SUNY SULLIVAN ANNOUNCES GRADUATION PLANS, TUITION HIKE
by John Conway
LOCH SHELDRAKE, June 2020— The COVID-19 pandemic has had far reaching impacts throughout the world, and among those experiencing the impact locally is SUNY Sullivan. College officials say they have been forced to hike tuition for the fall as a result, as well as adjusting plans for its annual graduation.
The tuition hike, approved by the college’s Board of Trustees last month, will amount to about four per cent. SUNY Sullivan President Jay Quaintance says the increase was necessary because of the possibility of a loss in state aid due to the pandemic, as well as other rising costs. Mr. Quaintance says Sullivan remains the lowest priced college in the region. SUNY Orange had previously announced a tuition increase of 3.7 per cent for the fall.
SUNY Sullivan graduates will not get to attend a traditional commencement ceremony this year, but the school is hosting a virtual event instead.
Sullivan’s 56th commencement will be held online at 1 p.m. on Saturday, June 20 in order to, in the words of college officials, “recognize all of our graduates for their hard work, dedication and accomplishments.”
The college announcement of the online graduation plans read in part:
“Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, we are unable to host an in-person commencement ceremony this year, and so have created a Virtual Commencement Event to celebrate the Class of 2020!
“Please join us at sunysullivan.edu/commencement20/ or on Facebook for our Facebook Watch Party! Invite your friends and family!
“Joel Lerner, Trustee Emeritus, will be the principal speaker. Sarah Yousef, Winner of the 2020 Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence will be the class speaker. For additional questions about Commencement ‘20, please contact Kathleen Birkett at kbirkett@sunysullivan.edu.”