November 24, 2021
 
Dear Members of the SUNY Poly Community,

It is with the most profound sadness that I am informing you of the loss of SUNY Poly student, Colby Hills, who passed away while off campus Tuesday, November 23, 2021.

Our SUNY Poly leadership team has been in touch with his family. They shared that he enjoyed his time at SUNY Poly as a junior computer science major. From Ghent, New York, he was pursuing a bachelor’s degree at our Utica campus. Colby was not only dedicated to his friends, but he also had a history of making a difference in the community; he positively impacted numerous people in our campus community during the years he spent here.

I ask that you join me, along with the SUNY Poly community, as we offer our deepest condolences and heartfelt sympathy to Colby’s parents, family, and his many close friends.

As our Wildcat community faces this heartbreaking loss, I know we will support each other as we collectively, and individually, grieve. If helpful to you, please know that there are a number of resources available:

• The Office of Student Affairs is providing information about the services that are available to you, whether you are a student in Utica, or a student who may need resources in Albany.
• Please do not hesitate to connect and receive any assistance you may need.

With this painful loss happening at a time when we give thanks for the many people who make a difference in our lives, I hope we can all take a moment and realize how truly thankful we are to spend the time we have with each other. In this spirit of gratitude, I hope we can once again support each other by showing empathy, kindness, and compassion as we seek to honor and remember the life of one of our own.

Sincerely,
 
Dr. Tod A. Laursen
Acting President
SUNY Polytechnic Institute