August 22, 2023
Dear Members of the Binghamton University Community,
I want to welcome back to campus all our returning students, faculty and staff, and I particularly want to welcome the newest members of the Binghamton community – the class of 2027. I hope that all of you are as excited about the months ahead as I am.
The start of a new academic year is one of the best things about being president at Binghamton University. It’s a time when there is lots of optimism and excitement for the year ahead and a chance to connect with friends old and new. People return to campus reenergized from the summer and eager to take on new projects. And the weather is almost always perfect.
I also want to extend a special welcome to our new and returning international students. Your presence on campus is evidence of the University’s growing reputation, both here in the United States and abroad, and adds immensely to the cultural vitality of our campus.
The upcoming semester looks very promising. We have a highly talented group of new students, drawn from a record number of applications — more than 58,400 students applied last spring. Approximately 3,000 first-year students, along with 750 transfer and 1,500 new graduate students will bring our enrollment to around 18,600 — just the right size to support world-renowned research programs and a thriving campus social life. And our interactions with the community have received a major boost with the news that Binghamton University is a finalist for a National Science Foundation Regional Innovation Engines grant that may bring $160 million dollars to support battery innovation, workforce development and manufacturing in the neighboring Village of Endicott.
I know that the first weeks of the fall semester can be a bit overwhelming. There are new classes to master, books to buy, suitemates to meet, campus activities to enjoy. Through it all, please do your part to make others feel welcome — remember about one out of every three students you see on campus is new here. I hope that you will greet them with a warm “hello!”
I also encourage you to take advantage of the many opportunities we offer — not just in terms of your classwork, but in the social and cultural life of the campus. Expand your horizons by taking in a play or joining a student organization that will spark a new interest. Show your support for our Bearcat athletics teams or tour our Art Museum. Embrace the diversity of our campus, both in terms of the variety of experiences available and in terms of meeting people from different backgrounds. It will make your Binghamton experience better, and it will open doors for you when you graduate.
At Binghamton our number one goal is to help students be successful. We have many resources on campus that will help you on your scholarly journey, from academic advising and tutoring to career coaching and leadership development. Still, the most important factor in student success is the motivation and commitment of our students themselves. I’d like to offer a few study tips as a hint to new students and as a reminder to existing ones:
- Use your time well. Try not to procrastinate, as work will build up and bury you pretty quickly.
- Get plenty of sleep, exercise, and follow good nutrition – your body (and brain) will thank you for it.
- Set aside some “me” time. A balanced study life is crucial to your success.
- Meet with your professors early in the semester. Help them put a face to the name on the class roster.
- And most of all, develop a study routine and stick with it. Here at Binghamton, studying and classwork is your job. Be consistent in your work and you will be rewarded.
So, to our students, I wish you a successful and engaging year ahead; to our faculty, may you have a productive year pursuing knowledge and imparting it to your students; and to our staff, may you have a rewarding and constructive year.
Sincerely,
Harvey G. Stenger
President
