Division of Academic Affairs

Mission Statement

The mission of SUNY New Paltz is two-fold: to provide students with a pathway to an academic credential and to provide value to the residents of the State of New York. These two goals fuse when we realize that our graduates are our most valuable contribution to the wider world. The overarching mission of the Division of Academic Affairs is to create a community that educates all of its members. Education itself is guided by the principles of academic freedom, ensuring engagement with and respect for free inquiry and the free discussion of ideas.

To create this community, the provost is responsible for the planning, development, growth and quality of all academic programs and related support functions. The provost is the chief personnel officer for academic employees and is responsible for hiring and evaluating faculty and ensuring, together with the faculty, that the New Paltz curriculum is relevant, timely and adequately supported. The provost also leads academic strategic planning in support of the institutional strategic plan and develops and administers academic budgets to ensure excellence in teaching, scholarship and service. The Division of Academic Affairs at New Paltz begins with the five academic schools – Business, Education, Fine & Performing Arts, Liberal Arts & Sciences, and Science & Engineering – and includes the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP), Academic Advising, the Sojourner Truth Library; Graduate, Professional, & Interdisciplinary Studies; the Honors Program, and a range of specialized centers and institutes that link academic programs to our region and state.