SUNY board votes to move nanoscale college to UAlbany, appoints new officer in charge at SUNY Poly

MARCY, N.Y. — Reunifying the College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering (CNSE) and appointing an officer in charge of SUNY Polytechnic Institute were two items approved by the SUNY Board of Trustees at its Dec. 13 meeting.

The board passed a resolution to initiate the reunification process of CNSE, originally created in 2004 as a college within the University at Albany. In 2014, administrative authority of CNSE transferred to SUNY Poly while all students and staff remained at UAlbany. Gov. Kathy Hochul first mentioned the possibility of reunifying the CNSE with Albany in her 2022 state of the state address.

Per the resolution, UAlbany president Havidán Rodríguez will create a detailed master plan, timeline, and accounting of debts to initiate the transfer of CNSE from SUNY Poly. He will work with SUNY’s chancellor and the newly appointed officer in charge of SUNY Poly on the transfer, which will take place no later than December 2023.

The plan must ensure proper consideration of student interests and will not impact operations at SUNY Poly.

Mohawk Valley–area officials reacted negatively to the news, citing lack of support for SUNY Poly, political moves, and a disheartening overlooking of successes in the Mohawk Valley.

“This region, with Wolfspeed, Quad C, the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory, Griffiss Business and Technology Park and many other innovative enterprises and companies, has become a leader in ingenuity, research, and technology,” state Sen. Joseph Griffo said in statement. “Diminishing SUNY Poly is counterproductive to this region and the state as a whole.”

Oneida County Executive Anthony J. Picente Jr. chided the SUNY  board for pitting two areas of the state against each other. “What is even more shocking is that this decision was made in the wake of the announcements by Micron in Syracuse and the ongoing success of Wolfspeed in Oneida County,” he said.

State Assemblymembers Marianne Buttenschon, Brian Miller, Ken Blankenbush, John Salka, and Robert Smullen all release statements chastising SUNY and Gov. Hochul for the move.

“We intend to hold the governor and the SUNY Board of Trustees to their expressed commitment to make SUNY Poly the premier public polytechnic institution,” Mohawk Valley EDGE President Steven DiMeo said. “SUNY Poly should play an integral role in providing academic, research, and collaborative industry partnerships that will fuel the region’s technology-based economic resurgence.”

Officer in charge named for SUNY Poly

At the board meeting, it was also announced that Andrew L. Russell was appointed officer in charge of SUNY Poly by SUNY Interim Chancellor Deborah F. Stanley, effective Dec. 15, following the departure of Tod Laursen, who served for two years as acting president.

The SUNY Poly College Council will immediately launch a national search for a permanent president.

Russell serves as SUNY Poly’s dean and professor of history for the College of Arts and Sciences where he administers 11 degree programs within the college; directs the strategy, policies, and processes for the school; supports faculty; and guides proposals for new programs in data science and communications.

He is a member of the college’s retention and enrollment steering committee, served as co-chair of the campus proposal for Promoting Recruitment, Opportunity, Diversity, Inclusion and Growth (PRODiG), and a member of the Educational Opportunity Program Advisory Council.

Prior to joining SUNY Poly, Russell served as director of program in science and technology studies to the chief academic officer for the College of Arts and Letters at Stevens University of Technology before he was promoted to associate professor of history.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in history from Vassar College, a master’s degree from the University of Colorado, and a doctorate in history of science, medicine, and technology from Johns Hopkins University.

SUNY Poly offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in nanoscience, nanoengineering, technology, professional studies, and arts and sciences.