Albany, NY – SUNY Polytechnic Institute (SUNY Poly) announced today that fourteen students who completed a majority of their course work at the institution’s Colleges of Nanoscale Science and Engineering (CNSE) received degrees on Sunday, December 11. A majority of those students with finalized post-graduation plans have decided to remain in New York State to pursue challenging high-tech careers, such as those related to nanotechnology, or advanced degrees at SUNY Poly.

“A degree from SUNY Poly is a symbol of high achievement in New York State, nationally, and around the globe,” said SUNY Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher. “SUNY Poly provides students with a one-of-a-kind, high-tech education that makes them among the most qualified for specialized jobs in an emerging field, and this weekend’s graduates are no exception. Congratulations to the Class of 2016 on their extraordinary achievement.”

“At SUNY Poly, these graduates have received a superb educational experience that perfectly aligns with the needs of New York’s high-tech corridor, and they are now well positioned to be able to leverage their education to enjoy impactful innovation-based careers,” said Dr. Bahgat Sammakia, SUNY Poly Interim President. “On behalf of SUNY Poly, I am proud to congratulate these newest graduates, and am excited that many plan to embark on challenging careers and educational opportunities in New York State, including continuing their education at SUNY Poly, in a strong affirmation of all that SUNY Poly provides its students.”

“SUNY Poly’s hands-on learning experience provides its students with a top tier education, and I am pleased to congratulate these newest graduates, whose experience has already led to a number of exciting career and advanced degree opportunities,” said Dr. William Durgin, SUNY Poly Provost. “As SUNY Poly’s challenging curricula continues to prepare students for in-demand jobs, it is also wonderful to see that many see the incredible value in choosing to pursue advanced degrees right here at SUNY Poly.”

The fourteen graduating students received degrees during winter commencement ceremonies held at the University at Albany as a result of students having been enrolled in the University prior to SUNY Poly’s becoming an independent SUNY school. Eleven of those who graduated are natives of New York, with one international graduate. Notably, more than 220 students based at SUNY Poly’s Utica campus also earned degrees and will be honored during the annual spring commencement ceremony.

Twelve graduate students who completed a majority of their coursework at SUNY Poly received degrees in Nanoscale Science or Nanoscale Engineering, including 3 Ph.D.’s and 9 master’s degrees, and two undergraduate students will receive Bachelor of Science degrees in Nanoscale Engineering. Two-thirds of those who were awarded graduate degrees who have finalized their plans have already enrolled in SUNY Poly’s Ph.D. programs, or have accepted positions at globally recognized high-tech companies and organizations with operations in New York, such as GLOBALFOUNDRIES and SUNY Poly, for example.

SUNY Poly is the world’s first and only institution to offer comprehensive undergraduate and graduate-level curricula focused on nanotechnology science and engineering, providing access to game-changing careers through both its nano-based graduate and undergraduate programs, which were introduced in 2004 and 2010, respectively. SUNY Poly’s nanotechnology-focused educational offerings at its Colleges of Nanoscale Science and Engineering are supported by the intellectual and technological resources of SUNY Poly’s world-class Albany NanoTech Complex, the most advanced nanotechnology facility at any university in the world which boasts scientists, researchers, engineers, and faculty from leading global corporations and top research universities. In addition to SUNY Poly’s Albany campus, its Utica campus provides unmatched programs for the attainment of critical skills and know-how, enabling students to achieve career success in fields ranging from cybersecurity to business, and nursing to engineering, among others.

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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 billions of dollars in high-tech investments and over 300 corporate partners. For information visit www.sunycnse.com and www.sunypoly.edu.