As we enter the new year, we thought we’d share some of the SUNY news you may have missed during 2012.
In March, the SUNY Board of Trustees approved the creation of the SUNY Distinguished Academy. The Academy is comprised of all active faculty at SUNY’s 64 statewide campuses who hold a distinguished rank.
The Academy is positioned to recognize professional achievements by faculty who ultimately receive this honor as directed by the Board of Trustees and use those faculty members to mentor young faculty, refine their focus on the community, and ultimately help enhance the profession.
“The SUNY Board of Trustees has proudly honored more than 900 extraordinary faculty with appointment to various distinguished faculty rank since 1963, and establishment of the academy will take this time-honored tradition to a new and much deserved level,” said Board Chairman H. Carl McCall.
Past recipients of this high distinction have included Nobel laureates and winners of the National Medal of Technology and Innovation, and a Distinguished Librarian who, as a Fulbright Scholar in the country of Cyprus, accomplished what no other scholar or librarian has been able to do since 1974 by bringing the Greek-Cypriot and Turkish-Cypriot academic communities closer through overcoming ethnic and political conflicts.
“It is only fitting that SUNY bring together its distinguished faculty to help raise the bar for academic excellence throughout the system,” said Chancellor Zimpher. “By establishing the academy, the Board paves the way for increased contribution to the SUNY mission on behalf of this group, and expands its honor of their extensive accomplishments.”
Since the program’s inception in 1963, SUNY has appointed 921 faculty to distinguished ranks, as follows: 305 Distinguished Professorships; 275 Distinguished Service Professorships; 336 Distinguished Teaching Professorships; and 5 Distinguished Librarian Professorships. Of those, 425 faculty are still active within SUNY.
For more information on the program, click here.
Cover Photo: SUNY Purchase, Winter 2012