To further align academic offerings with student demand, Buffalo State will begin a deactivation process, which includes shared governance, for 19 additional programs, including six bachelor’s programs, two master’s programs, seven minors and four certificate programs. 65 undergraduate students are currently majoring in the impacted programs and seven graduate students are pursuing a degree in the impacted programs is seven, representing just 1% of all Buffalo State students.
- Art and Design – Concentrations in Fibers, Wood/Furniture, Sculpture, B.A.
- Art and Design – Concentrations in Fibers, Wood/Furniture, Sculpture, Design History, Digital Media Arts, and Product Design, B.F.A.
- Applied Economics, M.A.
- Art History, B.A.
- Coaching, minor
- Computer Science, minor
- Digital Design & Fabrication, certificate
- Disaster & Emergency Management, graduate certificate
- Economic Policy Analysis, minor
- Environmental Science, minor
- Fiber Arts, certificate
- Hospitality Administration, minor
- International Economics, minor
- Jewelry Arts, certificate
- Physics, B.S.
- Physics, B.A.
- Physics Education 7-12, M.S.Ed.
- Sculpture, minor
- Sociology, B.A.
Students already enrolled in these programs will still be able to complete them. No new students will be admitted to the 19 programs identified for deactivation as they go through the campus shared governance process.
These programs were identified as having inadequate student demand based on enrollment levels, student retention, and student completion rates over the last three years. Identification of these programs was not based on academic rigor or quality or the work of dedicated faculty and students. It is important to understand that now that these programs have been identified, the campus will follow all appropriate processes and requirements via shared governance, including the Change in Status of Academic Programs: Merger, Deactivation, and Discontinuance processes outlined in Buffalo State policy.
Deactivation refers to programs being removed from the catalog and no longer accepting students. Discontinuation, which follows deactivation, refers to a program being removed from the inventory of registered programs.
In order to best meet student demand, Buffalo State will continue to review all programs going forward. No additional decisions have been made at this time.
All Buffalo State degrees remain as meaningful as the day they were issued. Program deactivations or discontinuations are not a reflection of a program's quality, its dedicated faculty and staff, or of the alumni who earned the degrees.
The merger of the schools of Education and Professions largely will result in administrative efficiencies. Buffalo State also will explore the potential for inter-disciplinary programs that meet student demand and help round out the skills students will be able to apply throughout their careers.
No. Buffalo State has a proud history of offering high-quality courses in the arts and will continue to do so. For example, art history classes will be incorporated into the Art and Design curriculum, and Art History will be offered as a minor. In addition, other concentrations in the arts remain in place.
A year-end financial analysis for 2024-25 will be completed after the fiscal year closes on June 30. We are committed to the hard but necessary work to move towards fiscal stability and have taken the steps that will bolster our ability to thrive long-term and deliver for our students, and we will continue to do so.
Buffalo State must aggressively approach reducing overall operating costs while prioritizing investment in key areas. This is a university-wide project, and the Framework for Financial Sustainability plan cannot be successful with reliance on only one area.
To ensure the continued viability of our other programs, Buffalo State will continue to evaluate staffing levels against student enrollment across campus. This will include engaging in workforce optimization planning and realignment of services to meet operational needs, as well as reviewing temporary services and appointments. Everyone will be part of this review, including the Office of the President, which will also be reducing its operations to aid in supporting the continued operational health of the campus.
In total, it is initially estimated that the academic and operational changes detailed by Interim President Bonita Durand on May 22, 2025, may result in up to 63 full-time equivalent reductions in staffing, which will be realized through termination of temporary appointments, non-renewals and retrenchment if necessary.
We are reviewing our personnel structures to determine how to optimize our current talented workforce to best serve our students. This is not just an exercise in numbers. We cannot succeed without adding humanity and respect to our decisions.
Buffalo State has been actively tracking progress to our Framework for Financial Sustainability plan. We monitor all attrition and rehires each pay period and reconcile the information by division. In addition, we meet with our colleagues at System Administration on a biweekly basis, using this time to learn about best practices utilized by other campuses, ensure our tracking documents reconcile with System Administration's, and measure both progress toward success on both enrollment goals and the effectiveness of our investments and cost control activities.
The recently approved state budget includes $2.6 million in additional operating aid for Buffalo State, bringing the total increase in state support from the last three years to $10.7 million. We thank the Governor and the Legislature for delivering for SUNY schools statewide.
This is a positive development that enables us to bolster student support programs like Roar 2 Success and recognize the work of dedicated faculty and staff by covering a portion of the State negotiated salary increases. Ultimately, this funding must be utilized as part of the overall strategy of the Framework for Financial Sustainability plan to ensure that these investments by the State and SUNY are used wisely and effectively.
Students from Western New York continue to represent the largest percentage of Buffalo State's overall enrollment. We will continue to focus on intensive recruitment in this area through a coordinated variety of approaches and initiatives. However, Buffalo State cannot survive solely as a regional institution. We will be offering scholarships and grants that will help us attract students from the entire state and beyond.
Retention remains a significant enrollment strategy for the campus community. Our retention efforts will continue to be energetic through our current Educational Opportunity Program (EOP), Roar 2 Success, All College Honors, Say Yes programs, and our academic departments. Also, the academic advising structure is being revised to be more holistic, robust, and reach more students.
Given the institution’s primary source of direct revenue is enrollment, these projections were developed through a shared conversation between Enrollment Management and Finance and Management and then agreed upon by the Cabinet. It was vital to the overall plan development that we put together enrollment projections that supported our revenue needs while supporting the student experience.
The projections, made in close collaboration with SUNY administration, were developed based on historic enrollment trend data to determine projections to support the overall plan. The data examined typical growth in applications and admitted students, as well as improved efforts with retention, to settle on goals that move the institution forward.
Our financial position will improve as enrollment increases. This is critical to the success of the Framework for Financial Sustainability plan.
Buffalo State will face these challenges head on, continuing progress toward repositioning ourselves as SUNY’s premier comprehensive institution and reaffirming our role as Buffalo’s university.
Buffalo State is committed to ensuring its financial sustainability while maintaining high-quality educational experiences for its students. This university will overcome its current challenges and achieve its strategic vision. We must capitalize on our historical strengths and align our efforts with the emerging trends here in Buffalo, Western New York, across New York State, and beyond to make that vision a reality.
For New and Current Students
Students already enrolled in these programs will still be able to complete them. Starting in Spring 2026, we will not be enrolling new students in the 19 programs identified for deactivation as they go through the shared governance process.
No. If you have been admitted to Buffalo State University for Fall 2025, you will be able to complete your full degree program. Students enrolling this fall are not impacted by the academic program deactivations announced in May 2025.
Buffalo State is fully committed to offering the courses, faculty support, and resources needed for you to graduate from your program. The programs identified for deactivation will no longer accept new students starting in Spring 2026, but current and incoming students will be able to complete their declared programs of study on time and with the full support of the university.
If you have questions about your program or academic path, we encourage you to connect with the Dean’s office.
If you have questions about how the program deactivation process may affect your major, minor, or certificate—whether it's about course availability, degree completion, or academic advising—we encourage you to contact the Dean’s Office for your academic school.
The Dean’s Office can provide you with the most accurate and up-to-date information specific to your program and connect you with additional campus resources if needed.
To get started, please reach out to:
School of Arts and Sciences, Dean’s Office: artsandsciences@buffalostate.edu
School of Education, Dean’s Office: schoolofed@buffalostate.edu
School of the Professions, Dean’s Office: professions@buffalostate.edu
We are here to support you and ensure that you have a clear path to graduation.
Yes. Students in deactivated programs will continue to have access to the same experiential learning opportunities as before. Buffalo State remains committed to supporting your academic and professional growth until you complete your degree.
No. Program deactivations do not impact your tuition or eligibility for financial aid and scholarships. If you have questions about your financial aid, you can contact the Financial Aid Office for help.
Yes. If you’re considering a change, academic advisors are available to help you explore your options, including programs that align with your interests and career goals. However, if you choose to stay in your current program, you will still be supported to complete it.
No. Your diploma and transcript will show the degree or credential you earned, just like any other student. The deactivation status of a program is not reflected on official academic records.