SUNY Canton Sets Sights on a New Incoming Class with More Dogs for Fall 202

SUNY Canton will welcome nearly 1,000 new, transfer and readmitted students in addition to about a dozen dogs for fall 2023.

“We’re ready to welcome a new cohort of students as they embark upon their journey toward excellence,” said SUNY Canton President Zvi Szafran. “As we prepare for this new and exciting chapter, we’d like to remind our students they’re not alone on this adventure. The SUNY Canton community, including fellow students, faculty, staff, and the greater North Country area, will support and inspire them throughout their education.”

College administrators noted a slight deposit increase among new and transfer students from last year. The college projects more than 500 first-time freshmen, 390 transfer and 109 readmitted students will begin classes this fall. Much of the increase is attributed to the college’s emphasis on attracting students who started their studies but left before completing a degree.

There will also be a sharp uptick in the number of canine companions on campus this year, with the college tripling the number of four-legged friends in its Rushton Hall Dog Floor. SUNY Canton began inviting students to live with their dogs last fall.

“It’s going to be a great year for pet lovers,” said Director of Residence Life John M. Kennedy. “Our Dog Floor is full, and our traditional Pet Wings in Mohawk Hall, which allows cats and other small animals, are also nearing capacity.”

Kennedy said the college’s four traditional residence halls primarily offer single-occupancy rooms for the fall 2023 and spring 2024 semesters. However, there is still room to accommodate students, with or without pets, who are interested in attending SUNY Canton.

The college’s Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) summer session is in full swing, with more than 30 students attending classes and living on campus. The Jump Start early beginning program will kick off Monday, Aug. 14 with approximately 20 new students. Student-athletes will begin to move in on campus Wednesday, Aug. 16. New and residential students will start moving in on campus Monday, Aug. 21, and returning students will check in to their residence halls Wednesday, Aug. 23. Classes begin Thursday, Aug. 24.

Portions of SUNY Canton are currently under construction, with the most notable transformations happening at French Hall. The college has removed the granite retaining walls and installed a sloping path connecting the administrative building to the central campus area as part of the multi-year, multi-phase project.

Upgrades include new LED lighting, trees and landscaping, and an outdoor amphitheater. Other improvements include new geothermal wells in Parking Lot 7, eliminating the need for natural

gas to heat the building. The college also plans to add a ducted wind turbine to offset electrical energy usage. The renovations will be substantially complete by October.

SUNY Canton offers rolling admissions allowing students to enroll until the first day of classes, so there’s still time to join the college’s career-driven programs online or in person. To learn more, contact the SUNY Canton Office of Admissions at 315-386-7123 or email admissions@canton.edu.