SUNY Potsdam Celebrates Incoming Class of 2026 & Greets Returning Students for Fall Semester
SUNY Potsdam welcomes new students with its First-Year Funnel every fall, with faculty and staff gathering to cheer on first-year students as they arrive on campus. This year’s event will be held on Thursday, Aug. 25 at 5 p.m.
SUNY Potsdam is preparing to welcome its 206th class of new students next week, as the Class of 2026 settles in on campus and hundreds of students return for the fall semester.
“We are thrilled to welcome students, families, faculty, and staff back to campus. We are counting down the days until we have classes in the Quad, Potsdam Bears fans in the stands, and audiences in our theaters. And we’re excited that we’ll have new academic programs to offer and major construction projects completed. There’s a lot to see and explore at SUNY Potsdam this fall,” said Officer-in-Charge Dr. Philip T. Neisser ’79.
Welcome Weekend
SUNY Potsdam is set to welcome a growing first-year class of 460 new undergraduates this fall, along with increasing numbers of transfers and graduate students. The incoming Class of 2026 will arrive on Thursday, Aug. 25. First-year students and their families will be buzzing around campus and the village on move-in day.
New students will be greeted by faculty, staff and upperclassmen during the First-Year Funnel at 5 p.m. on Thursday. Campus community members will cheer on the long line of new students, as they walk to their New Student Convocation.
The celebrations will continue all weekend, with orientation, a play fair, a carnival, a Student Union takeover, outdoor games and more. Returning students will arrive throughout the weekend. The Fall 2022 semester kicks off on Monday, Aug. 29, with classes commencing in the morning.
Campus additions & updates
New and returning students will see some major construction and renovation projects break ground this year.
Finishing touches are being made to a $21.5 million addition to The Crane School of Music, and classes, rehearsals and activities will begin in the space this semester. The addition to Bishop Hall creates an official new entrance to the Crane Complex, with a much-needed expansion of the major rehearsal rooms for band and orchestra, a full renovation of “percussion alley,” and the addition of new modular practice rooms with advanced noise control technology, as well as a new dean’s suite. The project also includes HVAC improvements and the replacement of fire alarms and corridor ceilings, as well as adding new roofs and marquees to Crane’s two largest performing spaces, Hosmer Hall and Snell Theater.
Final masonry is being completed on the donor-funded Handcrafted Experiential Archaeological Research and Teaching Hub (HEARTH), a heritage-based living laboratory designed for use by both campus and community, dedicated to teaching traditional skills in hands-on workshops. The timber-frame structure made from local white pine will surround a traditional circa 1800s-style brick oven, with a large hands-on classroom space and outdoor patios on either side. The HEARTH project was envisioned by faculty from SUNY Potsdam’s Department of Anthropology, and has been funded entirely through the generosity of supportive donors, including gifts of materials and in-kind support from businesses both near and far.
A new outdoor performance venue is being completed in Marshall Park this fall, funded completely by the Student Government Association and constructed by Physical Plant staff. The space will include lighting and sound equipment, to encourage student performances and engagement.
This semester, major renovations will begin on Carson Hall, in a $7 million project to improve the building’s accessibility and energy efficiency. Additional renovations are being completed in the Knowles Hall residential complex, which is set to house hundreds of college athletes from around the world this coming winter for the World University Games.
New academic programs
Students are also able to choose from new academic programs this year, as new majors and degrees are being offered both in-person and online. SUNY Potsdam added four fully online master’s degrees to its growing list of virtual programs, including degrees in literacy, educational technology specialist, community health, and instructional design and educational technology. For a full list, see www.potsdam.edu/online. New baccalaureate programs include the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in art education (K-12) and the Bachelor of Science degree in environmental science.
There’s also a new pathway in place this fall for new students who want to pursue their studies and a career in the military at the same time. SUNY Potsdam’s new partnership with the New York National Guard guarantees admission to students who complete their initial entry training with the Guard (U.S. Army or Air Force) and then enroll at Potsdam. They receive free tuition, on-campus housing, special advising, priority class registration and other military benefits like free parking, printing and more.
To find out more about what’s going on at SUNY Potsdam this fall, explore www.potsdam.edu/events.
About SUNY Potsdam:
Founded in 1816, The State University of New York at Potsdam is one of America’s first 50 colleges—and the oldest institution within SUNY. Now in its third century, SUNY Potsdam is distinguished by a legacy of pioneering programs and educational excellence. The College currently enrolls approximately 3,000 undergraduate and graduate students. Home to the world-renowned Crane School of Music, SUNY Potsdam is known for its challenging liberal arts and sciences core, distinction in teacher training and culture of creativity. To learn more, visit www.potsdam.edu.