From the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

Buffalo State University is committed to expanding access to public higher education for future students and the broader community. To support this mission, the university is strategically growing enrollment through the expansion of online programs. As the campus looks ahead to the 2026–2027 academic year, Academic Affairs is focused on strengthening enrollment and promoting student success through the continued development of online offerings.

This work directly supports Academic Affairs’ priority of aligning undergraduate and graduate programs with enrollment trends and student market demands [Strategic Priority 2.3, Pillar 3, Pillar 5.1].  It also reflects a guiding principle for Academic Affairs: ensuring that our academic portfolio evolves in ways that meet both student needs and workforce opportunities.

 To advance this strategic direction to increase and support online programs, please note the following: 

• Instructional Design and Distance Learning will focus on supporting online programs. Course Design Reviews will be prioritized for courses in existing and new online programs as communicated by the department chair and deans' office. Course Design Reviews for summer/fall 2026 courses should be requested by November 1, 2025.
• The Online Oversight and Readiness Committee will maintain its efforts to strengthen student services, provide proactive support, and create opportunities for faculty engagement through peer support. These efforts will help ensure that Buffalo State’s online programs deliver high-quality experiences for both students and faculty, in alignment with the SUNY Online Institutional Readiness Plan.

All faculty are encouraged to participate in the many opportunities to support course design and educational technology implementation through:

Individual Consultations with Instructional Design and Distance Learning

Professional Development

Online and Hybrid Community of Practice