SUNY Niagara adopts new mission, vision & strategic plan

SUNY Niagara Press Release

SUNY Niagara’s leadership has approved a revised institutional mission, a new vision statement and five-year strategic plan to support it. The plan, named “Future Forward 2026-2030,” goes into effect this month following its unanimous approval at the college’s board of trustees meeting in November.

SUNY Niagara’s updated mission is to: “inspire hope, transform lives, and empower communities through accessible and innovative education.” The college’s vision is: “to be the leading force in innovative higher education, empowering individuals to reach their full potential and driving the long-term vitality of our region.”

“We are excited to set this ambitious course for SUNY Niagara,” said board Chair Katherine Alexander. “This plan is the culmination of an extensive and thoughtful project that took into consideration the many stakeholders that we serve. It recognizes the college as a center for learning, an economic engine, a unique regional resource and a ready partner.”

The months-long process of framing the plan affirmed the college’s drive to be:

√ Student-centered

√ Innovative

√ Collaborative

√ Accountable and ethical

These four core values shaped the five pillars of the college’s strategy:

√ Innovation and relevance 

√ Belonging and empowerment 

√ Community partnership and impact 

√ Workforce of the future

√ Operational excellence

Future initiatives will connect to these pillars. For example, one goal is: “by 2030, the college will be recognized as model for how community colleges prepare graduates who are adaptable, skilled and ready to lead in the new economy.”

SUNY Niagara President Lloyd Holmes said he was proud of the breadth of the plan and the work behind it.

“This next chapter at SUNY Niagara is built from months of listening, learning, and dreaming together as a community,” he said. “It reflects our courage, our collaboration, and our belief in all that SUNY Niagara can be for Western New York. Over the next five years, we’ll embrace change rooted in both data and emotional intelligence. We will ensure that our teaching stays relevant to the careers of tomorrow. We will expand pathways for students of all ages, growing our workforce partnerships, and investing in the spaces and technologies that help our students thrive.”

“Future Forward 2026-2030” is detailed on the college’s website at www.sunyniagara.edu/future-forward.