Our Shared Commitment to Building a Welcoming Community
March 24, 2026
Dear Members of the Stony Brook Community,
One of the very first things that struck me about Stony Brook when I arrived last August was its genuine warmth and welcoming spirit. In ongoing conversations with our employees and students since that time, I am often reminded that my earliest impressions are widely shared. People feel they belong here, and that strong sense of community is essential to our success. Sustaining and strengthening our very special culture is one of our greatest points of pride that is evident across our East, West and Southampton campuses.
Maintaining an inclusive and accessible environment is a shared commitment that extends not only to our physical spaces but also to our digital presence. In April 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice updated the mandates for Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), requiring that all websites, digital documents and mobile applications used in programs, services and activities at organizations like the State University of New York be accessible by April 24, 2026. When digital content is accessible, people with disabilities and everyone in our community benefit, reflecting Stony Brook’s commitment to broad and meaningful access for all.
With this federally mandated deadline now just weeks away, I am grateful for the leadership of Stony Brook’s ADA Advisory Board, led by ADA Coordinator Marjolie Leonard, which brings together key executive leaders and stakeholders from across our campuses, including faculty and student representation, to guide our efforts and offer tools, training and guidance. To help faculty, staff and units across the university create more accessible digital experiences, our Digital Accessibility Resource Center provides a comprehensive suite of tools including ‘Approachable Accessibility’ quick tips, video tutorials and specialized training pathways from the Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching (CELT) specifically designed for faculty and staff or students.
We are immensely grateful for the dedication of the faculty, staff, web editors, and content creators within departments who are actively working to remediate materials and ensure digital access is the standard, not the exception. These efforts are not simply to comply with a federal mandate, but reflect something deeper: our commitment to belonging, and the high standards embedded in our practices, policies and everyday work. Over the coming weeks, the ADA Advisory Board will be intensifying efforts to support our university community in meeting this shared responsibility. Questions should be directed to the Office of Equity and Access at oea@stonybrook.edu.
I am continually inspired by—and proud of—how our Seawolf community reflects the shared values of inclusion and excellence. Together we will continue to support one another and build an even more welcoming, inclusive and accessible Stony Brook.
Sincerely,
Andrea Goldsmith
President