Kaitlyn Bertleff

The meeting addressed several applications and revisions related to charter schools. Key actions included the approval of charter renewal applications for Broome Street Academy Charter High School and multiple Icahn Charter Schools (1 through 7). The committee also handled resubmissions to the Board of Regents concerning Success Academy Charter School -- Bronx 5 Lower, and proposed charters for The Academy Charter School Brentwood Elementary and The Academy Charter School Brentwood Middle. Additionally, a resubmission was made for The Academy Charter School Central Islip Regional High, and a revision approval was processed for Brilla College Preparatory Charter School.

The Finance and Administration Committee meeting addressed several key resolutions. Discussions included the approval of the 2025/26 State University of New York Master Capital Plan. Further actions involved the approval of Real Property Acquisitions for both Schenectady County Community College and Cayuga County Community College. A statutory tuition consultation took place with Cornell University and Alfred Ceramics regarding the 2026/27 tuition rates. The Committee also convened an Executive Session to discuss matters not detailed in the public minutes.

The meeting covered several key areas including the committee chair's report, which highlighted the balancing act of artificial intelligence (AI) and potential partnerships involving corporate retirees serving as adjunct faculty. The Provost's report focused heavily on AI developments, including the launch of an AI Tutor pilot program across 42 campuses to ensure faculty leadership, pedagogical soundness, accessibility, data protection, and scalability. Updates were also provided on developing AI-advising platforms and implementing Lumi AI functionality in Brightspace for faculty workflows. The Provost also discussed SUNY's submission regarding the Master Plan for Higher Education to NYSED. Master Plan amendments for Alfred State University and Farmingdale State College were unanimously approved, moving them to the full Board. Further discussions included the selection of Academic Affairs Fellows cohorts (DEISJ, Civics, AI, and Sustainability), an update on superconductor research, and a student presentation sharing undergraduate experiences.

The Research and Economic Development Committee meeting focused on preliminary recommendations from the Quantum STRIVE Task Force, which outlines a 10-year plan to create a statewide quantum network anchored in the four University Centers. Discussions also covered the International Year of Quantum Education Leadership program being hosted at SUNY Stony Brook. Implementation details for the STRIVE AI Taskforce were reviewed, including the implementation of SUNY INSPIRE Center as a Center of Centers to scale AI initiatives, the development of SUNY Research Connect, the implementation of the SUNY AI Platform (SUNY GPT), the creation of two new Departments of AI and Society, and a summary of the successful SUNY AI symposium hosted by SUNY Buffalo. Furthermore, the announcement of SUNY GREAT awardees was noted.

The Board of Trustees meeting addressed several key actions, including the naming of multiple endowed chairs and scholarships at the State University of New York at Buffalo across its Schools of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Law, and Medicine, as well as an endowed scholarship in the School of Dental Medicine. Furthermore, the Board considered the 2026/27 Campus and Hospital Operating and Capital Budget Requests and Amendments to Community College Regulations. Other significant items included approval of a Ground Lease for the Empire AI Research Institute at SUNY Buffalo, a Master Plan Amendment for the SUNY Oswego Metro Center, the appointment of Anne Bink as Senior Vice Chancellor for Operations and Management & Chief Operating Officer, and a Special Service Commendation for Beth Berlin.