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Statement of Accreditation Status

SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry

  • CEO: Ms. Joanne Mahoney, President
  • Accreditation Liaison Officer: Mr. Jeremy Hall
  • Commission Staff Liaison: Dr. Judith Sciple, Vice President
  • Carnegie Classification: Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity » Four-year, small, primarily residential
  • Control: Public
  • Former Name(s): College of Forestry at Syracuse University (9/1/1971)
  • Phase: Accredited
  • Status: Non-Compliance Warning
  • Accreditation Granted: 1952
  • Last Reaffirmation: 2022
  • Next Self-Study Evaluation: 2029-2030

Notification of Non-Compliance Action

Contact Information

One Forestry Drive
Syracuse, NY 13210-2778

(315) 470-6500

www.esf.edu

  • June 22, 2023
    To acknowledge receipt of the supplemental information report. To note the follow-up visit was conducted by the Commission's representatives to the main campus at 1 Forestry Drive, Syracuse, NY 13210, on March 27-28, 2023. To note further that the verification visit required by USDE guidelines as noted in the action of June 23, 2022, has been completed. To warn the institution that its accreditation may be in jeopardy because of insufficient evidence that the institution is currently in compliance with Standard V (Educational Effectiveness Assessment) and Standard VI (Planning, Resources, and Institutional Improvement). To note that the institution remains accredited while on warning. To note further that federal regulations limit the period during which an institution may be in non-compliance, which starts on June 22, 2023. To request a monitoring report due January 16, 2024, demonstrating evidence that the institution has achieved and can sustain ongoing compliance with Standards V and VI, including but not limited to (1) student learning programs that are characterized by coherence and appropriate assessment of student achievement throughout the institution's educational offerings, at both institutional and program levels, with evidence that faculty and appropriate institutional stakeholders have considered and used assessment results to improve teaching and learning (Standard V); (2) the development and implementation of organized and systematic assessments that evaluate the extent of student achievement in general education (Standard V); and (3) clearly stated, aligned, and coherent institutional and unit objectives, with evidence of the implementation of a systematic, organized, and sustained assessment process demonstrating that institutional and unit stakeholders have considered and used assessment results in planning, budgeting, and the improvement of institutional and unit effectiveness (Standard VI). To direct a follow-up team visit following submission of the monitoring report. To direct a prompt Commission liaison guidance visit to discuss the Commission's expectations. The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2029-2030.
  • May 12, 2023
    Staff acted on behalf of the Commission to acknowledge receipt of the supplemental information report due April 14, 2023, providing information on key data indicators (financial health), as reported on the 2022 Annual Institutional Update (AIU) in accordance with federal regulation 34 CFR § 602.19(d). To note that the Follow-Up Visit has occurred and will be acted upon by the Commission at the June meeting. The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2029-2030.
  • March 24, 2023
    Staff acted on behalf of the Commission to request a supplemental information report, due April 14, 2023, providing information on key data indicators (financial health) as reported on the 2022 Annual Institutional Update in accordance with federal regulation 34 CFR § 602.19 (d). The next evaluation date is scheduled for 2029-2030.
  • November 17, 2022
    To note that the Commission Liaison Guidance Visit occurred on August 18, 2022. The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2029-2030.
  • June 23, 2022
    To acknowledge receipt of the self-study report. To note that the institution hosted a virtual site visit in lieu of an on-site visit in accordance with the United States Department of Education (USDE) guidelines published March 17, 2020. To reaffirm accreditation. To request a supplemental information report, due March 1, 2023, documenting further evidence of (1) the periodic assessment of the relevancy and effectiveness of the institution's mission and goals (Standard I); (2) the development and implementation of organized and systematic assessments that evaluate the extent of student achievement (Standard V); (3) the development and implementation of organized and systematic assessments that evaluate the extent of student achievement in general education (Standard V); (4) the development and implementation of organized and systematic assessments that evaluate institutional effectiveness (Standard VI); and (5) a governing board that appoints and regularly evaluates the Chief Executive Officer (Standard VII). A follow-up team visit will follow submission of the supplemental information report. To note the visit may also fulfill the verification requirements of the USDE guidelines. To direct a prompt Commission liaison guidance visit to discuss the Commission's expectations. The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2029-2030.
  • April 18, 2018
    To accept the Periodic Review Report, to reaffirm accreditation, and to recognize the institution for progress to date. To request that, beginning in 2019 and in conjunction with each Annual Institutional Update prior to the Self-Study Evaluation visit in 2021-2022, the institution further document (1) learning experiences that are characterized by rigor, coherence and instructional quality in all program, certificate, and degree programs, regardless of instructional modality (Standard III) and (2) implementation of an organized, systematic, and sustained assessment process which evaluates the extent of student achievement of institutional and program level learning goals, including in general education and graduate programs, and is used to improve teaching and student learning (Standard V). The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2021-2022.
  • November 16, 2017
    To accept the Periodic Review Report, to reaffirm accreditation, and to recognize the institution for progress to date. To request that, beginning in 2019 and in conjunction with each Annual Institutional Update, the institution further document (1) learning experiences that are characterized by rigor, coherence and instructional quality in all program, certificate, and degree programs, regardless of instructional modality (Standard III) and (2) implementation of an organized, systematic, and sustained assessment process which evaluates the extent of student achievement of institutional and program level learning goals, including in general education and graduate programs, and is used to improve teaching and student learning (Standard V). The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2021-2022.
  • July 7, 2017
    To acknowledge receipt of documentation of approval from the New York State Education Department and to include the (1) online Post-baccalaureate certificate in Radiation Curing Chemistry and (2) online Post-baccalaureate certificate in Environmental Leadership within the scope of the institution's accreditation.
  • July 5, 2017
    To acknowledge receipt of the substantive change request. To include the first and second alternative delivery method programs, (1) online Post-baccalaureate certificate in Radiation Curing Chemistry and (2) online Post-baccalaureate certificate in Environmental Leadership, within the scope of the institution's accreditation effective upon receipt of all necessary approvals. The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2021-2022.
  • November 17, 2016
    To accept the progress report. The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2021-2022.
  • November 19, 2015
    To accept the monitoring report and to note the visit by the Commission's representatives. To request a progress report, due October 1, 2016, documenting further development and implementation of a comprehensive, organized and sustained assessment process that provides sufficient, convincing evidence that students are achieving key institutional and program learning outcomes, in all programs including general education, and that assessment information is used to improve teaching and learning (Standards 12 and 14). The Periodic Review Report is due June 1, 2017.
  • November 20, 2014
    To note the visit by the Commission's representative. To remind the institution of the monitoring report, due March 1, 2015, documenting further development and implementation of a comprehensive, organized and sustained assessment process that (1) evaluates the institution's overall effectiveness in achieving its mission and goals with evidence that assessment information is used in budgeting, planning, and allocating resources (Standard 7) and (2) provides sufficient, convincing evidence that students are achieving key institutional and program learning outcomes, including in educational offerings and general education, and that assessment information is used to improve teaching and learning (Standards 12 and 14). A small team visit will follow submission of the monitoring report. The Periodic Review Report is due June 1, 2017.
  • June 26, 2014
    To accept the progress report. To request a monitoring report, due March 1, 2015, documenting further development and implementation of a comprehensive, organized and sustained assessment process that (1) evaluates the institution's overall effectiveness in achieving its mission and goals with evidence that assessment information is used in budgeting, planning, and allocating resources (Standard 7) and (2) provides sufficient, convincing evidence that students are achieving key institutional and program learning outcomes, including in educational offerings and general education, and that assessment information is used to improve teaching and learning (Standards 12 and 14). A small team visit will follow submission of the monitoring report. To direct a prompt liaison guidance visit to discuss Commission expectations. The Periodic Review Report is due June 1, 2017.
  • June 27, 2013
    To accept the progress report. To request a progress report, due March 1, 2014, documenting further implementation of an organized and sustained assessment process to evaluate the full range of programs and services offered by the institution with evidence that results are being used to inform institutional planning, budgeting and resource allocation decisions (Standards 7 & 14). The Periodic Review Report is due June 1, 2017.
  • March 1, 2012
    To commend the institution on the quality of the self-study process. To reaffirm accreditation and to request a progress report, due April 1, 2013, documenting (1) that assessment results are shared and discussed with appropriate constituents and used in institutional planning, resource allocation, and renewal to improve and gain efficiencies in programs, services and processes, including activities specific to the institution's mission (Standard 7); and, (2) that student learning assessment information is shared and discussed with appropriate constituencies and is used to improve teaching, learning, and curriculum, in both educational offerings and general education (Standard 14). The Periodic Review Report is due June 1, 2017.
  • Distance Education
    Approved to offer programs by this delivery method
  • Correspondence Education
    Not approved for this delivery method

Approved Credential Levels

The following represents credential levels included in the scope of the institution’s accreditation:

  • Associate's Degree or Equivalent Included within the scope
  • Bachelor's Degree or Equivalent Included within the scope
  • Post-baccalaureate Certificate Included within the scope
  • Master's Degree or Equivalent Included within the scope
  • Doctor's Degree- Research/Scholarship Included within the scope
  • Main Campus
    SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
    One Forestry Drive
    Syracuse, NY 13210-2778
  • Additional Location
    Wanakena Campus
    257 Ranger School Road PO Box 48
    Wanakena, NY 13695
  • Other Instructional Site
    Adirondack Ecological Center & Huntington Wildlife Forest
    6312 State Route 28N
    Newcomb, NY 12852
  • Other Instructional Site
    Cranberry Lake Biological Field Station & Pack Forest
    PO Box 689
    Cranberry Lake, NY 12927
  • Other Instructional Site
    Heiberg Memorial Forest & Genetic Field Station
    Maple Ridge Road
    Tully, NY 13159
  • Other Instructional Site
    Lafayette Road Experiment Station
    Lafayette Road
    Syracuse, NY 13084
  • Other Instructional Site
    Thousand Islands Biological Station
    Governors Island Box 530
    Clayton, NY 13624

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