, the major events chair for SAB at the time of the rally. “We knew how much work went into planning the event, but to see it recognized on a national level was incredibly rewarding.”  

She said the honor reflects the work of the SAB team and support received from the wider Cortland community. 

“I’m especially grateful to have worked with such a dedicated executive board and group of volunteers who helped bring the rally to life,” Franco added. 

This year’s rally featured performances by local and SUNY Cortland dance groups, live entertainment from the Cooper Greer Band, carnival games and attractions that included a mechanical bull, raffles, a street performer and the school’s mascot, Blaze. 

Cannon, who submitted the nomination for the event, estimated that this year’s pep rally drew hundreds of students and hundreds of community members to Main Street. 

Franco and senior Shannon O’Sullivan, president of SAB, described months of prep work. Performers were booked as early as March for the event held in November. Coordinating with campus groups, communicating with vendors and managing logistics on a timeline were crucial. 

“There’s a point within the event where you can kind of just sit back and let the event run, and it is deeply emotional in that way as well,” O’Sullivan said. “We’ve worked so hard for so long and now I could just watch everyone enjoy themselves and having that sense of pride is one of the most rewarding things that I’ve ever done.” 

She described goals that SAB has for every campus event: stay organized, stay on schedule, communicate and engage as many students as possible. O’Sullivan said she’s inspired to give campus the same kind of experience she had after transferring to SUNY Cortland her sophomore year. 

“Getting involved on campus and attending activities made me really love this school and made me want to stay and become as involved in campus life as I possibly could be,” she said. “My goal is to have this same effect on at least one other student because it completely changed who I am as a person.” 

Lori Reichel doesn’t just strive to instruct future health educators at SUNY Cortland. The assistant professor of health’s aim has always been national in its reach.

“I have a passion of wanting people to have the health skills so they can succeed, that they have the life skills with the updated health knowledge and that they care about it,” said Reichel, who can quickly run though how to correctly wash one’s hands in a public restroom. It involves not touching things with one’s clean hands.

Outside the classroom, she’ll invest a small amount of her own money to host an educational podcast, or she’ll labor long hours on a textbook that will only reward her enough money from the publisher for an occasional dinner out — for the sake of possibly helping newcomers in her field succeed.

So Reichel was especially pleased to be honored for her work by her peers in the National Academy of Health and Physical Literacy (nahpl.org).

“It’s an honor to get this award, a huge honor,” Reichel said.

In early March during the organization’s annual conference in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, she was singled out to receive the group’s inaugural Health Literacy Advocacy Award. Hers was among an array of new awards categories presented at the event.

“Lori works tirelessly for our students, and it is nice to see (that work) recognized,” said Eileen Gravani, interim Health Department chair.

“What is fun for me is that this organization is honoring people for the first time this year,” said Reichel, who for the past two years has hosted the School Health Educators podcast. In a recent podcast, she interviewed a woman who was named the 2025 SHAPE America Teacher of the Year on the topic of classroom teaching approaches.

“NAHPL is a newer organization and part of it is they they’re looking for people who truly support health literacy,” Reichel said.

By hosting the School Health Educators podcast and website, Reichel currently helps professionals effectively reach the public for the sake of their health literacy and well-being. She created the website to offer a variety of resources to health teachers across standards and content areas.

She has recently written professional journal articles in her field and is the sole author of Tactile Tools for Social Emotional Learning: Activities to Help Children Self-Regulate with SEL, PreK-5 (Routledge, 2025). The text helps not only educators but others find “tools” to help people of all ages self-regulate their emotions.

She also shares practical informational materials such as a self-examination postcard for when students attend office hours so that the young adults can check their own health.

“I’ve been giving them to my students that have roommates and stuff, and they are putting them in the shower for breast self-examination,” Reichel said. “And on the flip side of the card is testicular self-examination because testicular cancer is highest for 15- to 25-year-olds. So, to give them the skills and the care to check their private parts, you know, that’s health literacy.”

In the health education field, a couple years ago she was known for her podcast called Puberty Prof. Launched in January 2021, the Puberty Prof podcast ran for more than 100 episodes with Reichel hosting a diverse list of national experts on a range of topics relating to youth at puberty.

Named the 2010 American Association for Health Education Professional of the Year and the 2007 New York State Health Educator of the Year, Reichel taught at Western Michigan University for several years before joining SUNY Cortland in 2022. From 2013 until 2019, she was a faculty member at University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.

Reichel is a frequent presenter at state and national conferences, as well as a media consultant in her areas of expertise, including Bloom-for-alland the podcasts Reframing Our Stories, Mom Essentials and Stand Up Comedy Sex Ed.

Reichel is the author of a book for parents and caregivers, Common Questions Children Ask About Puberty, and a manual for educators titled Tools for Teaching Comprehensive Human Sexuality Education: Lessons, Activities, and Teaching Strategies Utilizing the National Sexuality Education Standards. She also developed a low-cost game called the “Talk Puberty” app, also available as the “Puberty Chit-Chat”; and Discussion Cards as an ice breaker on awkward or sensitive topics.

More members of SUNY Cortland’s Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) will be able to pursue a paid internship thanks to a new program that aims to help students from low-income backgrounds overcome financial barriers.

Through SUNY’s EOP Paid Internship Scale-Up Initiative, SUNY Cortland will utilize more than $50,000 in state funding to increase student participation in high-impact practices (HIPs). That term refers to educational experiences associated with student learning, retention and career readiness characterized by sustained, meaningful collaboration. Examples include internships, study abroad, undergraduate research, community-based learning, first-year seminars, learning communities, student leadership and employment.

Up to 20 EOP scholars at the university will be able to earn a paid internship stipend paying them $1,920 for a three-credit, semester-long work experience. Cortland is one of 24 campuses to earn approval for its program, which follows the SUNY system’s stated goal of 100% participation in applied learning for EOP students.

“This is wonderful news because it provides high-impact experiential learning opportunities for our EOP students and it means our institution will close an equity gap in paid internship access,” said Mary Schlarb, the university’s assistant vice provost for student achievement. “This initiative also perfectly aligns with SUNY Cortland’s 2024-30 strategic plan goals of fostering academic engagement, improving equity in achievement and enhancing workforce readiness.”

EOP provides educational and financial support to 114 SUNY Cortland students who demonstrate strong academic and personal potential but may have missed out on a college education due to adverse circumstances such as financial hardship. 

Nationally, students from low-income backgrounds and first-generation college students are less likely to participate in paid internships than their peers. Across SUNY, approximately 66% of EOP students who graduated in 2024-25 participated in credit-bearing internships or HIPs, a number that mirrors SUNY Cortland’s institutional data.

Unpaid internship experiences also can create financial and logistical barriers for students due to the costs associated with transportation, housing or missed work.

“Internship experiences are a vital part of ensuring our students can explore career paths that interest them, while also gaining valuable real-world experience,” said SUNY Chancellor John B. King J. “For nearly 60 years, the Educational Opportunity Program has provided a pathway for students throughout New York state to access higher education. This grant program means that all EOP students will be able to access high-quality internships that enrich their education, so they can be set on a path to upward mobility and success.” 

The majority of SUNY Cortland’s funding will be dedicated to internship stipends that pay students $16 per hour, totaling $38,400. The university also will receive wraparound support grants to cover participation-related expenses and additional funds for administration and programming.

Schlarb noted that the university’s efforts will be collaborative between the EOP Office, Career Services and SUNY Cortland’s multidisciplinary HIPs Council, with hopes to expand partnerships with local employers and alumni.

An additional area of opportunity includes converting some federal work-study positions on campus into credit-bearing internships. The program also will look to support qualified EOP students who are selected to participate in the university’s Business Assistance Internship Program offered through the SUNY Cortland Entrepreneurship Center.

The pilot program has the potential to be renewed after its inaugural year, with overall goals to achieve 100% EOP student participation in high-impact practices and establish a sustainable model for providing equitable access to them.

A SUNY Cortland speaker series continues to bring leading voices in science to campus as part of an initiative celebrating diversity in STEM. 

The most recent guest of the Diverse Voices in STEM lecture series, Senegal Mabry, a fifth-year Ph.D. candidate in Cornell University’s Department of Psychology, visited campus on Feb. 16 for his discussion on “Your Black and Blue Brain Regions and the Story They Tell About Brain Disease.” 

In 2024, Mabry was named a Cell Press Rising Black Scientist of the Year in the Life Sciences. 

“Speaker series like this expand what students see as possible,” Mabry said. “I wouldn’t have become a scientist without people who welcomed me into the field and invested in me personally. Creating spaces where students encounter diverse perspectives, pathways and people helps them see that they also can contribute to science.” 

Thirty-three students and 12 faculty members attended the multidisciplinary talk on how brain regions vulnerable to Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s change over time and the evidence that factors like exercise can maintain brain health. They represented academic departments including biological sciences, chemistry, childhood/early childhood education, economics, foundations and social advocacy, kinesiology, physics and psychology, 

Mabry shared his journey in graduate school and the importance of democratizing neuroscience. He also led a hands-on workshop with the Cornell Human Brain Collection. 

“It really helps demystify neuroscience because once they can hold a brain and see the structures we’re discussing, everything becomes much more real and tangible,” Mabry said. 

When he was asked to be a guest lecturer, Mabry said it was an easy decision. 

“SUNY Cortland is very close to my heart,” he said. “I have strong research collaborations with the Kinesiology Department there through my work on Parkinson’s disease, and through the Community Neuroscience Initiative at Cornell we partner with the Cortland C.U.R.E. program to train teachers in neuroscience and support classroom practice.” 

The lecture series began in 2021, following the formation of the Biological Sciences Department’s DEI Committee the previous year. A major goal is to give students, especially from historically marginalized backgrounds, exposure to scientists that more directly reflected who they are. 

“This lack of representation can deter students from pursuing careers in science or math,” said Theresa Curtis, professor of biological sciences.  

Since then, three guest speakers have held seminars on campus. All were chosen with a focus on scientists from typically underrepresented backgrounds whose work has the potential to interest students across multiple departments. 

A recent grant through the 2025-26 inaugural SUNY Cortland Inclusive Incubator Network of Grants (SCIING) Program, obtained in collaboration with the Chemistry DEI Committee, should support more speakers to come to SUNY Cortland. Another series lecture is planned for the fall. 

The added funding also enabled a group of students to have a chance to sit down and learn more from Mabry while enjoying a dinner, something that Curtis plans to repeat with future guests as an added mentorship opportunity. 

“These speakers will share their journeys in science and offer advice and inspiration to students,” she said. 

SUNY Cortland will host a ribbon-cutting event Friday, March 27, to formally introduce campus community members to the C-Wing renovation of Cornish and Van Hoesen halls.

Remarks will take place at 11:30 a.m. in the C-Wing’s main lobby and entryway, located near the building’s production facilities. Guided tours will follow. 

The $27 million project was completed for the Spring 2026 semester. It began in 2023 and spanned two and a half years, bringing major interior and exterior upgrades to reconfigure internal space, provide state-of-the-art media production facilities and centralize important student services.

The renovation included new offices for the Communication and Media Studies Department as well as Conley Counseling and Wellness Services, Disability Resources and the Educational Opportunity Program. 

Among the many enhancements for student media are a new audio production studio, video production studio, on-air radio station, podcasting room and cinema screening room. The Student Media Commons brings outlets such as the Dragon Chronicle newspaper, CSTV and WSUC 90.5 FM into one building, making it easier for student organizations to collaborate.  

Industry-standard equipment will benefit academic majors including cinema study, communication studies, new communication media and media production.  

Other building improvements include:

• Three new student lounges: one at the new main entrance; one at the connection between the Education Building and the C-Wing of Cornish and Van Hoesen halls; and the Student Media Commons.

• Disability Resources’ new Sensory Room and Test Accessibility Services space. 

• Updated offices, including frosted privacy glass, for Conley Counseling and Wellness Services.

• A multimedia classroom and writing studio classroom.

• A new enclosed elevator and stairs at the north end of the building.

• Added restrooms in central locations.

For more information about the March 27 ribbon-cutting, contact the Campus Event Management Office.

Know of a private residence or community group in need of post-winter raking, painting or general care? SUNY Cortland’s Big Event is back to help with spring cleaning.  

The annual communitywide service project led by the university’s Student Government Association (SGA) takes place Sunday, April 19. 

More job sites are still needed to host students involved. Community members, nonprofits or local groups seeking assistance with outdoor chores can email [email protected] or complete an interest form at sunycortland.formstack.com/forms/bigeventjobsite2026. 

Jobsite requests are due Friday, April 3, and private residences must be located within one mile of campus. 

Hundreds of university volunteers, including members of Greek organizations, student clubs, athletic teams and club sports, will lend a hand and complete projects throughout the local area. Student volunteers can be expected to arrive at approximately 10 a.m. on April 19. 

SGA will look to supply basic tools for student volunteers to help rake, clean up debris and garden, but jobsites are asked to provide supplies for more specific tasks such as painting. 

Launched in 2015 by student efforts, the Big Event is now coordinated by SGA as its largest annual initiative. 

Since March 23, SUNY Cortland has invited undergraduate students to participate in the SUNY Student Satisfaction Survey (SSS) to understand how students perceive the quality of different programs and services at the university.

The survey, which will run through Friday, April 10, is being administered online by SUNY.

Details about the survey are available through the Institutional Research and Analysis Office (IRA).

The goal of the project is to determine how well SUNY campuses serve their undergraduate students.

The students to be contacted — undergraduates 18 years of age and older who are enrolled in at least one class for credit during spring semester 2026 — are receiving email reminders from a SUNY address with instructions on how to participate in the survey.

The 2026 SSS was designed to be completed in about 20 minutes. Participation is encouraged but voluntary.

Students who complete the survey will be entered into a raffle to win one of several prizes. SUNY Cortland is offering chances to win tuition for a 3-credit class at the in-state tuition rate ($885 value, three will be offered); a pair of additional 2026 Commencement tickets (two are available); a commuter parking permit; a residential parking permit; a personal training package; a massage therapy package; or a golf simulator pass/access for the 2026-27 academic year.

“We ask that you encourage your students to take the time to complete the survey,” Stuart Daman, director of Institutional Research and Analysis (IRA) at SUNY Cortland, advised faculty and staff members.

The results of the survey inform institutional planning and are used to improve student services. Results are shared with the President’s Cabinet and the Institutional Planning and Assessment Committee (IPAC), and summaries will be posted on the IRA web page.

The most previous SSS was administered at SUNY Cortland in Spring 2024.

The SSS is a modified version of the former Student Opinion Survey (SOS), which had been conducted at most SUNY colleges and universities from 1985 until 2018.

The SSS is a cooperative effort of SUNY and the IRA Office, working together with other offices and individuals at SUNY Cortland.

SUNY Cortland's University Police Department (UPD) recently received their reaccreditation from the NY State Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS). 

The designation recognizes conceptually sound and operationally effective policies, with assessment divided into three categories: administrative standards, training standards and operational standards.

Ahead of the announcement, the UPD went through a three-day audit in January. The UPD has been accredited by DCJS since 2011.

Chief Mark DePaull, Assistant Chief Jason Welch, and Investigator Melissa Sholar were awarded the reaccreditation certificate at the Accreditation Council's quarterly meeting in Albany, N.Y., on March 5, 2026. Sholar also received the John Kimball O'Neil Achievement Award for her leadership and dedication as the accreditation program manager.