Join the SUNY Inclusion Quest (IQ) Digital Accessibility Challenge | | |
Help make SUNY more accessible for all! The SUNY IQ Digital Accessibility Challenge empowers faculty, staff, and students to stay up to date on accessibility laws, build skills to create inclusive digital content, and foster equity across campuses.
Get started by watching one of the three recorded Orientation Webinars, where we will walked through the three phases of the challenge: Knowledge Building, Assessment & Review, and Remediation.
Visit the link below for more info on how to get started!
| | Advanced Project Management this Winter! | | |
Take your project management expertise to the next level with the Advanced Project Management course. Designed for SUNY staff who have completed Project Management Fundamentals, this 2-day workshop covers advanced tools and techniques for managing complex projects.
Dates and Times:
- Thursday, December 11th, 2025 | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM EDT
- Thursday, December 18th, 2025 | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM EDT
| | Mindful Leadership Course — Spring 2026 | | |
Ready to lead with greater clarity, calm, and intention? Join SAIL’s 12-week Mindful Leadership course beginning January 6th, 2026.
Discover practical mindfulness strategies, explore meditation techniques, and build leadership habits that support well-being, resilience, and meaningful connection — all while earning a digital badge.
Register now and start spring with purpose.
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Winter Department Chair Academy — Registration Open! | |
January 6th – March 2nd, 2026
Join a cohort of department chairs and academic leaders in this fully online, asynchronous program designed to strengthen leadership skills, confidence, and connection. Participants will engage in weekly assignments, discussion-based learning, and receive access to Crucial Conversations for Mastering Dialogue and a DiSC Work of Leaders assessment.
The program is co-taught by Drs. Leah Deasy and Giacomo Oliva through Brightspace.
Team discounts available — email leadership@suny.edu for details.
| | Learn About Assessment in Spring 2026 | |
Advance your assessment skills with SUNY CPD’s Institutional Effectiveness and Assessment of Learning Outcomes certificate programs—each offered fully online from January 6th–May 11th, 2026 via Brightspace.
These three-course series are designed for faculty, staff, and administrators engaged in assessment or accreditation work. Learn to set measurable goals, analyze data, develop learning outcomes, design rubrics, and use results to drive continuous improvement.
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Learn How to Write for Grants in 2026 | |
Sharpen your grant writing skills in this online asynchronous course running January 6th–March 30th, 2026 via Brightspace.
Learn how to identify funding sources, plan and organize proposals, collaborate effectively, and strengthen your writing to boost your chances of getting funded.
Ideal for faculty, staff, graduate students, and grant writers looking to enhance their proposal development skills.
| | Learn the Data Literacy Essentials Needed for Higher Education in 2026 | |
Strengthen your ability to use data for decision-making with our Data Literacy in Higher Education program—an online, asynchronous series offered via Brightspace.
Start with Fundamentals of Working with Data (Jan 6th–Feb 16th, 2026) to build a foundation in data concepts, governance, and analysis, then continue with Storytelling with Data (Feb 17th–Mar 30th, 2026) to turn insights into impactful narratives.
Perfect for faculty, staff, and administrators who use data to inform planning, assessment, and strategy.
| | Leading Change in Higher Education – Spring 2026 | |
Build the skills to lead and sustain change across your institution with CPD’s Leading Change in Higher Education program—featuring two online courses offered via Brightspace.
Begin with Foundations of Leading Change (Jan 6th–Mar 30th, 2026) to explore core strategies for successful change initiatives, then advance to Championing Change Leadership (Mar 31st–May 11th, 2026) to apply those skills in practice.
Designed for higher ed leaders at all levels, this program blends synchronous sessions, discussions, and case studies to help you lead with confidence in today’s evolving academic landscape.
| | Coaching in Higher Education – Spring 2026 | |
Enhance your leadership and student support skills with Coaching in Higher Education program, delivered online via Brightspace.
Begin with Coaching Strategies (Jan 20th–Apr 13th, 2026), a 12-week course that introduces core coaching competencies, ethical practices, and techniques to support individuals and teams through organizational and change initiatives.
Advance to Developing a Student Success Coaching Mindset (Apr 21st–Jun 1st, 2026), where you’ll learn evidence-based strategies to empower students, foster holistic development, and improve retention and completion outcomes.
These courses are ideal for mid to senior-level leaders, faculty, and staff looking to strengthen their coaching expertise in higher education.
| | Career Readiness Champion Certificate Spring 2026 | |
Equip yourself to support student career success with Career Readiness Champion Certificate, an online program designed for faculty and staff across campus.
The three-course series includes:
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An Introduction to the Career Development Process (Jan 6th–Feb 16th) – Learn foundational competencies for advising, coaching, and guiding students in career planning.
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Designing Your Career Development Toolkit (Feb 17th–Mar 30th) – Explore career resources, campus services, and strategies to help students achieve their goals.
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Integrating Career Development into Your Role & Campus Culture (Mar 31st–May 11th) – Apply your learning to create a concrete plan for embedding career development into your work and campus environment.
Ideal for faculty, advisors, coaches, counselors, student affairs staff, and anyone supporting students’ career journeys.
| | Inclusive Teaching & Learning Certificate – 2026 | |
Strengthen your approach to teaching diverse learners with the Inclusive Teaching and Learning Certificate Program.
This nine-course program supports faculty and higher education professionals in developing equitable, student-centered teaching practices and provides evidence of essential skills for inclusive instruction.
Courses include topics such as Universal Design for Learning, equitable assessment, racial equity, communication strategies, and supporting non-traditional learners.
| | DEISJ Curriculum Development Certificate Program | |
This three-course certificate supports SUNY educators in developing curriculum that aligns with SUNY’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Social Justice (DEISJ) General Education outcomes. Developed by SUNY DEISJ faculty fellows and staff, the program builds foundational knowledge and practical course design fluency.
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Course 1: Foundational Concepts in DEISJ (January 27th – March 9th, 2026)
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Course 2: Select Topics in DEISJ (March 10th – April 20th, 2026)
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Course 3: Building Your DEISJ Curriculum (April 21st – June 1st, 2026)
Audience: Faculty, adjuncts, librarians, instructional staff, graduate assistants, and others involved in course design or teaching.
| | Nominations Open for the CIO Leadership Academy | | |
NOW is the time to nominate your IT colleagues destined for leadership for the CIO Leadership Academy!
Nominations for the 2026 Academy are being accepted through Dec 31st, 2025
The learning will begin in February, and participants will move through the cohort experience under the guidance of a seasoned CIO mentor through May 2026. SUNY scholarships will be available!
Learn more and submit a nomination.
| | Nominations Open for the 2025 FACT2 Excellence Awards | | |
The SUNY Faculty Advisory Council on Teaching and Technology (FACT2) is now accepting nominations for the 2025 FACT2 Excellence Awards through December 8th, 2025.
These system-wide honors recognize outstanding achievement and dedication among faculty, instructional support professionals, and administrative leaders who advance teaching and learning through the innovative use of technology.
Awardees exemplify SUNY’s commitment to excellence, access, and innovation—and will be recognized at CIT 2026, hosted by Stony Brook University.
Award Categories:
- Excellence in Instruction: Community Colleges
- Excellence in Instruction: State-Operated and Statutory Campuses
- Excellence in Instructional Support: Community Colleges
- Excellence in Instructional Support: State-Operated and Statutory Campuses
- Excellence in Administrative Leadership: Community Colleges
- Excellence in Administrative Leadership: State-Operated and Statutory Campuses
Learn more about the award criteria and submit your nomination by December 8th, 2025.
For questions, contact Dr. Janet Nepkie, FACT2 Awards Chair, at Janet.Nepkie@oneonta.edu.
| | Register Now: SUNY CPD Professional Development Week | |
Registration is open! Join us December 8th–12th, 2025 for Professional Development Week, featuring a series of free, one-hour virtual sessions offered daily from 12:00–1:00 p.m.
This year’s lineup includes:
- Microsoft Copilot: Boosting Productivity with AI
- Transcending Imposterism and the A.N.T.s That Hold Us Back
- Expanding Learning Pathways: Lumen Circles, Coursera, and Google Certificates
- How Successful People Remain Calm
- Building Connection and Collaboration with Viva Engage
Participate in one session or attend them all—each event is designed to help you learn new skills, gain fresh insights, and connect with colleagues across the SUNY system.
| | Save the Date: SUNY SURC 2026 | |
Mark your calendars! The 2026 SUNY Undergraduate Research Conference (SURC) will take place at two locations this spring:
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SURC West – SUNY Fredonia, Tuesday, April 21st, 2026
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SURC Central – Upstate Medical University (Syracuse), Friday, April 24th, 2026
Students and mentors from all academic disciplines are encouraged to participate in this showcase of undergraduate research and creative activity across SUNY.
More details will be shared soon—visit the link below for updates or email SURC@SUNY.edu with questions.
| | Call for Proposals – SUNY CIT 2026 | | |
May 26th–29th, 2026 | SUNY Stony Brook
The Conference on Instruction and Technology (CIT) invites educators, technologists, administrators, and thought leaders from across SUNY and beyond to submit proposals for CIT 2026.
This year’s theme, Designing the Future of Learning, highlights the transformative power of resilient teaching, innovative practices, and inclusive strategies that drive student success.
Share your insights, showcase successful models, and collaborate with colleagues shaping the future of teaching and learning.
Proposal deadline: January 9th, 2026, at 11:59 PM
Learn more and submit your proposal at cit.suny.edu.
| | Instructor Spotlight: Dan Barrancotta | | |
We’re excited to shine a spotlight on Dan Barrancotta, Instructional Designer at SUNY Genesee Community College and instructor for SUNY CPD’s Instructional Design Certificate Program.
Dan helps educators and designers create learning experiences that are equitable, flexible, and responsive to diverse learners. His course emphasizes collaboration, authentic projects, and peer learning—empowering participants to design with empathy and purpose.
“This program offers the tools, frameworks, and practical strategies needed to rise to the challenge of designing for modern learners.”
Thank you, Dan, for inspiring SUNY professionals to apply intentional, inclusive, and learner-centered design practices in their work!
| | Connect, Share, and Collaborate on Viva Engage! | | |
Did you know? The SUNY Learning Commons on Viva Engage is your members-only space to connect with colleagues from across the SUNY system!
In the Commons, you’ll find:
- Communities of Practice and Groups focused on shared interests or professional roles
- Topic-based groups where you can dive into specialized discussions
- Spaces to share photos, updates, and event highlights
- And the option to request new groups for projects, initiatives, or emerging topics
We already have an active SUNY CPD group—and there are many other channels where you can:
- Ask questions
- Share resources and best practices
- Celebrate successes and milestones
Access is open to anyone with a Microsoft email, but to keep groups focused and relevant, you’ll just need to fill out a short form to be added.
Ready to get involved? Click the button below to see our active communities.
Let’s keep building our SUNY community together—one conversation at a time!
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