April 2026 Senate Report
Provost’s Initiatives and Leadership Appointments
Gratitude for work of DTAS committees
We are grateful to the faculty and staff who served on the three working groups related to the launch of Stony Brook’s forthcoming Department of Technology, AI, and Society. Dozens of faculty and staff served on the steering working group, the undergraduate programs working group, and the graduate programs working group. Thanks to their thoughtful collaborations and dedication, this new department, to be housed in the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, will leverage the existing strengths of the CEAS Department of Technology and Society and facilitate the kinds of interdisciplinary research that will solidify Stony Brook’s standing as a leader in AI and its impact on society.
Figueroa to lead SBU Quantum Institute
President Goldsmith and Provost Lejuez last month announced another bold step to advance Stony Brook’s leadership in quantum research and networking at the state and national levels. The new Quantum Institute will be led by Eden Figueroa, endowed presidential professor of physics in the College of Arts and Sciences Department of Physics and Astronomy. Under his leadership, the Institute will help SBU expand our leadership in the quantum revolution, continue hiring the best and brightest faculty, and deepen our research connections with partners including Brookhaven National Lab, SUNY, and beyond.
Read the Quantum Institute announcement
Help us maintain our momentum toward accessibility
Updating the teaching materials, websites, digital materials, and mobile applications used across our programs, services, and activities to meet the federal ADA Title II requirements has been, and will continue to be, a significant undertaking. We are grateful to everyone in our community for their continued commitment to ensuring our entire community has equitable access to all that Stony Brook has to offer. Please continue working, and be reassured that we are here to support you in this critically important work.
As shared last month, the Provost’s Office and CELT are supporting departments with funding to hire students to support PDF remediation. Any department requesting this support was provided $3,500 to support a student hire, with the duration of that appointment determined locally by each department. As departments near the end of those funds, we encourage you to reach out to CELT and the Provost’s Office if you need additional help. CELT is also assessing additional measures to put in place beyond this semester.
TBI director search progress, committee announced
We are making progress in our search for a new director of the Turkana Basin Institute. We have hired Isaacson, Miller, a premier search firm, to help attract a robust pool of applicants, and develop a leadership profile informed by feedback from TBI’s stakeholders, including Stony Brook and international researchers, TBI board members, and other key constituencies. Additionally, a search committee, chaired by David Wrobel, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, has been named. We are grateful to all who agreed to serve.
Senior director for academic appointments joins Provost’s Office
Kyle J. Williams, Ph.D., joined the Provost’s Office last month as the senior director for academic appointments. Williams comes to Stony Brook from Ohio State, where he was a senior faculty affairs specialist in the College of Arts and Sciences, responsible for overseeing critical processes including promotion and tenure, reappointment reviews, faculty professional leave, governance revisions, new faculty onboarding, faculty awards, and professional development programming. He fills the vacancy left by Janice Barone’s retirement.
Water Fest celebrates water as an ecological, cultural, artistic, and social force
As part of Earthstock activities, faculty organizers are hosting Stony Brook’s first Water Fest, a campus-wide celebration exploring water as an ecological, cultural, artistic, and social force. Students, clubs, departments, and campus partners are welcome to host a water-themed activity or represent their organization at the Academic Mall Fountain from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. on Earth Day, April 22. Faculty organizers are Esteban Agosin-Otero (Art), Paul Firbas (HLL), and Sohl Lee (Art). The co-sponsors of Water Fest are the Office of the Provost, the Office of Student Life, and the Demonstrating Initiative grant in the Office of the President. A conference, AWA: ACTIONS OF WATER AWARENESS, will follow Water Fest from April 22-24. The conference explores water as a vital element in the world’s ecosystems. The AWA2 conference is led by Professors Agosin-Otero, Firbas, and Lee, and supported by the Department of Art, the Department of Hispanic Languages & Literature, and the Office of the Provost.
Academic Affairs
CELT Updates
Workshops and Resources
Check our calendar for upcoming events, or contact us to schedule a program for your department.
Accessibility Support for Course Content
CELT is here to assist you with making your course content digitally accessible. Keep checking CELT’s Accessibility Webpage and upcoming workshops.
PDF remediation
Do you need to make your PDFs accessible? Submit them to CELT’s PDF Remediation.
Generative AI Tools for Teaching and Learning – Departmental and Staff Development Workshops
Academic departments may request customized workshops on the use of generative AI in the classroom and for course preparation, as well as training sessions for academic staff on how AI can support administrative tasks, streamline processes, and enhance student services. These programs are offered in collaboration with the Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching. For more information or to schedule a workshop, contact celt@stonybrook.edu.
Share your Feedback
In Spring 2025, the Faculty Senate approved an updated list of questions for end of term course evaluations, and the new questions were launched later that semester. Now we want your reflections and feedback.
Curriculum Innovation
Cycle three of project EDGE is now live. Course development funds will be offered once again (up to $5,000 for single instructors or $3,000 each for co-instructors) for faculty to develop courses with at least one of the following SBC categories: ESI, SPK, TECH, or USA. To support SUNY’s new core competency requirements, proposals addressing AI literacy or civic discourse are encouraged.
In addition to course development funding, micro grants have been launched (up to $1,000) to support any existing SBC course. These awards are intended to enhance the student experience in general education courses scheduled for the 2026-27 academic year.
The deadline for both types of proposals is Friday, April 24. Please contact Kara DeSanna with any questions.
Academic Programs
- STEM Business Administration MBA (Revision & retitled from MBA in Finance; 03/26)
- Per NYSED’s combined program policy, certain combined programs are no longer required to be registered with the state. In accordance with this policy, the MBA/MS in STEM Business Administration and Applied Mathematics & Statistics has been deregistered and will now be managed locally by Stony Brook. Note: this does not change anything about the program’s operation.
- Elementary Mathematics AGC (New program; 03/26)
- Healthcare Management MBA (Revision & retitled from MBA in Health Care Management (03/26)
- Per NYSED’s combined program policy, certain combined programs are no longer required to be registered with the state. In accordance with this policy, the MBA/MPH in Healthcare Management/Public Health has been deregistered and will now be managed locally by Stony Brook. Note: this does not change anything about the program’s operation.
- Discontinuance Notice: Upon reviewing the MBA in Business Administration revision proposal, NYSED requested the formal discontinuance of Stony Brook's duplicative and inactive MBA in Business Administration registration, as well as its affiliated joint programs in Public Health, Biomedical Engineering, Public Policy, and Medicine. Please note that this action does not affect the status or operation of the active MBA program.
Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences Initiatives
AHSS Honorifics Committee
External honorific awards recognizing faculty achievements are a necessary step in cementing Stony Brook University’s role and reputation as a flagship research campus of New York State. They relate closely to enhanced career development for our faculty. Such formal recognition to promote the value and impact of SBU researchers is especially needed in the arts, humanities, and social sciences. We are committed to elevating the overall recognition of faculty achievements in these fields. This applies to those awards deemed Highly Prestigious by the National Research Council (considered in AAU metrics) as well as other awards that are regarded as vital stepping stones for future research success.
In spring semester 2026 the Office of the Provost has invited the following faculty to serve on the new AHSS Honorifics Committee. This advisory group convenes each semester to help foster, diversify, plan, and track institutional applications and individual nominations for AHSS awards at all levels of career development.
Members:
- Sara Lipton (History)
- Bonita London (Psychology)
- Linda O’Keeffe (Art)
- Rowan Ricardo Phillipps (English)
- Loredana Polezzi (Languages & Cultural Studies)
- E.K. Tan (Communication; English)
- Janet Ward (Philosophy; Committee Chair)
For additional information please contact Janet Ward, Associate Provost for Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences Initiatives.
New Partnership with the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council
The Office of the Provost is pleased to announce a new partnership for Stony Brook University with the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council (LMCC), located on Governors Island in New York Harbor. Two Stony Brook faculty members, Darla Migan (Philosophy) and Nobuho Nagasawa (Art), have been selected by LMCC to join its highly prestigious Arts Center Residency program. The LMCC-SBU climate arts residency runs from March to October 2026 and ensures a collaborative space for creative and project development in climate arts and in related fields. The new LMCC-SBU partnership also connects Stony Brook students, faculty, staff, and alumni to Governors Island events co-organized with both LMCC and the New York Climate Exchange, with a special focus on Earth Week (April), City of Water Day (July), and Climate Week NYC (September).
LMCC’s Earth Day Celebration showcasing the 2026 Climate Arts Residents will be held during the afternoon of April 18, 2026, at the Arts Center on Governors Island. This event will also include a presentation by Joseph M. Pierce (Hispanic Languages & Literature, and director of Stony Brook University’s Native American and Indigenous Studies initiative) on his new book, Speculative Relations: Indigenous Worlding and Repair. A public reception will follow at 5:00 pm, co-hosted by LMCC, Stony Brook, and NYCE, with music by The Jazz Loft. These events are free and open to the public. For additional information on the SBU-LMCC partnership in climate arts, please contact Janet Ward, Associate Provost for Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences Initiatives.
Climate & Sustainability Programming
Last week, the Collaborative for the Earth hosted its annual forum, this year focused on the future of New York City and other coastal communities. The NYU student debate team, a panel of experts, and a lively audience Q&A grappled with the existential question: Can we really engineer our way out of a changing climate, or is it time to step back from the shoreline?
Continuing, Professional, and Online Education
The Pre-College Summer Program returns this summer (June 28–July 24) offering rising high school juniors and seniors the opportunity to experience academic life at Stony Brook across four one-week sessions. Participants choose from 22 courses in areas ranging from engineering and robotics to health professions and e-commerce, learning directly from Stony Brook faculty alongside peers from across the region and country. Both residential and commuter options are available.
Faculty Development
Excellence in Teaching
On February 6, a session was held covering best practices for designing accessible course materials, navigating digital accessibility standards, and utilizing campus resources. This workshop offered practical guidance to create a more equitable learning environment. The session on March 6 focused on Inclusive Pedagogy and covered inclusive teaching strategies that will help instructors build community to foster a sense of belonging in their classes where students feel seen, heard, and supported. Faculty explored why inclusive pedagogy matters, strategies to address diverse student needs, and reflected on their own classroom practices to identify opportunities to create a classroom experience that is a more equitable and supportive learning environment for all students.
Emerging Leaders
On February 13, in Partnership with the Alda Center for Communicating Science, the Emerging Leaders cohort had their second workshop on communication. The Alda team experts translated research-backed communication principles and techniques into practical learning experiences, using improvisational delivery models to create a transformational learning experience that fosters engagement and human connection.
Chairs and Directors
On Monday, March 30, the Provost’s Office hosted an All Chairs and Directors meeting, which is held at least once per semester. More than 60 center/institute directors and department chairs attended. Celia Marshik, dean of the Graduate School, spoke about holistic admissions, mentor training programs, and graduate stipends, and Amy Cook, vice provost for academic affairs, spoke about the AI Statement of Values and the university-wide tenure committee. Center directors and department chairs also had the chance to ask questions of the provost’s leadership team during an open Q&A session.
Enrollment Management
Office of Financial Aid & Scholarship Services:
The Department of Education is implementing updates to FAFSA file transmissions to institutions as part of the OB3 legislation, effective April 26. At this time, PeopleSoft has not yet released a corresponding system update. As a result, we may experience a temporary disruption of several weeks during which we are unable to load FAFSA data for the 2026–2027 academic year. This delay may also affect our ability to certify and originate summer loans.
Office of the Registrar
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April 3 |
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April 6 |
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April 13 |
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Undergraduate Admissions
FLY program allows new students to study abroad in first semester
New for the fall 2026 semester, we are offering students the opportunity to study abroad in their first semester as a pathway to the New York campus. While the FLY program (operated through the Office of Global Affairs) is not new, the way in which we have offered admission to a targeted cohort of students for the fall 2026 is. This change has required new communications, portals, and processes be created and the collaboration between units has been a driving force in the success thus far.
Strong interest in Admitted Seawolf Days
Admitted Seawolf Days (March 28 and April 11) are showing significant interest with close to 6,000 total guests registered for both programs. Additional programs in select New York counties, out of state, and international markets have been occurring since early March and continue through early April.
Deposit Deadline
The deposit deadline for first year, fall 2026, students is May 1.
Global Affairs
International Student Success
- International Student Success is hosting weekly English Conversation Practice with English Pal and the Reading is Fun Club. Sessions are held every Thursday in the International Student Center (S1450 Melville Library) from 6 - 7pm. Each week will feature a new semi-formal situation where we will have a short discussion on the do's and don'ts of semi-formal English before breaking into small groups to practice speaking with others. Light snacks are provided.
- Representatives from the Association of Public Land-Grant Universities (APLU) visited campus on April 2 to review the progress of Stony Brook's International Peer Mentoring Program, which is participating in the APLU's research study on using technology to support best practices in peer mentoring programs. While on campus, APLU representatives also met with various campus partners supporting international student success and discussed the grant's progress and lessons learned from peer institutions.
International Academic Programs (Study Abroad)
- IAP has a strong Spring 2026 cohort of 133 students studying abroad across multiple countries. This is a significant increase compared to Spring 2025.
- We successfully expanded the Freshman Launch Year (FLY) program with a fourth location, SUNY Korea. We hope that adding SUNY Korea will increase participation among CEAS students, as it allows those in sequence based majors to stay on track by following SBU course mappings, while having an international experience.
Graduate School
Fellowship Fever: Explore opportunities for prestigious, merit-based awards with External Fellowships
This series of information sessions for students will cover details of each award, such as eligibility, required essays, and deadlines, and also the support offered by External Fellowships. Applications submitted in 2026 fund awards in 2027.
Optimizing Research Mentor Training for Faculty
Join us for this two-part interactive workshop and build mentorship skills! Grounded in the evidence-based CIMER curriculum, this training is a great way to establish evidence of mentoring skills for funding proposals and other purposes. Faculty from all disciplines are welcome for these cross-cutting discussions. Fridays, April 17 and 24. Virtual via Zoom
Congratulations to 3MT and Postdoc Spotlight participants and winners
Congrats to the participants in, and winners of, 3MT and the Postdoc Spotlight! We had the largest audience ever for three-minute (and one slide) research presentations by thirteen graduate students and nine postdocs. Esther Opoola, a doctoral student in molecular and cellular biology, will next compete in the 3MT regional competition.
SUNY Updates
Civil Learning and Democracy Virtual Forum April 13
The Civic Learning and Democracy Engagement (CLDE) Coalition’s upcoming virtual forum is April 13, 3:30 - 5:15 pm. This meeting launches the release of For All College Students: The CLDE Guide for Generative Curriculum Planning.
SUNY Startup Summer School accepting applications
This 10-week virtual training program provides students, faculty and staff with the knowledge and networks that help them commercialize breakthrough technology. Applications are due May 22.
Explore the Startup Summer School
SUNY hosts self-paced neurodiversity training for faculty and staff
The free, self-paced program is called “Supporting Neurodiversity across SUNY: Practical Strategies for our Campus Communities,” and will be available beginning April 30.
Undergraduate Education
2026 SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence
Congratulations to our 14 Stony Brook recipients:
- Norah Allam, Biomedical Engineering / Applied Mathematics and Statistics, WISE honors
- Ruthvick Bandaru, Computer Engineering
- Neel Chittur, Applied Mathematics and Statistics, Honors College
- Athena Choi, Biochemistry, Honors College
- Caden Deshommes, Creative Writing / English
- Sophia Goodkin, Psychology BA / Women’s and Gender Studies, Honors College
- Lana Gouda, Political Science / Economics
- Manahil Kashif, Biochemistry, WISE honors
- Aman Mistry, Biochemistry, Honors College
- Delaney Ortiz, Nursing, Honors College
- Patrick Serrentino, Biology
- Shivani Shah, Biology / Psychology, Honors College
- Madelyn Stepski, Creative Writing
- Marko Zimic, Chemical & Molecular Engineering, Honors College