The analysis of programs for deactivation included identifying those with low student demand based on enrollment levels, low student retention, and low student completion rates over the last three years, criteria that was set through a shared process among Buffalo State’s administration and faculty leaders.
Current deactivations include: 1 undergraduate program, 2 graduate programs, 2 minor programs, 3 certificate programs
- Environmental Geography, B.S.
- Conflict Analysis and Resolution, M.S.
- Higher Education and Student Affairs Administration, M.S.
- Geography, minor
- Meteorology and Climatology, minor
- Geographic Information Systems, undergraduate certificate
- Assessment in Higher Education, graduate certificate
- Human Resource Development, graduate certificate
There are 19 students in impacted bachelor's programs and 29 students in impacted master's programs, representing 0.8% of our current enrollment.
Students already enrolled in these programs will still be able to complete them with support from our highly skilled faculty. As part of this plan, advisors, deans, and department heads, as well as Enrollment Management, are reaching out to the students in impacted programs. No new students will be admitted to the programs identified for deactivation as they go through the campus shared governance process.
If you have questions about how the program deactivation process may affect your major, minor, or certificate—whether it's about course availability, degree completion, or academic advising—we encourage you to contact the Dean’s Office for your academic school.
The Dean’s Office can provide you with the most accurate and up-to-date information specific to your program and connect you with additional campus resources if needed.
To get started, please reach out to:
School of Arts and Sciences, Dean’s Office: artsandsciences@buffalostate.edu
School of Education and Applied Professions, Dean’s Office: schoolofed@buffalostate.edu
We are here to support you and ensure that you have a clear path to graduation.
Yes. Students in deactivated programs will continue to have access to the same experiential learning opportunities as before. Buffalo State remains committed to supporting your academic and professional growth until you complete your degree.
No. Program deactivations do not impact tuition or eligibility for financial aid and scholarships. If you have questions about your financial aid, contact the Financial Aid Office for help.
Yes. If you’re considering a change, academic advisors are available to help you explore your options, including programs that align with your interests and career goals. However, if you choose to stay in your current program, you will still be supported to complete it.
No. Your diploma and transcript will show the degree or credential you earned, just like any other student. The deactivation status of a program is not reflected on official academic records.
These programs were identified as having low student demand based on enrollment levels, student retention, and student completion rates over the last three years, criteria established through a shared process among Buffalo State’s administration and faculty leaders. Identification of these programs was not based on academic rigor or quality or the work of dedicated faculty and students. It is important to understand that now that these programs have been identified, the campus will follow all appropriate processes and requirements via shared governance, including the Change in Status of Academic Programs: Merger, Deactivation, and Discontinuance processes outlined in Buffalo State policy.
Deactivation refers to programs being removed from the catalog and no longer accepting students. Discontinuation, which follows deactivation, refers to a program being removed from the inventory of registered programs.
The guiding principle behind this process is to ensure that Buffalo State most prudently and responsibly invests tuition and state resources in growing areas that are in high student demand.
In order to best meet student demand, Buffalo State will continue to review all programs going forward using the same process established through shared governance when we first launched our Framework for Fiscal Stability plan in 2024. No additional decisions have been made at this time.
All Buffalo State degrees remain as meaningful as the day they were issued. Program deactivations or discontinuations are not a reflection of a program's quality, its dedicated faculty and staff, or of the alumni who earned the degrees.
We are seeing success in efforts to increase both enrollment and retention, with a 3.7% increase in freshmen enrollment in 2025 and an increase in retention rates for our Fall 2024 class of nearly 8% year-over-year and 16% compared to three years ago. This is a direct result of the hard work of our faculty and staff to deliver high-quality, in-demand programs and expanded retention programs.
To build on these successes, students from Western New York will continue to represent the largest percentage of Buffalo State's overall enrollment. We will continue to focus on intensive recruitment in this area through a coordinated variety of approaches and initiatives. However, Buffalo State cannot survive solely as a regional institution. We will be offering scholarships and grants that will help us attract students from the entire state and beyond.
Retention remains a significant enrollment strategy for the campus community. Our retention efforts will continue to be energetic through our current ACE, Educational Opportunity Program (EOP), Roar 2 Success, Muriel A. Howard Honors Program, Say Yes programs, and our academic departments.
Buffalo State will face these challenges head on, continuing progress toward repositioning ourselves as SUNY’s premier comprehensive institution and reaffirming our role as Buffalo’s university.
Buffalo State is committed to ensuring its financial sustainability while maintaining high-quality educational experiences for its students. This university will overcome its current challenges and achieve its strategic vision. We must capitalize on our historical strengths and align our efforts with the emerging trends here in Buffalo, Western New York, across New York State, and beyond to make that vision a reality.