CANTON -- SUNY Canton President Zvi Szafran recently submitted the college's annual report to the State University of New York, titled "Together, We Can." 

"As we embark on a new semester, renew our strategic plan, and prepare for a new way of life on campus, we have the opportunity to draw on the strengths that were developed over the past several decades and build on the lessons learned during the past year," Szafran said. "This has the potential to be a turning point in our history and allow us to lead in the new educational frontier."

The college has demographically changed in a little under a decade, with 69% of students seeking a bachelor's degree, compared to 31% in 2010-2011. Capitalizing on that trend, faculty created three new four-year degrees over the past year. Crime Analysis, Esports Management, and Forensic Criminology are available online and in traditional formats. The college is a partner in SUNY Online, which offers more educational opportunities than ever before.

In a year defined by the ongoing pandemic, established strengths in online education allowed the college to quickly pivot to an entirely virtual academic landscape during the spring semester.

In addition to academics, some of the most prominent responses to COVID-19 included:

The Small Business Development Center helped advise area businesses on implementing safety precautions as they prepared to reopen and hired six new employees to help handle the uptick in clients.

Professor Matthew J. Burnett volunteered to make face shield components for medical staff.

In an internationally documented effort, Funeral Services Program Director David R. Penepent, Ph.D., orchestrated a grass-roots effort to help alleviate the strain on New York City's funeral homes.

The college organized the SUNY Chancellor's Esports Challenge Co-Sponsored by Extreme Networks in April, which distributed $20,000 in prize money for participating colleges' COVID-19 relief efforts.

The Canton College Foundation harnessed the generosity of alumni, friends and allies to raise $69,116 in donations to the Student Emergency Fund. The total was augmented by a $50,000 match from the SUNY chancellor to collect $123,661 for students in need.

The report also includes student profiles, numerous faculty highlights, and information on the college's diversity and inclusive curriculum.

To read the entire report, visit https://www.canton.edu/report1920/.

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