From the Interim President

At the December 12, 2025, meeting, the Buffalo State Senate voted to recommend to the interim president the adoption of the following update to DOPS policy I:07:01:  

WHEREAS, Buffalo State University recognizes its obligation to support students who are members of the United States Armed Forces, including those who are mobilized or deployed during an academic term; 

WHEREAS, clear institutional procedures are necessary to ensure that deployed students are protected from undue academic and financial hardship resulting from military service obligations; 

WHEREAS, the Office of Military and Veteran Services, in coordination with the Dean of Students Office, is the appropriate administrative unit to maintain official documentation and records of all students who are deployed while enrolled at the University; 

WHEREAS, in circumstances where the Office of Military and Veteran Services and/or the Dean of Students Office does not receive notification of a student’s return to the University within thirty (30) days following mobilization, the Academic Standards Office, in consultation with the student when possible, must retain the authority to withdraw or drop the student from courses to prevent academic and financial hardship; 

WHEREAS, as deadlines for addressing incomplete grades approach, collaboration between the Director of Academic Standards and faculty members is necessary to facilitate extensions and provide reasonable academic accommodations for deployed students; 

WHEREAS, students who elect to exercise the option to drop all courses due to military deployment must comply with University refund policies, including the return of any refunds received and responsibility for prorated consumable charges such as meal plans; 

WHEREAS, students who qualify for re-enrollment following deployment should be permitted to return at the commencement of an academic semester, provided that University add/drop deadlines have not passed, and if such deadlines have elapsed, be allowed to re-enroll in the subsequent academic semester in accordance with SUNY regulations and University enrollment policies. 

THEREFORE, Be it Resolved, that the Buffalo State Senate recommends this update to the Student Military Deployment Policy. 

I accept the recommendation from the Buffalo State Senate regarding the revision of DOPS policy I:07:01 Student Military Deployment. I charge the Provost and the Interim Vice President for Student Affairs to oversee the implementation of this resolution and to communicate it widely to the appropriate offices and individuals.  I thank the Standards for Students Committee and the Chair for this recommendation, and the Senate and the Senate Chair for their diligence in bringing this resolution forth.