CNSE leaving SUNY Poly following board vote
Thomas Caputo and Alexis Manore, Daily Sentinel staff writers
Posted 12/13/22
The College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering (CNSE) at SUNY Polytechnic Institute in Marcy will be returning to the University at Albany, following a vote by the SUNY Board of Trustees.
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CNSE leaving SUNY Poly following board vote
Pictured is an aerial of the SUNY Polytechnic Institute campus from Oct. 12, 2022. Danfoss Silicon Power (a silicon-carbide power module packaging operation at the Computer Chip Commercialization Center, better known as the Quad-C, on the SUNY Polytechnic campus) can be seen to the far left, and the under-construction Wolfspeed facility ( a silicon carbide computer chip fabricating facility in Marcy) can be seen in the far distance. In past years, stake holders noted one benefit of semiconductor industry facilities being seated close to one another are the collaboration possibilities.
(Sentinel file photo by John Clifford)
Oneida County Executive Anthony J. Picente Jr.
Posted
MARCY — The College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering (CNSE) at SUNY Polytechnic Institute will be returning to the University at Albany, following a vote by the SUNY Board of Trustees.
Albany County Executive Daniel McCoy announced the news in a now-deleted tweet at 3:19 p.m. Tuesday. He then posted another tweet at 4:41 p.m. clarifying that it is just the CNSE that will be moving to Albany.
Oneida County Executive Anthony J. Picente said in a response to McCoy’s original tweet, “This coming from a county that didn’t include semiconductors in its economic development plan. It’s a sad day when one region takes pleasure in another’s loss.”
In a statement, the SUNY Office of Communications said, “With Board approval today, the process of transferring the College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering has been initiated. SUNY Poly is authorized to create a robust strategic plan along with local stakeholders to strengthen the future of SUNY Poly Utica without CNSE.
And, University at Albany will develop a plan to effectuate the transfer of CNSE to UAlbany, to be completed no later than December 2023.”
CNSE was originally established at the University at Albany in 2001 and received accreditation in 2004. CNSE separated from the university in 2013, merging with SUNY Institute of Technology in Marcy and establishing SUNY Polytechnic Institute. The institute has campuses in both Marcy and Albany.
A Dec. 13 resolution from Interim Chancellor Deborah F. Stanley to the SUNY Board of Trustees states that while CNSE administrative functions shifted to Utica in 2014, CNSE students, faculty and staff have stayed at the Albany campus.
Conversations regarding CNSE potentially leaving SUNY Poly began in January when Gov. Kathy Hochul proposed reuniting CNSE with the University at Albany during her State of the State address. The proposal was met with fierce criticism from local politicians who opposed moving it back to the capital district.
According to the resolution adopted by the SUNY Board of Trustees, the transfer of CNSE would “empower CNSE and UAlbany to capitalize on their geographic proximity and individual strengths, and would have multiple benefits to both institutions, including research output, enrollment impact, and institutional reputation” and that “this transferal shall not impact continued operational management of SUNY Poly’s Marcy campus.”
The resolution states that this move will allow for SUNY Poly Utica to focus on its nursing and engineering programs, while maintaining its status as a destination for nanotechnology workforce development, and UAlbany can maximize its potential as an R1 research institution with CNSE in close geographic proximity.
Assemblywoman Marianne Buttenschon, D-119, Marcy, has been working to keep CNSE at SUNY Poly and was disappointed by the board’s decision.
“I have been working on this with the governor’s office over the last 10 months, meeting with them, going into their office when I’m in session on a weekly basis, calling them on a weekly basis,” Buttenschon said. “Then, on Dec. 13th, it becomes an emergency to pass this without stakeholders on a local level providing the insight and expertise that’s necessary to make a decision. I consider it to be an outrage, the process itself is just unacceptable.”
A strategic plan that will lay out the restructuring will be completed by December 2023, according to the resolution.
Wolfspeed is a silicon carbide chip fabrication facility that opened in April at the Marcy Nanocenter, which is located on the SUNY Polytechnic Institute campus.
There is another available parcel at the nanocenter that could hold multiple semiconductor manufacturing facilities.
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