For Release:         Immediate – May 11, 2016

Contact:                Jerry Gretzinger, Vice President of Strategic Communications and Public Relations ­

(518) 956-7359 | jgretzinger@sunypoly.edu

SUNY Poly Announces First Ever $1 Million Philanthropic Fundraising Year and 100% Increase in Student Scholarship and Fellowship Support from 2015

Scholarship fundraising reaches major milestone and doubles previous record

Utica, NY – SUNY Polytechnic Institute (SUNY Poly) today announced that it has surpassed $1 million in philanthropic fundraising for fiscal year 2016, making it the most successful fundraising year in the institution’s history.  With more than a month remaining in the current fiscal year, SUNY Poly anticipates the final tally for FY 2016 will be at least twice last year’s total of $546,000.

Philanthropic fundraising efforts benefit SUNY Poly and its students through scholarships, fellowships, grants, and campus support, with a significant emphasis on increasing enrollment of minority and underrepresented groups in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields.  In the current academic year, more than 500 SUNY Poly students received academic merit scholarships, 32% of which were awarded to minority and underrepresented social groups in STEM fields.

Over the past 6 years, SUNY Poly has experienced a 130% increase in scholarships awarded.  During the same time period, the total value of scholarships has increased from $226,000 to more than $520,000 thanks to the generosity of alumni donors.  Fundraising dollars also support a variety of faculty and staff development opportunities.

“This is a tremendous accomplishment for SUNY Poly and the entire institution.  The average growth in fundraising among other SUNY schools was only about 6.7% last year.  To achieve 100% growth is practically unheard of and speaks volumes about the commitment our donors, supporters and alums have to SUNY Poly,” said Nick Grimmer '05, Executive Director of the SUNY Poly Foundation.  “Congratulations to SUNY Poly Founding President and CEO Dr. Alain Kaloyeros on leading us to our first $1 million fundraising year in the institution’s history.  His leadership and vision are driving the success of this entire organization.”

SUNY Poly maintains two co-equal academic locations in Utica and Albany with more than 7,000 scientists, researchers, engineers, students, faculty, and staff and represents the most dynamic and unique institution in the State University System.  In 2016, more than 850 students will be recognized during commencement ceremonies as part of SUNY Poly’s largest graduating class to date.

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SUNY Polytechnic Institute. SUNY Polytechnic Institute (SUNY Poly) is New York’s globally recognized, high-tech educational ecosystem, formed from the merger of the SUNY College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering and SUNY Institute of Technology. SUNY Poly offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in the emerging disciplines of nanoscience and nanoengineering, as well as cutting-edge nanobioscience and nanoeconomics programs at its Albany location and undergraduate and graduate degrees in technology, including engineering, cybersecurity, computer science, and the engineering technologies; professional studies, including business, communication, and nursing; and arts and sciences, including natural sciences, mathematics, humanities, and social sciences at its Utica/Rome location. Thriving athletic, recreational, and cultural programs, events, and activities complement the campus experience. As the world’s most advanced, university-driven research enterprise, SUNY Poly boasts more than $43 billion in high-tech investments, over 300 corporate partners, and maintains a statewide footprint. The 1.3 million-square-foot Albany NanoTech megaplex is home to more than 4,000 scientists, researchers, engineers, students, faculty, and staff, in addition to Tech Valley High School. SUNY Poly operates the Smart Cities Technology Innovation Center (SCiTI) at Kiernan Plaza in Albany, the Solar Energy Development Center in Halfmoon, the Children’s Museum of Science and Technology (CMOST) in Troy, the Central New York Hub for Emerging Nano Industries in Syracuse, the Smart System Technology and Commercialization Center (STC) in Canandaigua, and the Photovoltaic Manufacturing and Technology Development Facility in Rochester where SUNY Poly also leads the American Institute for Manufacturing Integrated Photonics. SUNY Poly founded and manages the Computer Chip Commercialization Center (Quad-C) at its Utica location and also manages the $500 million New York Power Electronics Manufacturing Consortium, with nodes in Albany and Rochester, as well as the Buffalo High-Tech Manufacturing Innovation Hub at RiverBend, Buffalo Information Technologies Innovation and Commercialization Hub, and Buffalo Medical Innovation and Commercialization Hub. For information visit www.sunycnse.com andwww.sunypoly.edu.