(WNY News Now) – SUNY Plattsburgh is taking significant steps to enrich the student experience with new outdoor communal spaces and upgraded dining options, emphasizing well-being and connection.
PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – SUNY Plattsburgh is introducing a variety of enhancements this fall aimed at closing gaps in the student experience. Vice President for Enrollment and Student Success Karen McGrath is leading efforts to create inviting outdoor spaces, improve mental health resources, and upgrade campus dining.
This fall, students will find 125 newly installed red Adirondack chairs and picnic tables scattered across campus, thanks to alumni funding. These spaces, located near residence halls, Hawkins Pond, and the Saranac River, are designed to encourage relaxation and social interaction. The addition of easily recognizable red Adirondack chairs will encourage students “to get outside, to take advantage of fresh air, which is good for mental health,” McGrath said. “I’m excited about these outdoor communal spaces. They fit in our idea of well-being. They’re one more tool in our toolkit that lets students have one more space to use.”
Adding to this initiative, University Police Chief Pat Rascoe has introduced supervised fire pits, creating a warm, communal atmosphere. Emotional support therapy dogs—Reva, Izzy, and Caamp—will also have a more visible presence, addressing the mental health needs of students.
The campus dining experience has also undergone significant upgrades. The Sundowner eatery is being renovated, and new dining options include the Halal Shack in Burghy’s Den, Wild Blue’s sushi and Asian-inspired dishes, and the introduction of a Starbucks at Market Café. Extended hours and expanded menus are also part of the overhaul, ensuring students have diverse and accessible food choices.
“This is a student’s home away form home,” McGrath said. “How are we building that welcoming community, that sense of belonging? Their individual wants and needs are all different. There shouldn’t be anything cookie-cutter about their experience. That’s why we want to have a wide variety of experiences.”
McGrath recalled how the grand re-opening of Memorial Hall sparked an increate in students’ interests in club and rec sports and in students’ and employees’ use of the fitness center.
“Bringing people together contributes to our well-being” she said. “People want to find balance in their lives; we want to be able to offer that. But not everybody’s well-being is physical. There’s intellectual health, vocational and occupational health, spiritual health. These things are critically important, and we’re integrating these in a variety of areas.”
The Adirondack chairs, the firepits and picnic tables are about giving people permission to take a break and relax, she said.
“We’ve created a programming calendar full of a variety of activities and programs,” McGrath said. “The student experience to me is two things: connecting to something or someone and then engaging in the experience. It doesn’t have to be a club; it could be through the Honors Program, the Learning Center, whatever is good for you.
“I am so encouraged by what this new year will look like,” she said. “There was a renewed sense of energy last year that became more palatable as the year went on. We ended (in May) in a really good place. We’re at a really good place where we can carry it over. I’m feeling really positive about the year to come. It’s a good time to create your own adventure.”
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