May 2026: Senate Report

Provost's Initiatives and Leadership Appointments

Vice provost roles

To support our faculty career paths, governance, and other structures, the Office of the Provost is seeking individuals to serve in two interim vice provost roles for next academic year. These two positions will oversee responsibilities from the portfolios of Amy Cook, who will depart this summer for a deanship at Emerson College, and Monica Bugallo, who continues to serve as Interim Vice President for Research and Innovation. We are accepting nominations through Wednesday, May 6.

Academic Technology Working Group

Leadership in the Office of the Provost and the Division of Information Technology are convening an Academic Technology Working Group that spans faculty, DoIT and Academic Affairs to consult on IT resources and strategy in our academic mission. If you have any interest in participating, please email the Provost’s Office.

Provost's Student Advisory Board

The Provost’s Student Advisory Board was established in the beginning of the fall semester to give the provost and members of his leadership team an additional opportunity to hear directly from undergraduate students. Over the course of the academic year, the students identified several areas they wanted to learn about and explore ways to improve the undergraduate academic experience. The board focused on four areas they determined to be the most pressing for current students: research and experiential learning opportunities outside of the classroom; hands-on learning inside the classroom; identifying and reducing costs to students to purchase software and digital subscriptions for specific classes; and developing a standard for excused absences.

Academic Affairs

Updated guidelines for promotion and tenure

Following a comprehensive feedback period, we are sharing the updated version of Stony Brook’s Guidelines on Promotion and Tenure, which will be in effect for cases due to the Provost’s Office and EVPHSC in 2027. We shared a draft for review on February 19, which addressed two substantive changes: the establishment of a University-Wide Advisory Committee and an articulation of the process for expedited tenure. We have incorporated edits, clarifications, and changes based on community feedback, such as clarifying the process for tenure clock stoppage–particularly for birth of child, adoption, or foster placement; adding guideline review expectations; and more explicit inclusion of language relevant to the HSC processes. These guidelines will be reviewed and assessed at least every three years. We are grateful for the partnership in getting this document as strong as it can be.

Academic Affairs office hours to continue in the fall

Thanks to the positive reception to this semester’s inaugural SBC Office Hours, the Academic Affairs team will be hosting these sessions once a semester starting in Fall 2026, where representatives from CELT, OEE, and Curriculum will be available to answer any SBC-related questions. More information about the timing of the next event will be announced soon.

CELT Updates

Workshops and Resources

Did you want to schedule a summer or fall workshop? Contact CELT! Check our calendar for other upcoming events.

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.

Access: A Quest Toward Inclusion

The Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching is excited to announce a new accessibility training for faculty, Access: A Quest Toward Inclusion. This course is meant as an introduction to digital accessibility and shows its connections to inclusive learning. Topics include: presenting auditory and visual information, developing alt text, and designing course content for cognition.

To enroll, use the direct course enrollment link. You'll be prompted to log in to Brightspace, and select Enroll in Course to gain access. Once enrolled, the course will automatically appear in your My Courses widget on the homepage of Brightspace for easy access.

This approximately 90-minute course has been adapted from SUNY Oswego, and includes personalized content specific to Stony Brook University’s services and resources.

While you can always submit requests for PDF remediation to CELT, instructors who complete Access: A Quest Toward Inclusion will be entered into a monthly raffle. Winners will receive a prize of 50 pages or slides (Microsoft or Google) of their choice, or two hours of video transcription, to be remediated by CELT.

For more information about CELT’s resources and services (including workshops, consultations, and self-paced guides), see their Accessibility Training page.

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.

The Online Teaching Course (OTC)

We invite you to join the Online Teaching Course (OTC) this summer, offered in two session formats to fit your schedule. The OTC is a fully asynchronous, 15-hour online training course designed to give you the experience of an online student while learning evidence-based strategies for creating engaging online courses. Each session is facilitated by a member of the CELT team and is held in Brightspace. For more information, email Kristin Hall.

Two session options are available this summer:

Summer 2026-Accelerated

June 8 - 28

Fill out this Summer Accelerated Google Form to Register

Summer 2026-5 Week

July 6 - August 9

Fill out this Summer 2026 Google Form to Register

Share your feedback: Course evaluations

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.

CELT education journal accepting submissions

Submit your educational research to CELT's educational journal, The International Journal of Transformative Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (IJTTL). We are accepting submissions for our fourth issue, expected to be published in late summer. For more information, visit the journal’s website, or email CELT.

Academic Programs

Public Health MPH (Revision, 04/2026)
Business Administration MBA (Revision, 04/2026)
Per NYSED’s combined program policy, certain combined programs are no longer required to be registered with the state. In accordance with this policy, a list of programs have been deregistered and will now be managed locally by Stony Brook. For more information, please contact Kara DeSanna at kara.desanna@stonybrook.edu. Note: Operations of these programs are unaffected by deregistration.

Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences Initiatives

FAHSS and travel grants

The funding available for FAHSS (Faculty in the Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences) awards was increased by a third for AY 2025-26 by the Office of the Provost, bringing the total amount to $135,000. Last year (AY 2024-25), 22 faculty applications received FAHSS support, reflecting a 67% award rate. This year, 36 applications have received the FAHSS award, with a 75% award rate; and there has been an overall increase of more than 30% in the number of FAHSS applications.

Further, the total funding available for the President’s Distinguished Travel Grants for faculty in the arts, humanities, and social sciences was increased for AY 2025-26 in order to reinstate the amount to its previous AY 2023-24 level of $50,000. The Travel Grant funding amount will remain at $50,000 next year (AY 2026-27).

We are deeply grateful to the faculty members of the FAHSS/Travel Grant committee for their work.

Climate and Sustainability Programming

C4E hosted third annual environmental forum

C4E held its 3rd Annual Environmental forum on April 3 including the NYU debate team and a distinguished panel who discussed the concepts of managed retreat and coastal defense as possible strategies to address sea level rise. Attended by more than 60 participants, the forum concluded with a lively Q&A session.

C4E support for chemistry lecture

C4E helped support the Department of Chemistry’s event featuring Professor Vicki Grassian, Distinguished Professor and Distinguished Chair in Physical Chemistry at UC San Diego on April 15. Dr. Grassian’s talk focused on the impact of atmospheric aerosols.

Faculty Development

Congratulations to our Chancellor's Award winners

Horizon Award for Faculty Research and Scholarship

Mahdieh Danesh Yazdi, Assistant Professor, Public Health/Family, Population, and Preventive Medicine

Chancellor's Awards for Excellence

Excellence in Adjunct Teaching

Jay Mendelson, Lecturer, Mechanical Engineering

Excellence in Faculty Service

Julia Bear, Interim Dean & Professor, College of Business
Nicholas Eaton, Professor, Psychology
Deborah Zelizer, Chair and Clinical Associate Professor, Health Sciences, School of Health Professions

Excellence in Librarianship

Sunny Chung, Senior Assistant Librarian, Health Sciences Library
Kimberly Kennedy, Director of Content Management, University Libraries

Excellence in Professional Service

Kim Berlin, Director of Enterprise Data and Analytics, Enterprise Data and Analytics
Carla Caglioti, Assistant Dean and Executive Director, Creative Writing, Film and Television
Rosalia Davi, Program Manager, Center for Inclusive Education
Cathrine Duffy, Director, Healthier U
Jude Eleanor Elizenda Mondesir, Interim Senior Associate Vice President for Budget & Financial Planning, Budget, Financial Planning and Analysis
Shannon Jayne, Director, Academic Success and Tutoring Center, Academic Success and Tutoring Center
Adelaide Kuzmack, Associate University Systems Analysis, Office of Financial Aid
Christopher Paparo, Assistant Director for Southampton Programs and Marine Sciences Center Manager, School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences
Emily Snyder, Director, Department of Student Community Development, Student Affairs

Excellence in Scholarship and Creative Activities

Marie A. Badalamente, Professor, Orthopaedics
Jie Gao, Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering
Daniel Levy, Professor, Sociology
Amy Marschilok, Professor, Chemistry
Dominik Schneble, Professor, Physics and Astronomy

Excellence in Teaching

Alan Calder, Professor, Physics and Astronomy
Dale Drueckhammer, Professor, Chemistry
Angela Kokkosis, Associate Professor, Surgery
Elizabeth Kotseas, Lecturer, Writing and Rhetoric
Sara Lipton, Chair and Professor, History
Thomas Mangano, Lecturer, English
Benjamin Martin, Professor, Biochemistry and Cell Biology
Anurag Purwar, Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering
Michelle Whittaker, Associate Professor, Writing and Rhetoric

Enrollment Management

Office of Financial Aid and Scholarship Services

Schedule of reduction of loans based on enrollment load

Federal student loan eligibility is tied to a student’s enrollment status for both undergraduate and graduate students. Students must be enrolled at least half-time to receive federal Direct Loans, and loan amounts may be prorated if enrollment is less than full-time or adjusted based on actual enrollment intensity. If a student drops below the required enrollment level before or during the period of enrollment, eligibility may be reduced or canceled in accordance with federal regulations, and any undisbursed loan funds may be adjusted accordingly. Schools are required to certify enrollment status to ensure loan disbursements align with federal eligibility rules.

Legacy provisions for PLUS and Grad PLUS loans

The Parent PLUS Loan (for dependent undergraduate students) and the Graduate PLUS Loan are federal credit-based loan programs that allow borrowing up to the cost of attendance minus other financial aid. These programs are not subject to the same annual or aggregate borrowing limits as Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans, but they do require credit approval and must meet federal eligibility criteria each year of borrowing. There are no legacy or grandfather provisions that preserve prior borrowing terms; eligibility, credit review, and borrowing limits are determined at the time of each annual application based on current federal regulations and the student’s cost of attendance.

Office of the Registrar

Expanded pre-registration access

The strategic expansion of the pre-registration window from one week to two has shown preliminary growth in enrollment. By opening shopping carts and class views earlier, the additional lead time allows students to better navigate course planning and advisor consultations, resulting in Summer and Fall registration numbers that currently outpace the previous year’s cycle.

Streamlining enrollment with Modern Schedule Builder

The implementation of the new Modern Campus Schedule Builder is showing to be effective and a pivotal success in streamlining enrollment preparation. By providing students with an intuitive interface to visualize their options, the tool has complemented our extended two-week registration window.

Key Dates

Spring 2026

May 9: Last day of classes
May 12-20: Finals
May 20: Semester ends, official end of spring semester
May 22: Commencement

Summer 2026

May 25: Memorial Day, university closed
May 26: Classes begin

Undergraduate Admissions

Admitted Seawolf Days were hosted on March 28 and April 11 for first-year and transfer students admitted to the university for Fall 2026. Both programs achieved record attendance, seeing over 75% of registered attendees and guests participate. This is over 6,000 total attendees between both programs.

The first-year deposit deadline for confirming enrollment for Fall 2026 is May 1, 2026.

In collaboration with the Graduate School and the College of Business, over 3,000 incoming first-year students were offered admission to the accelerated MBA degree program. To date approximately 50 students have confirmed their participation in this pilot program.

As a new pathway to access a Stony Brook education, approximately 1,000 first-year students were offered admission to one of our partner universities abroad through the Freshman Launch Year (FLY) pathway. This is a new pathway this year for students who were not offered admission to our New York campus. Those students admitted to the NY campus will still have the opportunity to also engage in this program but this new cohort will not be permitted to enroll at the NY campus until Spring 2027.

Global Affairs

Visa and Immigration Services

Final OPT workshop of the semester: May graduates encouraged to attend

1 p.m.

Thursday, May 7

Zoom; registration required

This will be the final Optional Practical Training (OPT) information session of the semester. F-1 students graduating in May 2026 are eligible to begin the Post-Completion OPT application process now and must apply no later than July 1, 2026. This session will walk students through the full process, including application steps, required documentation, and key timelines, along with practical guidance to help avoid common errors. While especially important for May graduates, all F-1 students are encouraged to attend to better understand OPT and plan ahead for future employment in the United States.

Upcoming webinar: Visa ready - navigating visa applications, renewals and travel

10:30 - 11:30 a.m.

Tuesday, May 12

Zoom; registration is required

This webinar will help international students navigate visa applications, renewals, and travel in and out of the United States and is especially valuable for students planning international travel or visa renewals. The session will feature Travis Feuerbacher, who will share practical guidance on the visa process, including the DS-160, interview preparation, and travel considerations. A live Q&A will follow.

Graduate School

Workshop: Optimizing research mentoring for faculty

9:30 to 1:30 p.m.

June 5 & 12

Virtual

Stony Brook faculty are invited to a two-day interactive workshop to enhance research mentoring skills and develop strategies for inclusive mentoring, aligning expectations, effective communication, and more.

Wall of Honor celebration

4-5 p.m.

Wednesday, May 6

Shore Club

Join us as we celebrate undergraduate and graduate external fellowship recipients.

Distinguished doctoral colloquium

10 a.m. to Noon

Monday, May 18

SAC 303

Hear short presentations for a general audience by this year’s recipients of the President’s Award to Distinguished Doctoral Students. Monday, May 18, 10-12 in SAC 303.

RSVP for the Colloquium

Graduate awards ceremony

11 a.m.

Tuesday, May 19

Student Union Ballroom

Join the Graduate School for our annual awards ceremony celebrating the research, teaching, service and mentoring of students, faculty, and staff. Tuesday, May 19 at 11am in the Student Union Ballroom. All are welcome.