UTICA, NY – SUNY Polytechnic Institute (SUNY Poly) is proud to announce that faculty and staff from across campus have been awarded a total of $150,000 over the next two years through the institution’s inaugural Seeds for Education grant program. This initiative reflects SUNY Poly’s deep commitment to academic excellence, innovation, and student-centered growth.

The Seeds for Education program is designed to advance initiatives that support student success, enhance the quality of the academic experience, and broaden the number of students served by SUNY Poly. With a focus on fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, the program aligns directly with SUNY Poly’s Strategic Plan, particularly its goals to elevate the student experience, deepen campus-wide belonging, and develop high-impact, demand-driven programs that support regional workforce needs.

“This program demonstrates SUNY Poly’s unwavering dedication to cultivating a dynamic learning environment where faculty and staff can innovate, collaborate, and directly impact student outcomes,” said Dr. Andrew Russell, SUNY Poly Provost. “By investing in these bold initiatives, we’re empowering our campus community to reimagine what education can be: inclusive, forward-looking, and purpose-driven. These projects not only enhance learning and discovery, but they also ensure our graduates are well-prepared to lead and serve in a rapidly evolving world.”

Supporting Innovation Across Campus
The Seeds for Education program reflects SUNY Poly’s interdisciplinary strengths and commitment to high-impact education. Many of the funded projects focus on curriculum development in emerging and high-demand areas. These include semiconductor engineering, artificial intelligence, bioinformatics and nanoscale communications, mechatronics, civil engineering technology, and sustainability.

Additional curriculum projects include an audio production course connected to SUNY’s Institute for Local News, along with separate impactful initiatives in instructional design, healthcare revenue cycle forensics, public health data analytics, and integrative health programming.

The Seeds for Education program will also support faculty initiatives to create new opportunities for collaboration and applied learning across disciplines. These include a seminar series focused on data science and AI, the development of a fluid power hub, and the establishment of a campus greenhouse to support hands-on environmental and sustainability education.
In support of SUNY Poly’s efforts to recruit, retain, and empower students through graduation and beyond, the program is also funding projects such as an engineering student success camp, outreach efforts that engage high school students, a semiconductor career readiness initiative, and participation in the Lockheed Martin Ethics in Engineering Case Competition. These programs are designed to prepare students not only for academic achievement but also for meaningful careers and ethical leadership in their respective fields.

To ensure the sustainability and continued growth of these efforts, each funded project will hold at least one campus presentation, and recipients will be required to submit at least one proposal per year, whether for external funding, curriculum advancement, or another sustainable pathway, to further develop their initiative.