The following news release was issued by the Chancellor's Office on October 17, 2011:

State University of New York Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher today appointed SUNYIT President Bjong Wolf Yeigh as officer-in-charge of SUNY Morrisville, effective October 20, 2011. The appointment will continue until further notice and will be served concurrently with his position as president of SUNYIT.

"SUNY is committed to ensuring that every New Yorker has access to an excellent and affordable education," said Chancellor Zimpher. "By sharing leadership, SUNYIT and SUNY Morrisville will be able to enroll more students, hire more full-time faculty, and increase course offerings. I am confident that President Yeigh’s leadership will serve both campuses with distinction. I thank him for taking on this dual role for SUNY as the system seeks to uphold its commitment to students amidst a challenging economic climate."

"Together, SUNYIT and Morrisville State College provide more than 6,000 students each year with an affordable college education that is second to none in the region and across New York," said President Yeigh. "Shared leadership and other measures that will emerge as our alliance continues to evolve will only enhance the quality of education at our campuses and give more students access to it. I thank Chancellor Zimpher for the opportunity to lead both of these outstanding institutions of higher education."

SUNYIT and SUNY Morrisville are not being merged. Each campus will retain its individual identity, including insignia, academic specialties, and unique programs. Aligning administrative functions will create additional opportunities for students as they gain access to the academic resources of a second campus in the region. In addition, enrollment capacity at both campuses will increase as a result of the alliance.

Shared presidencies are a part of the SUNY Campus Alliance Networks established this year by Chancellor Zimpher and the SUNY Board of Trustees in order to enable campuses to increase enrollment, hire more faculty, and create jobs in the communities they serve.

The appointment comports with the action taken by the State University Board of Trustees via a resolution adopted at its June 15, 2011, meeting and reaffirmed at its September 20, 2011, meeting, addressing campus-to-campus collaboration and implementation strategies to improve efficiency, generate cost savings, build capacity, and expand student services through the use of shared administrative functions, procurement opportunities, and realignment of academic program offerings where possible.

About the State University of New York
The State University of New York is the largest comprehensive university system in the United States, educating more than 467,000 students in more than 7,500 degree and certificate programs on 64 campuses with nearly 3 million alumni around the globe. To learn more about how SUNY creates opportunity, visit www.suny.edu.