SUNY Chancellor Jim Malatras, amid a controversy regarding the publishing of unseemly emails of his, tendered his resignation today, effective Jan. 14. His letter to the SUNY Board of Trustees Chair is below.
The board immediately released a statement:
“We want to thank Dr. Jim Malatras for his extraordinary service to the entire SUNY system. The past two years have been among the most trying in SUNY’s history—and Jim’s leadership and collaboration with our faculty and staff have allowed our institution to continue to thrive and serve our nearly 400,000 students at 64 campuses across our state safely and in person. He has been a champion for our students, for access, for equity, and for deeper public investment in this great institution. The entire board expresses our gratitude for his dedication and leadership.”
Previously, student and faculty groups had called for the Chancellor’s ouster.
Malatras had been an extremely active Chancellor for the SUNY system, but was closely allied with the now disgraced former governor, Andrew Cuomo, and faculty and student groups decried the selection of the Chancellor, amid a pandemic, as a mere political appointment. Normally, a chancellor is selected after a rigorous nationwide search.
Still, Malatras made the most of the opportunity, visiting every campus in the 64-campus system and using public relations savvy to push forward progressive policies amid the pandemic, while also initiating an aggressive effort to make the campuses safe during the pandemic.
United University Professions (the largest faculty/staff union in the SUNY system) President Fred Kowal issued the following statement in response to the resignation:
“Today’s announcement by Chancellor Malatras will allow us to move forward. Despite the turmoil of the last couple of weeks, UUP’s focus remains on delivering resources and support for our members, our students, and our patients across New York. We thank Chancellor Malatras for his work over the last year and a half, especially leading SUNY’s COVID response. We hope the Board of Trustees will maintain a collaborative partnership and join us in advocating for the SUNY system as we move into a crucial legislative session. As UUP did in the summer of 2020, we call on the Board of Trustees and Gov. Hochul to conduct a nationwide search for a new chancellor. This search must put a priority on candidates of diversity.
“Finally, the time is now for the SUNY Board of Trustees to work with UUP and the other unions representing SUNY employees to develop a systemwide, enforceable workplace civility policy to better ensure that our members can work in environments free from toxic and bullying behavior.”
“The voices of SUNY students have been heard. We are proud to stand alongside our faculty, community leaders, legislators, and others who support us as women, mothers, and tuition paying students. It is time for a new beginning at SUNY with enhanced investment in the programs and services critical to our education. We look forward to working with the Board of Trustees to provide student input within a national search for the position of Chancellor. A search that allows for all qualified candidates to be considered. Together we will move forward and continue to advocate for the investment needed to strengthen academic excellence and student success at SUNY and across public higher education.”
Congressperson Elise Stefanik, a Republican from Schuylerville in Upstate New York, has long been critical of New York governance and issued the following statement:
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