DATE: April 19, 2023
TO: The SUNY Old Westbury Campus Community
FROM: Timothy E. Sams, President
RE: A Special Thank You and an Announcement on Our Future
Good afternoon to all on campus,
First and foremost, I want to thank all those who were involved in showcasing our campus last week in conjunction with my inauguration. The events held throughout the week were stellar and highlighted how talented and powerful our students and our campus can be.
Friday’s investiture ceremony was truly an experience I will never forget, where I was embraced by friends, family, SUNY’s leadership, academic delegates from around the country, and our students, faculty and staff.
My pride in being the President of SUNY Old Westbury could not be higher.
I want to share with all in our community a special announcement I made on Friday: Effective July 1, 2023, SUNY Old Westbury will formally be recognized as a university.
SUNY Chancellor John King has approved our application to earn this recognition under the authority granted to him by the SUNY Board of Trustees. Our university will continue to be known as SUNY Old Westbury. Its official state education title will change from “State University of New York College at Old Westbury” to “State University of New York at Old Westbury.”
This change not only reflects the quality and prestige of an Old Westbury education, but it also will support our continued growth as we work to attracts top talent from around the nation. At the same time, this change carries forward the legacy of our institution.
Our mission remains the same. SUNY Old Westbury is a campus committed to powerful, liberal arts education and dedicated to preparing its students for career and life success while empowering them to be changemakers for social and environmental justice.
We will talk more about this change as its “launch date” comes closer.
My inauguration required me to look forward into what SUNY Old Westbury can become, and how I fit and complement its mission. I’ve posted a copy of my remarks online for those who would like to read them.
Greater heights are ahead of us, I am confident of that. My focus continues to be on our going forward together … now as a university.
Again, my thanks to all.