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Dear Colleagues:

On Sunday, May 10, I had the privilege of presiding over my first Commencement. In my address, I told our graduates that the world rewards exactly what they have proven they can deliver: the ability to adapt quickly even when the ground beneath them is unsteady, to see opportunity where others see obstacles and to push forward when it would be easier to pause or retreat.

Those words speak just as directly to the work that lies ahead for everyone committed to the mission of higher education and to Syracuse University.

Since taking on this role, I have been actively engaging with student leaders, faculty representing multiple academic departments across several schools and colleges, deans and program leaders, and many others throughout the University. I have listened more than I have spoken. That listening has deepened my understanding of this institution’s strengths and clarified the challenges we face together. I am committed to continuing that engagement and to communicating with you frequently and transparently as our work evolves—even when the answers are incomplete.

Our most pressing challenges are not unique to Syracuse, but they are urgent and they demand that we act. Colleges and universities across the country are navigating a convergence of structural headwinds. The long-anticipated demographic decline in U.S. high school graduates has arrived: the number of graduates is now in steady decline and projected to last at least 15 years. International student enrollment fell 17% nationally in fall 2025. Enrollment at private four-year institutions is down, and private institutions are losing admitted students to public universities at growing rates. Public confidence in the value of a college degree continues to soften, even as the evidence for that value has never been stronger. A volatile economic and geopolitical environment is shaping families’ decisions about where and whether to invest in higher education. These forces are real, they are here and they require us to change how we operate, compete and serve our students.

Our immediate focus is on securing the strongest possible incoming class for fall 2026. Our colleagues in admissions and our teams across the schools and colleges are working to ensure we welcome a talented and accomplished cohort that reflects the promise and distinction of this institution. That work will continue throughout the summer, and I will keep you informed as it progresses.

The close of this academic year is genuinely worth celebrating—and worth building on. The extraordinary work of our faculty and staff made this Commencement possible. That same talent, dedication and ingenuity is exactly what will carry this institution forward. I am confident in what we will accomplish together.

Sincerely,
J. Michael Haynie
Chancellor and President