President’s Talk Points To Opportunities, Signs Of Hope

01/22/2026

Despite the challenges facing higher education institutions across the country, SUNY Cortland President Erik J. Bitterbaum cited signs of hope during his Spring 2026 State of the University Address on Jan. 22.

Among the institutional achievements highlighted, Bitterbaum pointed to the university's most recent first-year retention rate of 84.2%, reflecting the number of first-time students who continued their studies at SUNY Cortland. That number, based on Fall 2024 data, ranks Cortland second among 13 SUNY comprehensive campus peers.

"That's really extraordinary," Bitterbaum said. "And it's because of you - our faculty and staff - and our students. I'd love to maintain that moving forward because we know retention is going to become even more important in the future."

The president addressed approximately 400 faculty and staff members in the Corey Union Function Room to begin the Spring 2026 semester, sharing campus updates and discussing higher education topics facing institutions across New York state and the nation.

Challenges such as enrollment declines, cost concerns and shrinking international student numbers remain national trends that all colleges and universities must prepare for, Bitterbaum said. But there are reasons for optimism at Cortland and across SUNY.

First-year application numbers continue to climb for the university, surpassing 17,000 for Fall 2026. Additionally, New York state's executive budget for SUNY includes additional funding for various educational priorities, from internships to college completion programs, as well as a system-wide tuition freeze.

"That's the right way to go - to make it easier for New Yorkers to send their students to college," Bitterbaum said. "I have confidence that things will improve."

Bitterbaum also referenced recent data from the American Association of Colleges and Universities suggesting that confidence in higher education institutions is strong among employers and hiring managers, with nearly three-quarters believing that a college degree is worth the financial investment.

He encouraged faculty and staff members to be aware of the skills that employers will desire in a new generation of students: foundational traits such as critical thinking as well as experiential learning, microcredentials and knowledge of how to use artificial intelligence responsibly.

"Companies are still looking for people who can connect dots across teams, make judgment calls and solve problems," Bitterbaum said. "Though experience with AI is important, it can't replicate what's learned in the classroom."

The president offered many examples of recent academic and campus highlights at SUNY Cortland:

• Construction and renovation updates : The C-Wing of Cornish and Van Hoesen halls will reopen for the Spring 2026 semester . A $27 million renovation that began in Summer 2023 brings state-of-the-art production facilities for the Communication and Media Studies Department as well as new offices for several student support services.

• Individual faculty and staff awards : Faculty members across multiple disciplines earned recognition through the SUNY Academic Affairs Fellows Program in areas that align with the system's general education framework. Helena Baert, professor of physical education, was named the inaugural winner of the Excellence in Higher Education Award from the New York State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance and Lori Reichel, assistant professor of health, earned the 2026 Health Literacy Award from the National Academy of Health and Physical Literacy.

• English Department Google credentialing : Three faculty members in the university's English Department earned a $50,000 SUNY grant to embed Google Essentials industry credentials into interdisciplinary coursework with specific emphasis on students in arts, humanities and social sciences majors. The goal is to help graduates make their skills more visible in a competitive job market.

• EOP Teaching Scholars Grant : The university's Educational Opportunity Program was awarded a $30,000 SUNY grant to assist future teachers enrolled in EOP with expenses related to teacher certification and student teaching.

• Teagle Foundation Cornerstone Project : Three faculty members across multiple disciplines have piloted a $25,000 grant from the Teagle Foundation's "Cornerstone: Learning for Living" initiative. The overall goal is to support a common intellectual experience anchored in transformative texts for a significant share of incoming students as well as coherent, meaningful pathways through general education.

• Addressing food insecurity : The local 2025 CROP Hunger Walk raised nearly $8,500 to help address food insecurity, drawing 90% of its participants from the campus community. The SUNY Cortland Cupboard remains a vital resource for students, receiving more than 3,000 visits last year.

• Sustainability initiatives : In addition to securing a spot in the Princeton Review's annual "Guide to Green Colleges," SUNY Cortland partnered with local nonprofit Cortland ReUse on a campus-focused effort that recirculated residence hall essentials in the community and received statewide recognition.

• Study abroad participation : Several groups of SUNY Cortland students traveled internationally during winter break, including a healthcare in Thailand program led by the Biological Sciences Department, a clinical experience in Sri Lanka for students in the Communication Disorders and Sciences Department and a service trip for the university's baseball team in the Dominican Republic.

During his remarks, Bitterbaum shared a question that he is often asked by alumni, parents and friends with ties to SUNY Cortland: "Who are we as a university?"

He provided the example of faculty members who showed support and flexibility to a student whose mother was diagnosed with brain cancer during the semester. The student emailed Bitterbaum and his professors, thanking them for providing understanding and grace during a difficult time.

"The truth of the matter is I receive numerous emails recognizing and praising our faculty and staff," Bitterbaum said. "It's amazing how you go the extra mile. The commitment that you make in the classroom, on the playing fields, in the residence halls ... it really reverberates.

"That's what I love about our campus - that our primary focus has always been each other and our students, and they tell us that all the time."