SUNY Adirondack invites public insight

QUEENSBURY, New York (Nov. 25, 2025) — SUNY Adirondack invites the public to offer insight into the college’s identity, strengths and opportunities to help inform its mission, vision and values at a series of upcoming open forum events.

Closely connected to the college’s process of seeking reaccreditation from Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), a Strategic Planning Task Force is leading a self-examination to refresh the college's mission, vision and values statements.

The group is tasked with identifying three to five strategic goals for SUNY Adirondack to pursue over the next five years (2026-2031) and an appropriate set of specific, measurable objectives to achieve those strategic goals.

The Strategic Planning Task Force — led by co-chairs Mary Hand, chief information officer, and Kim Hedley, professor of Nursing and chair of the Health Sciences division — is holding a series of open forum events to receive feedback from community members, including:

• 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.  Monday, Dec. 1, Dearlove Hall, Room 211, SUNY Adirondack’s Queensbury campus, 640 Bay Road;
• 2 to 3 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 2, Room 202 of SUNY Adirondack Saratoga, 696 U.S. Route 9 in Wilton;
• 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 2, via Zoom (https://us06web.zoom.us/j/8809248314 Meeting ID: 880 924 8314)
• 11 a.m. to noon Wednesday, Dec. 3, Adirondack Hall, Room 215, SUNY Adirondack Queensbury;
• 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 3, via Zoom (https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88307580580 
  Meeting ID: 883 0758 0580)

Those unable to attend are invited to share their input at https://forms.gle/3TrcjE9WiMQe1pth7. All responses will remain anonymous.

The Strategic Planning Task Force is an early step in MSCHE reaccreditation, a years-long process that includes self-study and peer evaluation to ensure the college meets or exceeds standards of educational excellence.

A group of 16 faculty and staff members from across campus and disciplines comprise a reaccreditation steering committee led by Wendy Johnston, associate professor of political science and chair of the Social Science division, and Jeannie Brown Leonard, director of assessment and learning resources.

This group and members of seven smaller working groups have begun work on an examination that includes reflection and documentation of continuous improvement related to the design and delivery of student learning experience, policy and compliance, student supports, financial planning, student success and governance.

“Reaccreditation is far more than a compliance exercise; it is an opportunity for us to look closely at who we are as an institution and who we aspire to be,” said SUNY Adirondack President Anastasia L. Urtz, J.D. “By engaging our faculty, staff, students and community partners in this work, we ensure the strategic direction of SUNY Adirondack is rooted in shared values and focused on student success.”

The Strategic Planning Task Force will propose refinements to our mission, vision, and values in  mid-December. In March, the group will present a draft of its recommendations of strategic goals.

SUNY Adirondack was most recently reaccredited by Middle States in 2020.

Questions about the strategic planning process can be emailed to handm@sunyacc.edu or hedleyk@sunyacc.edu. Questions about the reaccreditation process can be emailed to brownleonardj@sunyacc.edu or johnstonw@sunyacc.edu.

About Middle States Commission on Higher Education
The Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) is a global institutional accreditor recognized by the United States Secretary of Education since 1952. As an accreditor and member of the regulatory triad, MSCHE assures students and the public of the educational quality for its more than 500 institutions of higher education. The commission’s accreditation process ensures institutional accountability, self-appraisal, improvement and innovation through peer review and the rigorous application of standards within the context of institutional mission.