OSWEGO — Four colleges at SUNY Oswego, three of which were previously known as schools, will have different names beginning July 1. At the same time, SUNY Oswego says it is “strategically positioning its largest one, with an eye toward future growth, industry need and student opportunities,” per its June 2 announcement. The renaming improves […]
OSWEGO — Four colleges at SUNY Oswego, three of which were previously known as schools, will have different names beginning July 1.
At the same time, SUNY Oswego says it is “strategically positioning its largest one, with an eye toward future growth, industry need and student opportunities,” per its June 2 announcement.
The renaming improves the university’s ability to attract grants, research funding, and partnerships with employers and community organizations — as well as fundraising opportunities to “promote initiatives that resonate with successful and engaged alumni.” It also “signals SUNY Oswego’s readiness to lead” in addressing regional and global challenges through innovative programming, it contends.
Name changes
The “biggest change” involves SUNY Oswego’s largest academic unit, as what was previously the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) becomes the College of Liberal Arts, Sciences and Engineering (CLASE) — with three schools within it, the university said.
The new schools within CLASE will be the School of Humanities; School of Social and Behavioral Sciences; and the School of Engineering and Natural Sciences. Each of the schools will be led by a director reporting to the CLASE dean.
In addition, the three schools that SUNY Oswego is renaming as colleges include the School of Education, which becomes the College of Education, Health and Human Services; the School of Business, which is now the College of Business and Entrepreneurship; and the School of Communication, Media and the Arts, which becomes the College of Communication, Media and the Arts.
“After thoughtful consultation and planning among administration and faculty, I am pleased to announce the renaming of our academic schools to colleges,” SUNY Oswego President Peter Nwosu said in announcing the new names. “This change aligns with our recent attainment of university status, highlights our commitment to Vision 4040 for a more educated region, and responds to the increasing breadth and depth of our academic offerings and the national trends in higher education.”
Integrating engineering into the CLASE name aims to increase the visibility of the programs, enhance interdisciplinary opportunities, and better serve students pursuing careers in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), according to SUNY Oswego.
“The renaming of our largest academic unit emphasizes our deep commitment to the liberal arts while highlighting the growing significance of engineering and applied sciences in our curriculum,” Nwosu said.
