SUNY backs off on shared Canton-Potsdam presidency

The SUNY board of trustees passed a resolution saying no decision has been reached on whether a single president would serve both campuses. 

In previous meetings with leaders from both schools, SUNY central officials had said their goal was to have the two schools share one president. 

The Canton college and community were especially concerned about the loss of local leadership.  Senator Pattie Ritchie lobbied to retain a president at each school.

Yesterday, she said community reaction "certainly made SUNY Central listen."

At its meeting yesterday, the SUNY board endorsed the sharing of presidencies at other schools around the state, but asked for more research on whether SUNY Canton and Potsdam should share one president.

"I think this is a great sign that SUNY was able to reverse or at least hold off their decision and give the opportunity to review the report and I believe once they do that, that they will agree to leave a president at both colleges."

SUNY wants the two schools to collaborate over the next year to find if sharing one president would save administrative costs to make more money available for instruction and academic services. And to look at the obstacles and costs to merging presidencies.