Annual Report

A Message from the President

Our mission at SUNY Brockport is to be an inclusive learning community that inspires excellence through growth, engagement, and transformation. Our vision is to build meaningful lives and vibrant communities, and we do this through a focus on the four goals of Building a Better Brockport: To be a Great University at which to Learn; To be a University Engaged with its Community; To be a Sustainable and Thriving University for the Twenty-first Century; and to be a Great University at which to Work. We also show our commitment to our students and our community through our Brockport Promise and our Better Community Statement, which guide our actions on a daily basis. During 2024-25, we continued to grow our overall enrollment which is evidence that we are meeting the needs of our students and our community.

We also know we are part of something larger than our academic community here in Brockport. We are proud to be part of the State University of New York (SUNY), the largest comprehensive university system in the United States. Our goals align with the Chancellor’s priorities of student success; research and scholarship; diversity, equity and inclusion; and economic development and upward mobility.

In a document such as this, it is impossible to capture all of the good work that happened at Brockport in the past year, but we have tried to provide a summary of the year’s successes. We accomplished much in 2024-25 to help us achieve our vision. We also have crafted a plan that will position us to achieve our goals in 2025-26. To give a flavor of this plan, I have listed a few action points for each goal this year:

To be a Great University at which to Learn, we will ensure our new Academic Affairs structure of Schools and Colleges meets the needs of our students, faculty and staff. We will continue to develop our program array, and we will be taking part in a SUNY wide Academic Momentum project designed to help us support the students we have.

To be a University Engaged with its Community, we will continue to partner with local and regional organizations to meet their needs and celebrate our successes. This means ensuring we have strong town-gown relations, deep alumni and donor relations, and connections in Rochester and beyond.

To be a Sustainable and Thriving Institution for the Twenty-first Century, we will continue to raise money through our Brockport Foundation, so that what we achieve can be sustainably supported for years to come. We will also continue to work on our facilities upgrades, and investigate opportunity for wind turbines and solar panels to help us reduce our energy costs and invest in renewable sources. We welcomed our first Chief Sustainability Officer this year.

To be a Great University at which to Work, we will be doing a deep dive into the results of the Great Colleges to Work for Survey. Respondents were asked, “What do you appreciate most about working at this institution?” and “What would make this institution a better place to work?” Answers in both categories gave us some very valuable feedback, some of which has been actioned already, with other outcomes to follow. We will be using the next year to implement further changes and to communicate these outcomes widely. We will be focusing on areas over which we have control and where we believe we can move the needle.

As we do all of this, I know that excellence is within our reach.

This is just a small portion of what we will focus on in 2025-26. I am honored to serve as president of this remarkable university, and I look forward to seeing what we can achieve together, as we truly Build a Better Brockport.

Kind regards,

Heidi Macpherson, Ph.D., President

---

Goal 1: To be a Great University at which to Learn

Continuing Our Climb

SUNY Brockport is thriving. And it’s being noticed. From our jump in the US News & World Report rankings, to our booming enrollment, people across our region are recognizing that a SUNY Brockport education prepares students to succeed. 

No. 55, Best Regional Universities North

US News & World Report Best Colleges Rankings. Up 9 spots from 2024, Up 28 spots since 2020.

Take a look at what two of our award-winning students have accomplished

Our Students Are In Demand

Sixteen different advisory boards have been established across the University to ensure that our curriculum prepares students with the skills that employers need and graduate schools demand. That’s why Brockport students and graduates land jobs, admission to top graduate schools, and national recognition.

91% of 2024 graduates are employed, enrolled in grad school, or enlisted in the military.

Experiencing the World

We love our home on the Erie Canal. But thriving in today’s global economy requires an understanding of different cultures. Our students gain that education both on campus and overseas.

A Brockport Education… is an Engaging Education

Engaged learning is the hallmark of a SUNY Brockport education. Our students learn by doing. And in the process, they gain knowledge and experience that changes their lives.

• 64% of students participated in research & field study
• 340 students presented at Scholars Day
• 36 students participated in the SUNY Washington Internship Program

Highlights

• The Career Design Center awarded 227 Internship/Professional Experience Stipends totaling $273,019. These awards provided funding that assisted students in overcoming financial barriers to completing an internship/practicum/experiential opportunity.
• Graduates of our Doctor of Nursing Practice program each engaged in a significant research project that will strengthen the health care industry. Caroline Gaulke developed and implemented an electronic dashboard for veterans with inflammatory bowel disease. Cheryl Ernst designed and implemented a universal perioperative glucose monitoring and treatment protocol that significantly decreased postoperative surgical site infections. Jenny Stringer developed a hypertension management registry and implemented an interdisciplinary teambased, patient-centered, integrated care model.
• Forty-two graduate students in our Counselor Education program, under the supervision of faculty and professional counselors from our Hazen Center for Integrated Care, operated the Hartwell Clinic — which served over 100 undergraduate students with supportive counseling services.

---

Goal 2: To be a University Engaged with its Community

The Brockport Bicentennial Bridge, a pedestrian bridge over the Erie Canal, now connects the SUNY Brockport campus with the north side of the Village of Brockport and the Empire State trail.

Powering the Local Economy

SUNY Brockport students and employees live, work, shop and play in the Village of Brockport and in communities across Greater Rochester — driving economic growth.

• $619m Total Economic Impact
• 40,689 Alumni living in the Rochester area
• $48.5m spent by 2,558 residential students
• $21.2m spent by 3,254 off-campus students
• $26m spent by 1,666 graduate students

Supporting Small Businesses

Our Small Business Development Center utilizes its expertise to help small businesses across the Finger Lakes region thrive and inspire our region’s next generation of entrepreneurs.

• 51 new businesses launched
• 853 clients counseled
• 82 jobs created
• 855 jobs retained

Strengthening Non-Profits

SUNY Brockport’s Department of Public Administration held a half-day symposium for area non-profits that aimed to help prepare them for an uncertain future.

• More than 130 Rochester-area non-profit leaders and administrators gathered at Brockport Downtown to learn how to better prepare their organizations for a rapidly changing political and funding landscape.
• Attendees had the opportunity to learn practical strategies and invaluable networking opportunities.

Forging a New Connection

We utilize the talents and resources of the SUNY Brockport community to meet the economic and societal needs of our region. Whether it’s through a classroom service-learning project, community service, or faculty and staff serving on volunteer boards throughout the community — SUNY Brockport makes a difference.

Highlights

• For 30 years, Camp Abilities has allowed children with visual impairments to do what many of them previously had been told was impossible — play sports. Faculty and students from SUNY Brockport’s Adapted Physical Education program introduce campers to adapted sports and teach them to advocate for themselves when they return home.
• Fifteen students participated in three social action projects as part of receiving their gold-level certification in SUNY Brockport’s Student Leadership Development Program.
• Through the innovative New York State and SUNY-led Empire State Service Corps, students have the opportunity to engage in paid public service work during the academic year. Seven SUNY Brockport students were placed in a cohort aligned with their interest areas and served at either an on-campus or community-based host site – logging a combined 1,030 hours of service.
• The SUNY Brockport Small Business Development Center hosted “The Lemonade Stand” at four area high schools. The classroom-based entrepreneurship education program introduces high school students to the fundamentals of starting and running a business. It aims to build early financial literacy, entrepreneurial thinking, and awareness of SBDC resources to help students lay a strong foundation for future success.
• Our Department of Social Work engaged students in broad participation in campus and community events that reflect the values of social justice and collective care. They attended and organized events such as Take Back the Night, the Clothesline Project, the Hands Off Rally, Out of the Darkness Wellness Fair and Walk, Leading with Purpose, and Lifting Every Voice.
• Our men’s ice hockey club partnered with the Delta Phi Epsilon sorority to host a Cystic Fibrosis Awareness and Fundraising game. Special guests who are living with Cystic Fibrosis attended the game, met the club, and participated in the ceremonial puck drop. The event raised money for the Western New York Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

A Welcoming & Supportive Community

A collection of talented and dedicated faculty and staff team to create an environment that allows students to flourish. At SUNY Brockport, students can both find their home and receive the resources and support that puts them in position to succeed.

Highlights

• The Joey Jackson Intercultural Center celebrated its fifth anniversary in spring of 2025 with an event that featured a talk by the Center’s namesake – prominent attorney and CNN legal analyst Joey Jackson ’88. The Intercultural Center is dedicated to providing opportunities for leadership development, celebration, education, and reflection on a range of issues related to inclusive excellence.
• A record 82 employee volunteers joined 94 resident assistants and hundreds of student athletes to help 2,600 residential students return to campus in August. Teams of volunteers met families in the parking lots, loaded their belongings onto carts, and moved the students into their rooms — ensuring a stress-free move-in experience during what can be a very stressful time.
• Thanks to the generous support of SUNY Brockport donors, the Golden Eagle Opportunity Fund distributed $32,660 to 111 students. The funding provided critical support to students who were experiencing a significant crisis in their lives.
• The Office of Student Union Leadership & Activities facilitated more than 30 Deliberative Dialogues as part of the institution’s initiative to increase civic engagement and strengthen civil discourse leading up to the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election.
• The Thriving Institute, housed in the Department of Psychology, Philosophy & Neuroscience, uses psychology-based research to plan activities and initiatives that aim to help students thrive – not just survive. The Institute hosted multiple events and activities throughout the academic year, including a Survival Pantry, workshops on test anxiety, and a Wellness Fair.

Goal 3: To be a Sustainable & Thriving University for the 21st Century

Remarkable Growth

The continued progress on our Strategic Enrollment Management Plan has SUNY Brockport in a strong position.

All Enrollment Data from Fall 2024

Creating & Maintaining a Quality, Sustainable Space

We continued to make progress on our goal of offering high quality, accessible and sustainable learning, living, and working environments.

• The Division of Student Affairs spearheaded a “Trash to Treasure” initiative that encouraged residential students to donate their belongings, instead of throwing them out, during end-of-year move-out. The initiative resulted in 350 bags worth of donations, which covered 1,759 cubic feet, to 21 area non-profits.
• Facilities Planning coordinated 36 different facilities enhancement projects totaling $230.8 million.
• Facilities Maintenance Operations completed over 12,000 work orders. The team also led an effort to increase our energy efficiency. Improvements were made to building automation systems, HVAC mechanical control upgrades were completed, buildings greater than 25,000 square feet were converted to a building-level submeter for monitoring utilities, and progress was made toward retrofitting all indoor and outdoor campus lighting to LED.
• Dr. Steven Barber was appointed as the University’s first Chief Sustainability Officer.
• Five new electric vehicle charging stations were added to campus.
• As part of ongoing efforts to eliminate single-use plastic items, the University has eliminated the use of balloons on campus.

Private Support Powers Student Success

From funding scholarships and research opportunities to creating dynamic new spaces for engaged learning, our donors continued to help our students flourish.

• $4.4 million raised
• 3,202 donors
• 257 faculty/staff donors

A Record-Setting Day of Giving

• $361,234 raised
• 1,657 donors
• Alumni contributed 33% of total giving
• 1,917 total gifts = 31% increase
• Athletics led the way— raising $112,313

Space Dedication

We cut a ribbon on six new/renovated named spaces that enhance our campus facilities and, most importantly, better position our students to achieve excellence.

• Comtec Solutions Student Lounge
• Roberts Accounting Career Suite
• The Perch Student Lounge
• Fenton Student Faculty Collaboration Lounge
• Brockport Brand Builders headquarters
• Confer Plastics Ice Hockey Team Room

---

Goal 4: To be a Great University at which to Work

Meeting our Employees Needs

The President’s Campus Climate Committee made a number of recommendations to President’s Cabinet in the Spring of 2024. They’re being put into action.

What We’re Doing

• Weekly communications from President Macpherson
• Monthly divisional newsletters
• Presidential Taskforces studied campus dining, transportation, and examined areas of campus in need of aesthetic improvements
• President Macpherson began regular divisional meetings with employees
• Community Conversations and Deliberative Dialogues
• Increased professional development opportunities
• Increased recognition of Dean’s and President’s List honorees
• New publication dedicated to Faculty Accomplishments
• Implemented an enhanced Employee Assistance Program*
• Participated in Great Colleges to Work For survey
• More employee recognition programs
• President’s Cabinet participated in year-long professional development

(and this is just some of it…)

*More about our Employee Assistance Program

Our employees and their families were introduced to a new benefit in November. The new Employee Assistance Program is a free, confidential resource that offers assistance for the problems individuals encounter. It includes a host of benefits and opportunities that help individuals grow professionally, save money, improve their health, and enhance their personal life. To date, 62% of our employee population have utilized this benefit.

Celebrating Our People

Meet Our Newest Distinguished Professor

Teaching Excellence

President Macpherson established the Presidential Teaching Excellence Awards in 2017 to recognize how outstanding teaching enriches the lives of our students. SUNY Brockport students are able to nominate one of their instructors for this prestigious award. 2024-2025 recipients were:

• Dr. Stacy Birch, Associate Professor, Psychology, Philosophy & Neuroscience
• Dr. Bek Orr, Associate Professor, Women & Gender Studies
• Dr. Nicole Cesnales, Associate Professor, Social Work
• Dr. Meredith Roman, Associate Professor, History
• Mr Savisesh Malampallayll, Assistant Professor, Business Administration

Outstanding Performance

Eight SUNY Brockport faculty and staff members earned the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence, a system-level honor conferred to acknowledge and provide recognition for consistently superior professional achievement and to encourage the ongoing pursuit of excellence. Meet our winners:

• Excellence in Adjunct Teaching: Dr. Carol Godsave, Lecturer, Educational Administration
• Excellence in Classified Service: Karen Haight, Administrative Assistant 1, Public Health & Health Education
• Excellence in Teaching: Dr. Cody Miller, Associate Professor, Education & Human Development
• Excellence in Teaching: Dr. Takashi Nishiyama, Associate Professor, History
• Excellence in Faculty Service: Dr. MoonSun Kim, Professor, Criminal Justice
• Excellence in Scholarship & Creative Activities: Dr. Mark Heitz, Professor, Chemistry & Biochemistry
• Excellence in Professional Service: Tanasee Conner, Assistant Director of Technology Support Services, Information Technology Services
• Excellence in Professional Service: Krystal Perlman, IT Service Desk Manager, Information Technology Services

---

Maintaining our Commitment to Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion

There is a place for everyone at SUNY Brockport. This year, we continued our efforts to talk across differences, learn about other cultures, and create spaces that are accessible and welcoming to all.

Highlights

• Our new EDI Strategic Plan was ratified, establishing three key goals:
  • Cultivate a positive campus climate and foster a sense of belonging.
  • Recruit, retain, and engage students, faculty, and staff of all identities, backgrounds, and experiences.
  • Provide engaging and accessible experiences on campus and in the community.
• Our work to implement Restorative Practices in partnership with the Center for Dispute Settlement continued. These practices focus on building, maintaining, and repairing relationships with communities. They emphasize dialogue, healing, and restoring positive connections between people impacted by conflict.
• The Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion won a SUNY grant that will fund the creation of a new Interfaith Prayer and Meditation space. Chief Diversity Officer Damita Davis says the new space will be a larger, more relaxing, and more appropriate space than the existing space in the Seymour Union — providing a better opportunity for students, faculty, and staff to re-center themselves and/or practice their faith tradition.
• Another grant was won that will fund a program that will enhance career coaching for our EOP students. The Career Design Center will work closely with EOP students to explore their career interests and ensure their career readiness. The work will involve the use of the CliftonStrengths assessment program, which helps individuals and teams understand and leverage their natural talents to achieve greater success and well-being.
• We formally recognized and celebrated Indigenous People’s Day for the first time – hosting a series of programs and events to raise awareness about Indigenous Peoples and their cultures.
• The University was able to secure a $101,000 grant from the Farash Foundation to support another three years of the MLK Summer Program on campus. More than 60 students from the Rochester City School District participated in the program, which is led by three-time alumnus Burnice Green. It is designed to help prevent summer learning loss. Fifteen faculty and staff members presented lectures on topics that included astronomy, chemistry, study abroad, student life, fish ponds and civil rights.

---

Transforming Lives

The Rochester Educational Opportunity Center (REOC) continues to expand its community reach – providing accessible, high-quality education and training opportunities throughout our region.

• Chancellor John B. King, Jr. visited the REOC campus in June. Chancellor King was joined by Rochester Mayor Malik Evans, SUNY Brockport President Heidi Macpherson, and REOC Dean/Executive Director Roosevelt Mareus. The Chancellor spent the afternoon touring the REOC campus, discussing the programs and supportive services that are available to enrolled REOC students and the community, visiting with students and staff, and sampling the catered items prepared by the students in REOC’s Culinary Arts program.
• REOC implemented several new partnerships and programs throughout the academic year:
  • A collaborative partnership with Greenlight Networks created the Fiber Optic Technician program.
  • A partnership with Ibero American Action League generated the development of the Child Development Associate program in Spanish. Seventeen enrolled students successfully completed the program and are on track to complete the program to earn their CDA certification.
  • The Rochester Downtown Development Corporation and REOC collaborated to develop the Hospitality Hub program, which trains individuals to provide the community with resources throughout the City of Rochester.
• REOC has been awarded over $1.6 million in funding from the New York State Office of Strategic Workforce Development (OSWD) to support the launch of a Building Trades program. This program is designed to train up to 120 individuals for high-demand careers in the skilled trades. The initiative is closely aligned with local revitalization efforts across Rochester and Monroe County, and it underscores REOC’s ongoing commitment to workforce development and economic empowerment.
• In November, REOC students and staff traveled to Ghana for a cultural and educational experience. The visit fostered global awareness. The students and staff were able to meet local residents, experience cultural differences and similarities, and engage with other vocational training students while discussing training standards and opportunities between countries.
• In partnership with the New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS), REOC delivered on-site Barbering and Welding training at the Industry Residential Center in Rush, NY. The mobile welding lab was relocated for this initiative, providing hands-on vocational and life skills to support student transitions.

---

Winning On & Off the Field

SUNY Brockport Athletics expanded upon its rich history with another successful year. The final score is only part of our story.

• 22% Increase in student-athlete participation since 2022
• 3.27 student-athlete GPA, highest since 2020
• 13 All-Americans
• 3 teams qualified for the NCAA Division III Championships
• 10 student-athletes qualified for the NCAA Division III Championships
• 1,200 hours of community service conducted

Highlights

• The 2024 academic year welcomed a record 305 female student-athletes, a 22% year-over-year increase. SUNY Brockport also announced the addition of women’s flag football as its 24th varsity sport.
• The Golden Eagles hosted 32 community events during home games and fundraisers to collaborate with local youth organizations as well as national awareness groups at athletic competitions including the annual Courage Bowl football game to raise awareness and funds for Camp Good Days & Special Times.
• Brockport’s Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) spearheaded a variety of important community service initiatives for the department including the annual community clean up leaf racking event, the SAAC holiday fundraiser to provide gifts to those in need at Barclay Elementary, as well as the annual men’s hockey Teddy Bear Toss where the Golden Eagles collect stuffed animals for distribution throughout the holiday season.
• Brockport hosted Empire 8 Championship competition in the sports of football, men’s soccer, women’s soccer, field hockey, swim & dive, baseball, women’s lacrosse, outdoor track, women’s basketball, and men’s basketball.
• Brockport football qualified for postseason play for the eighth consecutive season. Brockport baseball won the Empire 8 Conference Championship and qualified for the NCAA Playoffs for the third time in the last four seasons. Brockport gymnastics hosted and won the NCGA East Region Championship and earned a team qualification into the NCGA National Championships. Women’s soccer and women’s basketball both won the Empire 8 Regular season title and earned an at-large bid into the NCAA Division III Championships. Brockport men’s basketball also won the Empire 8 regular season title and hosting rights throughout the conference tournament.

---

Financial Recap

Expenses	Amount
Total FTE	$942.07
Personal Service	$67,954,893
Temporary Service	$7,084,106
Other Than Personal Service	$29,659,802
Fringe Benefits, Debt Services, etc.	13,811,410
Total	$118,510,211

Revenue & Resources	Amount
State Support	$26,379,501
Tuition, Rental, Fees	$90,530,710
Interest, Misc.	$1,600,000
Total Campus Operating Budget	$118,510,211

Other Related Non-Operating Budget	Amount
Debt Service-Educational Facilities	$8,514,429
Fringe Benefits-State Purpose	$40,637,148
Campus Auxiliary Services	$17,233,112
Brockport Foundation	$8,333,909
Sponsored Research	$5,700,000
Total Campus Budget	$198,928,809