December 1: University Senate Report

Academic Affairs

GEAC recommends new student learning outcome 

The General Education Advisory Committee has recommended adding a new student learning outcome to the USA SBC to meet the incoming SUNY civic discourse requirement. Pending final review from University Senate leadership, this update will be effective for Fall 2026.

Provost Impact Fellow named

Alexander Orlov has started as a Provost Impact Fellow and will be working on projects meant to improve administrative processes for students and faculty. 

Coastal Athletic Association Academic Alliance AI Champions

The Coastal Athletic Association’s Academic Alliance AI Champions Network received more than 30 applications from Stony Brook faculty and staff. Two nominees will be submitted to the CAA on December 8, both of whom will become part of the Champions Network. 

Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching Updates

Prepare for accessibility requirements

CELT is here to assist you with making your course content digitally accessible. Keep checking CELT’s Accessibility Webpage and upcoming workshops. 

Do you need to make your PDFs accessible? Submit them to CELT’s PDF Remediation.

Participate in the annual Teaching and Learning Symposium

Submit your proposal for CELT’s Annual Teaching and Learning Symposium by Monday, December 15, if you want to share your innovative teaching practices with others. The symposium is Friday, March 27, and will include a keynote from José Antonio Bowen. A special hands-on workshop with Bowen will be available to all Thursday, March 26.Submit your proposal

Work with CELT

Check our calendar for upcoming events, or contact us to schedule a program for your department. 

Academic Programs 

• Linguistics BA Revision (11/2025)

 

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. Such formal recognition to promote the value and impact of SBU researchers is especially needed in the Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences fields. In spring semester 2026 the Office of the Provost will invite several senior faculty members to serve in an advisory capacity on a new AHSS Honorifics Committee to assist with institutional nominations of SBU faculty (e.g., the Andrew Carnegie Fellows Program, Mellon Foundation awards, memberships of national academies and societies, the Gerda Henkel Prize, and the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council’s climate arts residencies). For further information please contact Janet Ward, Associate Provost for Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences Initiatives.

Climate & Sustainability Programming

Workshop on contaminants of emerging concern

On October 31, the Collaborative for the Earth co-hosted a workshop with faculty from the School of Atmospheric Sciences (SoMAS) that brought together members of the Stony Brook University community who were interested in or already working on understanding the effects that Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CECs) pose to the environment and human health. The event also hosted top researchers from Georgia Tech and Rice University. 

Spring series on Planet in Focus: Climate, Culture, and Sustainability

In collaboration with the Osher Lifelong Learning Center (OLLI) and the School of Atmospheric Sciences (SoMAS), the Collaborative for the Earth (C4E) is organizing a lecture series in spring 2026 entitled Planet in Focus: Climate, Culture, and Sustainability. Scientists, researchers, and practitioners will present topics covering varied perspectives on the future of planet Earth.

Continuing, Professional, and Online Education

December 12: Pre-College Programs Summit

Join us for the inaugural AY and Summer Pre-College Programs Summit Friday, December 12, from 11 am to 1 pm in SAC Ballroom B (lunch will be provided). Stony Brook offers a relatively large number of programs for middle and high school students during the academic year and in the summer. This summit is designed for faculty and staff affiliated with former or existing programs, and those interested in learning more about current programs and opportunities for participation, collaboration, outreach, and operational coordination. RSVP to join us.

Faculty Development

Excellence in Teaching Program

This successful year-long workshop series, offered in collaboration with CELT, centers on best practices and innovative approaches to teaching and learning. The most recent session, held November 14, focused on experiential and innovative learning. The group will continue meeting in the spring to discuss accessibility in the classroom and inclusive pedagogy. 

Emerging Leaders

This cohort-based program supports the development of future higher education leaders in research, education, and administration. Members of last year’s cohort are already contributing across the university this fall and representing their units in many settings. The most recent session, on November 21, focused on communication and was facilitated by the Alda Center. The next session will take place on February 13 and will be the second part of the Alda Center workshop.

Academic Staff Development

This program provides academic staff with resources and tools to support their daily work and professional growth. A session on Interfolio was offered on October 28, followed by a workshop on practical applications of AI and AI tools on November 13. Upcoming sessions will include presentations and conversations about effective communication strategies and other topics designed to enhance efficiency and collaboration.

Provost’s Talks

This series highlights experts who have made significant contributions to their fields. The November 20 Provost’s Lecture Series showcased Distinguished Faculty Clinton Rubin from the Department of Biomedical Engineering and Chang Kee Jung from the Department of Physics and Astronomy. The Distinguished Faculty Council met prior to the lecture series. The next event for this series will take place on February 10, 2026.

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. For more information or to schedule a workshop, contact facultyaffairs@stonybrook.edu. These programs are offered in collaboration with the Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching.

Enrollment Management

Office of Financial Aid & Scholarship Services  

As part of the recently negotiated rule-making process, the Department of Education indicated that certain professional programs will fall under a grandfather clause for federal student aid eligibility. This means students currently enrolled in these programs may continue to receive Title IV aid under the existing regulations, even after new standards are implemented.

Programs potentially included in this provision are:

• Doctor of Medicine (M.D.)
• Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.)
• Doctor of Dental Surgery (D.D.S.) / Doctor of Dental Medicine (D.M.D.)
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M.)
• Doctor of Optometry (O.D.)
• Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.)
• Juris Doctor (J.D.)
• Pharmacy (Pharm.D.)

At this point, we will await a more formal Dear Colleague Letter (DCL) from the Department of Education to clarify which programs are definitively covered, the applicable implementation dates, and any required institutional documentation for continued eligibility. Institutions should refrain from making programmatic or aid eligibility changes until this formal guidance is released.

Office of the Registrar

Fall 2025

• Saturday, December 6: Last day of Saturday classes
• Monday, December 8: Classes end, last day of classes; Leave of absence/term withdrawal
• Wednesday, December 10, to Friday, December 12: Finals
• Saturday, December 13: Finals for Saturday classes
• Monday, December 15, to Thursday, December 18: Finals
• Thursday, December 18: Semester ends, official end of term

Winter 2026

• Tuesday, January 6: Classes begin
• Monday, January 19: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day; no classes in session, university closed
• Friday, January 23: Last day of term

Spring 2026

• Monday, January 26: Semester start, first day of classes

Graduate School

Guiding Difficult Conversations for Faculty

The Graduate School held a faculty workshop on guiding difficult conversations Friday, November 7. It prepared participants to recognize when and why difficult conversations are needed, develop strategies for productive and safe dialogue, and foster positive outcomes for mentees. Learn more about future workshops on this topic for faculty, graduate students, and postdocs.

Equity in Graduate Admissions workshops

This fall the Graduate School held three workshops on holistic admissions practices as well as aligning recruitment activities with admissions. Interested in implementing holistic admissions practices?  Please contact Associate Dean Elizabeth Boon and Assistant Dean Karian Wright, who can offer these workshops to individual departments and programs. 

Graduate Student Success Through Care and Connection

On Tuesday, November 4 the Graduate School, in collaboration with Student Health, Wellness and Prevention Services, hosted graduate program staff for a half-day retreat: Graduate Student Success Through Care and Connection. Staff from the Student Support Team, the CARE Team, the Center for Prevention and Outreach, Counseling and Psychological Services, and Student Accessibility Support Center shared valuable information on how to support the physical and mental health of graduate students. Over 40 graduate program staff left equipped with knowledge of campus resources available for their graduate students.

SUNY Notices

Call for Nominations: Academic Momentum Faculty and Staff Fellowship

Faculty and staff are invited to apply by December 15 for the Academic Momentum Fellowship, supported by the SUNY Office of Student Success. Fellows receive $15,000 plus travel reimbursement. Up to 20 fellows will be selected to support campus teams for up to 12 months, starting spring 2026. SUNY’s Academic Momentum campaign seeks to advance retention and completion strategies across SUNY campuses. Submit your application.

Prepare to apply for SUNY Academic Innovation Grants Programs

The SUNY Academic Innovation Grants Programs, including the Innovative Instruction Technology Grants (IITG) and Open Educational Resources (OER) Impact Grants, will be offered for the 2026–2027 academic year. These programs provide over $1 million in competitive funding to support innovative projects that advance teaching, learning, and student success. This year’s objectives emphasize harnessing AI, openness, and accessibility to advance affordable, innovative, and equitable education across SUNY. 

Key Dates: 

• November to December: Ideation site open to share and connect on project ideas. 
• January 4 to March 1: Request for Proposals open. 
• May: Awards announced.

Nominations open for FACT2 Excellence Awards

The SUNY Faculty Advisory Council on Teaching and Technology (FACT2) Excellence Awards are open. Nominations will be accepted through December 8. Learn about the awards criteria.

Participate in Conference on Instruction and Technology in May

Attend SUNY's Conference on Instruction and Technology (CIT) at SBU on May 26th - 29th. Interested in presenting? Submit your Abstract.

Undergraduate Education

Record-breaking faculty participation in fall progress reports

The Fall 2025 Progress Report Campaign ended October 22, with a record-high response rate from faculty of 68%. This allowed a network of support to be provided to students having difficulty in their courses. Faculty can still submit ad hoc progress reports outside of the campaign.