The SUNY Board of Trustees has appointed a new acting president for SUNY Oneonta, whose campus has been largely shut down due to a COVID-19 outbreak.
SUNY Chancellor Jim Malatras made the announcement Thursday that former SUNY Purchase Interim President Dennis Craig will take over for Barbara Jean Morris, effective immediately. Craig is charged with guiding the college through the rest of the fall semester and coming up with a health and safety plan for the spring. SUNY Oneonta faced widespread scrutiny last month, after roughly 700 students tested positive for COVID-19, forcing the college to send students home and transition to remote learning for the rest of the semester.
In a statement, Malatras did not specify whether Morris was asked to leave her position, adding "Dr. Barbara Jean Morris has transitioned from her position as president to pursue other opportunities." He says SUNY Oneonta will begin searching for a permanent replacement soon.
