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September 2025

The Learning Org: See What’s New – September 2025

Volume 5 no. 11

Professional Development: A Shared Priority


Welcome back to campus and to the start of the Spring 2026 semester. We return with renewed energy and a shared commitment to the mission of public higher education.


As we look ahead, SUNY continues to emphasize the importance of professional development for faculty and staff. Investing in your professional growth is essential to fostering innovation and improving student outcomes. With over 260 courses, workshops, webinars, and conferences hosted annually, SUNY CPD is a vital resource for faculty, instructional support staff, student support professionals, and campus leadership. We encourage you to explore the SUNY CPD catalog and take advantage of these offerings to support this years professional goals and institutional impact. Thank you for all you do to support our students and strengthen our campus community.


Wishing you a productive and inspiring Spring semester.


Lisa Raposo

Executive Director

2025 SICAS Summit – Register Now!

Dates: October 15th –17th, 2025

Location: Embassy Suites Saratoga Springs


The SICAS Summit is an annual conference that brings together SUNY campuses and partners to share ideas, learn best practices, and explore tools like Banner, Degree Works, Argos, and more. Hear from peers, SICAS staff, and business partners about how to get the most out of these systems in your daily work.


Price:

Standard rate: $275


Pay by credit card, check, or CPD General or Technical points (contact Chelsie Dalton to arrange).


Questions? chelsie.dalton@oneonta.edu | 607.436.2005

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 attending an Orientation Webinar, where we will walk through the three phases of the challenge: Knowledge Building, Assessment & Review, and Remediation.


There will also be time for questions. The next and last webinar is October 3, and recordings will be posted on the SUNY Inclusion Quest website

Library Leadership & Management Certificate Returns This Fall!

Designed for current and aspiring library leaders, this fully online SUNY CPD program offers practical training in leadership and management. Complete any 3 courses to earn the certificate and a Credly badge for each—plus a bonus badge for completing the full program. Courses are asynchronous, instructor-led, and can also be taken individually.


Pricing:

SUNY CPD members: from $260/course

Non-members: from $310–$360/course


Next courses start Oct 7th, 2025.

NEW: SUNY SAIL Emerging Leaders Academy

Starting October 7, 2025, the SUNY SAIL Emerging Leaders Academy offers a 12-week, immersive leadership development experience designed for deans, directors, and mid-level leaders across SUNY.


Participants will engage in interactive workshops, coaching, assessments, and an applied learning project— developing the confidence and skills to lead with impact in higher education.


Program highlights include:

  • SUNY360 leadership report
  • Crucial Influence course license
  • Applied learning project & final presentation
  • Opportunity to earn a digital badge (or with distinction)


Capacity is limited to 20 participants. Runs through March 16, 2026 (with a winter break).

Additional Courses Added! Data Literacy Essentials for Higher Education Professionals

This online, asynchronous Brightspace program helps higher education professionals strengthen their data literacy skills by exploring data creation, analysis, interpretation, and storytelling. Designed for faculty, staff, and administrators who use data in their work, the program builds both confidence and practical skills for daily tasks and strategic decision-making.


One course left: Storytelling with Data

Oct 14th – Nov 24th

Focuses on turning data insights into impactful narratives for higher ed audiences. Completion of Course One or equivalent experience is required.

Registration Open for Fall SUNY New Faculty Open Mic Program

Offered at no cost to tenure-track faculty at all 64 SUNY campuses, the New Faculty Open Mic is a biweekly Zoom series designed to support faculty in their first two years (since Fall 2023). Sessions run every other Monday from 2–3 p.m., September 8th to December 1st, and are not recorded.


Co-hosted by SUNY Empire State University’s Center for Mentoring, Learning and Academic Innovation and the SUNY Center for Professional Development, this informal, participant-led program aims to:


  • Build community and connection among new SUNY faculty!
  • Provide peer support in navigating teaching, advising, scholarship, service, and more.

Inclusive Teaching and Learning Certificate 2025

Boost Your Inclusive Teaching Skills!


Join SUNY’s Inclusive Teaching & Learning Certificate Program to gain key strategies for equity and inclusion in higher ed classrooms.


One course left in 2025:

  • Design & Deliver Inclusive Courses (Oct 14th – Nov 17th)

Connect with other SUNY Faculty Developers in Your Area this Fall!

The SUNY Center for Professional Development is hosting a series of in-person meetings this fall designed for faculty and educational developers across the system. These highly interactive sessions will focus on sharing ideas, building connections, and providing practical strategies participants can bring back to their campuses.


Dates:

• October 24th – University at Albany

• October 31st – Genesee Community College

• November 7th – Fashion Institute of Technology


Time: 9:30 AM – 3:00 PM

Registration: $30 CPD member fee (includes coffee and lunch)

Project Management Fundamentals

Live Online via Zoom


Dates:

  • November 6th & 7th
  • 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM EST

*Please note September dates have been filled


Learn the essentials of project management using the NYS PM Guidebook, V2. This 2-day workshop is ideal for SUNY staff new to managing projects or leading teams – no prior experience required.


Cost:

  • SUNY CPD Members: $150
  • SUNY Campuses: $180
  • Others: $250

Universal Design for Learning – Access for All Webinar Series Fall 2025 

Virtual via Zoom – All sessions will be recorded and captioned


The SUNY CPD’s Universal Design for Learning (UDL) initiative continues the Access for All Webinar Series, a set of one-hour sessions focused on practical strategies for making course materials more accessible and inclusive.


Dates:

  • Designing Accessible Course Documents – Oct. 1st, 12–1 PM
  • Creating Clear and Inclusive Presentations – Oct. 22nd, 12–1 PM
  • Improving Accessibility in Audio and Video – Nov. 5th, 12–1 PM
  • Developing Accessible and Inclusive PDFs – Nov. 19th, 12–1 PM


These sessions will explore ways to improve readability, engagement, and equity through better design of documents, presentations, media, and PDFs. Participants should have basic knowledge of creating accessible documents and slide decks.


For more information and other UDL offerings, visit the Universal Design for Learning at SUNY website.


Questions? Contact cpdinfo@suny.edu

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 11, 2025 | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM EDT
  • Thursday, December 18, 2025 | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM EDT

Instructor Spotlight: Dr. Ron Milon

We’re excited to shine a spotlight on Dr. Ron Milon, Principal and Senior Trainer, Consultant & Coach specializing in Inclusive Leadership — and an inspiring leader in SUNY’s Emerging Leaders Academy (ELA).


A proud SUNY alum (Brockport ’87, University at Buffalo ’89), Dr. Milon brings his expertise in diversity and academic affairs to shape the next generation of higher education leaders. His vision for the Emerging Leaders Academy is to provide a transformative experience that goes well beyond traditional leadership training.


Why leadership? Why now?

“The SUNY Emerging Leaders Academy is a robust, comprehensive program that goes beyond typical training. It’s an investment in your career, providing leadership skills and a network of colleagues to help you navigate the complexities of higher education.”

Participants in the Emerging Leaders Academy can expect:

  • A transformative, career-shaping experience
  • Practical leadership takeaways to bring back to their campuses
  • A supportive coaching culture that is inclusive and welcoming


Reflecting on the program, Dr. Milon shares:

“Leadership isn’t one-size-fits-all. I wanted to design this program so participants leave with tools they can immediately use to influence positive change on their campuses.”

Thank you, Dr. Milon, for your dedication to fostering inclusive leadership and empowering professionals across the SUNY system!

Connect, Share, and Collaborate on Viva Engage!

Screenshot of CPD Viva Engage Banner

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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