MSCHE Self Study April 2021

Executive Summary

Overview Founded in 1971 and located in New York City, the State University of New York College of Optometry (SUNY, College of Optometry) is a leader in education, research, and patient care, offering the Doctor of Optometry degree as well as MS and PhD degrees in vision science. The College conducts a robust program of basic, translational and clinical research and has 65 affiliated clinical training sites as well as an on ‐ site, Article 28 Diagnostic and Treatment Center, the University Eye Center (UEC). The College of Optometry is one of the 64 campuses that constitute the State’s comprehensive public university system and is contained in a single 300,000 sq. ft., twenty ‐ floor facility (two below ground) located at 33 West 42 nd St. in midtown Manhattan. The College has a strong history of inclusive strategic planning whereby it reviews its mission, goals and objectives at least once every five years. Its strategic plan, which is published and easily accessible, reflects well ‐ established processes and a deep commitment to assessment and data ‐ driven decision ‐ making. Key performance indicators inform our decision ‐ making and are updated annually and published on the College’s website. Dr. Steven Schwartz, Professor of Biological and Vision Sciences (past director of institutional research and planning), and Dr. Suresh Viswanathan, chair of the Department of Biological and Vision Sciences and director of institutional research and planning, served as co ‐ chairs of the MSCHE Self ‐ Study Steering Committee. The Steering Committee was composed of members of the College’s Institutional Research and Planning Committee (IRPC), a standing committee consisting of faculty, staff and student representation appointed by the president. The IRPC, President’s Council, College Council and Faculty endorsed the Self ‐ Study. Intervening Events It is important to recognize that in the spring of 2020, even as much of the work on the Self ‐ Study was well underway, two events converged that significantly impacted the College. One, of course, was the COVID ‐ 19 pandemic, and the second was murder of George Floyd, which catalyzed a national conversation on social justice and evoked an important discussion of race and equity within the College itself. For the later, the president established and charged a President’s Task Force on Race and Equity, which issued its final report and recommendations on November 1, 2020. The issues of diversity, equity and inclusion are related to at least two of our institutional priorities and have been integrated into the self ‐ study. For the COVID ‐ 19 pandemic, we have included a “COVID ‐ 19 Impact” statement at the end of each standard, except for Standard VI: Planning, Resources and Institutional Improvement. Discussion of the pandemic is discussed throughout Standard VI as its impact on institutional resources is likely to last several years

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