ANNUAL REPORT 2024-2025
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The LIU 2030 Strategic Plan sets forth a comprehensive planning process that includes stakeholder engagement from across and outside the University. The identified goals guide decision-making and advancement strategies that are leading the University to national recognition as a globally engaged teaching and research institution. The University’s planning, expansion and execution align with the four LIU 2030 strategic goals: • Advance academic excellence through innovation • Advance solutions for a sustainable global future • Advance exceptional fiscal health and agility • Advance student engagement through extraordinary and distinctive experiences The 2024–2025 (FY 2025) academic year delivered measurable progress toward the LIU 2030 Strategic Plan. The University secured historic philanthropic gifts, earned national research recognition, expanded academic programs, and strengthened student engagement. These results reflect disciplined execution of an aspirational, data-driven strategic plan and continued commitment to delivering excellence and access in private higher education.
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STRATEGIC GOAL 1:ADVANCE ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE THROUGH INNOVATION Long Island University advances academic excellence through a balance of innovation and market responsiveness. LIU has positioned itself as an institution that prepares students for evolving professional landscapes while maintaining scholarly rigor and community engagement. The University’s transformational journey to becoming a national teaching and R1 research institution accelerated during the 2024-2025 academic year. Enrollment and tuition revenue growth in 2024-2025 has been supported by in-demand programs and investment in skills that are highly relevant to the future workforce. Innovative Academic Programming LIU’s strong job placement rate exceeds the national average. New programs, courses, and student learning experiences created in 2024-2025 enable the University to build on these exceptional outcomes and make LIU an attractive educational option for high-caliber students, both nationally and internationally. The reaffirmation of LIU’s R2 High Research Activity status by the Carnegie Foundation reflects the institution’s scholarly momentum and positions LIU among the best research institutions in the country. Academic excellence at Long Island University has advanced in 2024-2025 through the expansion of high-demand programs that are competitive and relevant to evolving workforce needs. Strengthening the University’s leadership in the field of artificial intelligence is a recently approved Ph.D. in Computational Science and Artificial Intelligence, the 12th doctoral program offered at LIU, and one of five approved in just the past five years. LIU is building an array of graduate programs that create a strong, active research environment and enable students to earn advanced degrees in fields such as AI, Physical Therapy, Social Work, and Veterinary Medicine, where career opportunities are growing. The Ph.D. in Computational Science and AI complements the University’s existing degrees in Artificial Intelligence, Digital Engineering, and Computer Science, creating a comprehensive suite of programs that attracts exceptional faculty and outstanding students who wish to pursue in-demand career paths. LIU offers the full spectrum of degrees that focus on advanced computing and digital technologies, from theoretical Computer Science and specialized Artificial Intelligence at multiple levels to practical Digital Engineering and interdisciplinary Computational Science. The Artificial Intelligence B.S. is one of only 11 such undergraduate degrees in the country and among the first to be approved. The Digital Engineering B.E. is the only degree of its kind, having been uniquely designed by LIU faculty in partnership with Dassault Systèmes. 2025 Long Island University Annual Report | 3
To foster AI literacy among the entire student body, LIU launched an AI integration plan in 2024-2025 that embeds AI learning and technology across disciplines. LIU has developed select AI courses for piloting in the Fall 2025 semester and additional courses will join them as the integration plan completes its rollout. AI training for faculty began over the summer and will continue throughout the 2025-2026 academic year. Faculty are incorporating AI in their pedagogies and teaching students how to use AI effectively and ethically.
As AI transforms every industry from healthcare and finance to marketing, arts and law, LIU is keeping pace across disciplines, led by innovative faculty pedagogies that integrate AI into existing curricula and programming. A few notable examples include: • Physical Therapy DPT students are using digital dissection software designed with data from the Visible Human Project (VH dissector) to study the musculoskeletal system as an alternative to traditional cadaver dissection. • In the Roc Nation School of Music, Sports and Entertainment, Professor Carrie Erving designed and implemented a curriculum that develops AI literacy in songwriting and music production. Professor Erving’s innovative pedagogy positions LIU students at the forefront of an emerging interdisciplinary discourse. • An advanced Certificate in Computer Science and Digital Fluency approved in 2024-2025 supplements existing graduate programs in the College of Education, Information and Technology to prepare current and future educators for P-12 curricula that increasingly incorporate technology and AI. • The Post Theatre Company staged a production of the 1920 science fiction play, “R.U.R., Rossum’s Universal Robots” which explores the social impact of using artificial human beings to do work. 4 | 2025 Long Island University Annual Report
• LIU broke ground in July on a new state-of-the-art College of Science building, which will serve as a hub for the University’s specialized AI and computing programs along with programs in the Natural and Life Sciences. This $30 million, 40,000 square-foot facility is scheduled to open in 2027 and will be the centerpiece of LIU’s growing research enterprise, providing advanced laboratories, collaborative spaces, and a home for interdisciplinary work in areas such as vaccine development, cancer therapies, and artificial intelligence in medicine. LIU’s College of Science building will house the Dassault Systèmes Center of Excellence, a cornerstone of LIU’s applied research efforts and a state-of-the-art innovation space that connects LIU with the Fortune Future 50 company to drive collaborative projects in life sciences, engineering, and digital transformation. The center provides a unique platform for experiential learning, giving students and faculty access to advanced technologies and global networks. Vice President for Research Dr. Mohammed Cherkaoui, Dr. Ignacio Lugones, Head of the Cardiac Surgery Unit at Buenos Aires Hospital, and Steve Levine, founder of the Living Heart Project and Chief Strategy Officer at Dassault Systèmes, led a panel discussion featuring international leaders in the battle against congenital heart disease on the Brooklyn campus discussing innovative new technology currently being developed through the LIU-Dassault Systèmes partnership. LIU’s Teaching and Learning programs at the Post and Riverhead campuses earned full 7-year accreditations from the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP). These programs were recognized by AAQEP for their exceptional programming and for the strong relationships they have developed with local P-12 school communities. Vibrant educational networks are essential to LIU graduates seeking teaching positions and highlight LIU’s role as a strong partner in the educational community. In addition to vital new degree programs, the new Core Curriculum, approved by the Board of Trustees in Spring 2024, was fully implemented in the 2024-2025 academic year. The new Core is distinctive in its rigorous and relevant approach to general education. While the previous Core took a traditional approach to exposing students to an array of liberal arts disciplines, the new Core is organized around LIU’s Institutional Learning Outcomes, namely, the essential skills students need in today’s workforce. The Core now includes a new Information and Technological Literacy requirement that expands opportunities for faculty to develop fresh and relevant courses in critical fields such as AI and digital fluency across disciplines. Recruitment and Retention of Exceptional Faculty The University has recruited distinguished faculty whose teaching and research align with LIU’s signature priorities. LIU hired 24 new faculty in 2024-2025 to support new programs such as Digital Engineering and Physical Therapy at the Post campus. New faculty also joined well-established programs including Nursing, Pharmacy, Clinical Psychology, Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Physician Assistant 2025 Long Island University Annual Report | 5
Studies, and Digital Game Design and Development. These hires enable LIU to maintain its competitive 10:1 faculty to student ratio and bring strong research capacity and professional expertise into classrooms. LIU retains and supports exceptional faculty whose research productivity continues to grow. Faculty publications have increased in number and quality, a critical step in the University’s achievement of R1 status. LIU faculty are placing articles in internationally recognized, prestigious scientific journals such as Nature, Digital Medicine, and Frontiers, signaling that LIU researchers are contributing original, high-impact scholarship to global scientific discourse. Faculty publication in these prestigious outlets enhances LIU’s reputation for research excellence, strengthens competitiveness for external funding, attracts top faculty and students, and aligns with the University’s mission to advance knowledge and innovation on a global scale. Faculty are securing important grants that solidify LIU’s position in the healthcare research field. In fiscal year 2025, sponsored research spending was $18.7 million. The University’s external funding, which comprises 30 percent of total research spending, has doubled since last year. The University was approved for a five-year extension of its $10 million grant from the New York State Office of Special Education Regional Partnership Center. This grant, along with a $4.3 million grant for a NYSED Family and Community Engagement Center, enables LIU to provide services to students with disabilities and to conduct research in this educational area. Additionally, the University secured a $4 million grant from the Nassau County Opioid Settlement Funding Initiative. This grant resulted from a collaboration between the School of Health Professions and the College of Education, Information and Technology. It will be used to develop and administer opioid abatement programs in Nassau County middle schools. Dr. Kathy Keefe-Cooperman and Dr. Dogukan Ulupinar in the Department of Counseling and Development were awarded a $4 million grant by the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) for the implementation of the Long Island Mental Health Professional Expansion Project. Several faculty have collaborated on multidisciplinary research and educational programming initiatives that make LIU a leader in key areas. Dean Michael Pantalon (School of Health Professions) and Dean Laura Seinfeld (College of Education, Information, and Technology) partnered with the Nassau County Police Department Wellness Team to organize a Nassau County Suicide Prevention Task Force Conference. The event was attended by over 300 participants and was part of LIU’s Nassau County Training and Education grant. Interprofessional education (IPE) events have become a mainstay at LIU, modeled on the College of Pharmacy’s decade of leadership in instituting these vital collaborative learning experiences for health professions students. This year, the School of Nursing and the School of Health Professions collaborated to organize two IPE events that included a dedicated day of training and simulated learning directed by LIU faculty and involving over 150 students. Students are taken step-by-step through a simulated medical 6 | 2025 Long Island University Annual Report
experience during which they confer on the ethical and clinical considerations of effective patient communication and treatment planning. Simulation experiences are embedded in the LIU School of Nursing curriculum, which houses an Interprofessional Simulation Center (ISC) on each campus. Both Brooklyn and Post Nursing programs received NYSED approval for 30% simulation-based clinical learning, which expands the breadth and variety of clinical experiences LIU can offer. In 2024-2025, the ISC at LIU Post became one of only 48 facilities nationwide to earn the distinguished Healthcare Simulation Standards of Best Practice endorsement from the International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation and Learning (INACSL). Off campus, LIU students participated this year in 20 interdisciplinary simulations organized with partners including NYU College of Dentistry and Mt. Sinai East Harlem Health Outreach Partnership. LIU faculty contributions to their scholarly and creative fields reflect diverse talents and interests and provide distinctive student learning experiences. These faculty embody the University’s mission to help students expand their knowledge and prepare themselves for meaningful, educated lives, while also furthering the LIU vision to become a nationally recognized research institution. Highlights of faculty achievements in 2024-2025 include: • Dr. Mina Chau, Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice in the Arnold and Marie Schwartz College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, was awarded for the second consecutive year the Mentoring and Trainee Workgroup 2024-2025 Most Valuable Pharmacist Award by the American Society of Transplantation Transplant Pharmacy Community of Practice. Dr. Chau worked with the Office of Information Technology to establish, design, and implement a new digital infrastructure in the electronic health care system Epic to support a new clinical pharmacy service in the liver transplant clinic. • Professor Martha Mendez-Baldwin, Counseling and Psychology professor at LIU Hudson, has been recognized as a “Top Psychologist” by Best in Medicine Magazine, New York Edition. • Professor Tracye Rawls-Martin ATC, was honored by the New York State Athletic Training Association (NYSATA) for Women’s History Month as a trailblazer in athletic training. • PBS will be airing Film professor Susan Zeig’s documentary “Rooted in Oakland: A Community School Takes Shape,” the story of the transformation of Fremont High School in East Oakland, California. The film will be screened at several national conferences, including the California Community Schools Convention in Los Angeles, the Institute for Educational Leadership Conference and the National Equity Project 30th Anniversary Conference. • Rebecca Cope, Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice, was one of 5 participants selected nation-wide for the American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP) Mentored Research Investigator Training (MeRIT) program, a structured training and mentorship initiative to help participants become independent research investigators.
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• Theatre Arts Assistant Professor Tina Mitchell performed in “Die Zauberflöte” (The Magic Flute) at the Metropolitan Opera, a production of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s beloved fable by the same name.
• Dr. John Keefe, Assistant Professor of Psychology, won the 2025 Scientific Paper Prize from the American Psychoanalytic Association.
• Dr. Anait S. Levenson, Professor of Cancer Research and Pharmacology in Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences, is working on drug discovery for human and canine cancers. Her research aims to identify and characterize novel molecular targets and drug-like natural compounds that can be used for chemoprevention and therapy. • Dr. Lynn Cohen, Professor of Education, was awarded a year-long sabbatical to conduct quasi-experimental research on the KIBO robot kit, which introduces coding, engineering, and computer science in early childhood education. During her sabbatical, she is completing a book manuscript entitled “Exploring the Potential of Artificial Intelligence in Early Childhood: New Learning Experiences for Young Children,” forthcoming from Routledge Press in Spring 2026. • Dr. Steve Liebling, Professor of Physics, was awarded a sabbatical to complete the goals of a four-year National Science Foundation grant focused on the gravitational wave production of neutron stars and black holes. He will also collaborate with international astrophysicists to secure funding from NASA, which has partnered with the European Space Agency on a mission to seek out new kinds of gravitational waves. Dr. Liebling’s workplaces LIU at the forefront of a new era of astronomy and the design of AI strategies to enhance research methods. • Dr. Maged Hemida in the Lewyt College of Veterinary Medicine co-authored research, published in Virology, on a new strain of Bovine Coronavirus, designated BCoV-13 which could lead to improved diagnostic tools and control strategies for BCoV infections. Dr. Hemida was recently named to Stanford University’s list of the World’s Top 2% of Scientists for the fourth consecutive year and is a recipient of the 2025 David Newton Award for Excellence in Teaching. • Dr. Shaireen Rasheed, Professor of Education, was selected as a Fulbright Scholar in Jordan for the 2024-2025 academic year. Dr. Rasheed is a recipient of the prestigious Salzburg Global Seminar’s Reckmeyer Family Fellowship and has previously served as a visiting researcher at the Harvard Divinity School, Columbia Law School and New York University. • Dr. Tracey Hodurski of the College of Pharmacy was named Director of the new Howard Murad Inclusive Wellness Program. Alumnus Howard Murad of LIU College of Pharmacy’s Class of 1962, an internationally renowned dermatologist, pharmacist, clinical professor, and founder of Murad Skincare, established the wellness initiative to integrate cosmetic science, beauty, and wellness. The program 8 | 2025 Long Island University Annual Report
expands the vital role that pharmacists play in delivering more comprehensive health and beauty care to their patients.
RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION OF HIGH-ACHIEVING STUDENTS The University’s advancement of academic excellence is evident in the caliber of students choosing to attend LIU. With strong programming, expanded research, and exceptional faculty, LIU is attracting high-achieving students with an incoming average SAT score of 1300 for Fall 2024 freshmen. The University is also seeing increased selectivity in admissions, with a 3% increase in applicant-to-acceptance ratio over Fall 2023. Standout scholars from LIU’s Honors College, one of the first Honors programs in the United States, exemplify how outstanding educational experiences translate into unique opportunities and strong postgraduate outcomes. Under the Deanship of Dr. Gregory Barton, the Class of 2025 achieved excellent results, including: • Alexis Loss was named a finalist alternate for the competitive Pickering Fellowship and was also a Fulbright semi-finalist for a research grant in Greece. • Lucas Hornung is pursuing a PhD in Atmospheric Science at the University of Notre Dame. • Abigail Clarke is pursuing a DVM degree at Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine. • Joseph Simile entered Syracuse University’s graduate program in Television-Radio-Film with a focus on sports broadcasting. • Valedictorian Charlotte Jones and Ellena Szentirmay ’26 were awarded the United Nations’ prestigious World Information Transfer Internship, a highly competitive program that admits 10-12 students from around the world each year. As part of the internship, students attend weekly meetings at the UN Headquarters in Manhattan and submit summaries which are reviewed and considered for publication in the World Ecology Report. •Four students were selected as Watson Fellowship semi-finalists, representing a broad range of disciplines from Psychology and International Relations to Pharmacy and Acting. 2025 Long Island University Annual Report | 9
In FY 2025, Honors College enrollment increased 70%, reflecting LIU’s growing reputation as a top choice for students with exceptional academic credentials. Celebrating student innovation and research, LIU hosted dynamic Honors College Conferences at the Brooklyn and Post campuses this year, drawing record attendance and showcasing substantial increases in student presentations. Themed around leadership and innovation, the conferences featured student presenters who explored timely, interdisciplinary topics such as AI ethics, educational reform, citizen science, and inclusive finance.
ACADEMIC INNOVATIONS IN 2024-2025 CONTRIBUTE TO THE UNIVERSITY’S COMPETITIVE POSITION IN NATIONAL RANKINGS. • The School of Business was named to The Princeton Review’s list of “The Best Business Schools” for 18 consecutive years. • The Musical Theatre BFA maintains its stellar reputation as a Top 30 Musical Theatre Program in the country, attracting the most amazing student talents and offering an eclectic slate of productions that have earned the Little Theatre on the Post campus a reputation as Favorite Local Theatre. • The Roosevelt School continues to distinguish itself as a national hub for leadership education and public discourse. The School’s growing reputation as a destination for hosting Presidents, Presidential descendants, ambassadors and celebrated historians as guest speakers demonstrates to LIU students the real-world impact of major figures in the fields of Political Science, International Relations and Diplomacy, and civic engagement. • The Steven S. Hornstein Center for Policy, Polling, and Analysis enrolled 4,225 Americans into its American Opinion Panel, surpassing its 2025 goal. The panel represents one of the fastest growing polling institutions in the country and positions the Hornstein Center to partner internally and externally as it advances conversations around the most pressing issues facing Americans. The Center partnered in FY 2025 with the Association for a Better Long Island, the Long Island Association, and the Long Island Builders Institute on the Long Island Economic Investment Survey, which informed advocacy efforts for the 2025 New York State legislative session and strengthened LIU’s reputation as a critical partner in shaping the region’s economic policy. This poll paralleled the Center’s own National Economic Confidence Survey in offering timely insights on inflation, wage growth, and consumer sentiment. Other external partnerships included a “Voices of the Future” survey with Ellis Cose to capture the political values and civic outlook of Generation Z, elevating emerging voices in our democracy. “How Americans View Presidential Leadership” launched in partnership with LIU’s Roosevelt School as a series of non-partisan polls examining the enduring traits of executive leadership.
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Each project advanced LIU’s and the Hornstein Center’s mission to merge research with real-world relevance and set the bar for engaging in civic inquiry. The insights provided to policy makers, educators, civic leaders, and journalists inform the policies of the future and impact not only the current generation but generations to come. Research.com, a leading academic platform, included LIU on its list of “Best Colleges.” The rankings feature colleges and universities across the country that provide students with the most beneficial combination of affordability, quality of education, and projected alumni salary. The detailed analysis evaluates more than 400 metrics from credible sources such as Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), and College Scorecard. Among the metrics reviewed is the earning potential of alumni. LIU remains committed to offering degree programs that meet workforce demands and evolve with an ever-changing and complex region, state, country, and world.
ENGAGED LEARNING CREATES EXCEPTIONAL EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES LIU maintains its competitive position by developing distinctive experiential learning opportunities that attract prospective students and retain existing students who are fully engaged in their LIU education. Academic innovation this year has been directed toward engaged learning that heightens the educational experience and better prepares students for internships and careers. The College of Management has been at the forefront of engaged learning at LIU, and this year it approved an innovative course based on the principles and philosophy of world-renowned investor and LIU alumnus Ray Dalio, founder of Bridgewater Associates. The course offers an in-depth exploration of Dalio’s strategies supplemented by rigorous academic analysis and completion of applied projects that mirror real-world investment and management challenges. LIU Business students continue to participate in programs that lead to a Bloomberg Certificate prior to graduation and join international consulting teams. Fashion Merchandising and Management students completed a successful study abroad trip to Barcelona, Spain in Spring 2025. During the 10-day trip and semester-long engaged learning experience, the students prepared and presented a business consulting plan to the Barcelona-based Circular Fashion company Coleo. This year, 70 students participated in the Student Investment Fund, where they actively managed a portfolio of over $200K under the mentorship of faculty and the Dean of the College of Management. The fund has earned a 66% return on investment since its inception in 2018 and offers students real experience in designing portfolios and witnessing the results of their own efforts.
Across disciplines, LIU provided students with a variety of exceptional learning experiences in 2025 Long Island University Annual Report | 11
FY 2025, including: • The Jeanette K. Watson Fellowship (daughter of Thomas Watson, founder of IBM) is now open to LIU Post students. This opportunity was previously available only to students in a group of 12 New York City universities, including LIU Brooklyn. This highly selective, 3-year undergraduate program involves fully funded, intensive summer internships in the U.S. and abroad. • Study Abroad participation is growing rapidly with over 100 students traveling to Byron Bay, Australia, Athens, Greece, and Heredia, Costa Rica. LIU provides affordable study abroad opportunity for students eager to engage in immersive educational experiences. Options for both semester-long and short-term travel courses, and competitive Study Abroad Fellowships make this life-changing experience accessible to a broad range of students.
• Tilles Center for the Performing Arts has embarked on an exciting collaboration with the College of Arts and Design to allow student participation in the development of a new artistic work – a musical based on the works of the band Foreigner. LIU Musical Theatre students have participated in a developmental workshop and staged reading of the performance, entitled “Feels Like the First Time”, and students in the Film BFA program have already started work on a documentary covering the entire artistic process. • Student research is disseminated broadly through Digital Commons @ LIU, the open-access online repository for the University’s scholarly output. At the end of the 2024-2025 academic year, there were over 100,000 full-text downloads from the theses and dissertation collections by students at Long Island University. These downloads were made at over 5,000 institutions across 198 countries. This data shows that LIU scholarly work is being made available worldwide and provides an incentive for further student research. • LIU Marching Band performed in Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, over Winter break, 12 | 2025 Long Island University Annual Report
joining forces with the College Pep Band All-Stars for a performance at Disney Springs. The trip provided broad exposure and great experience for students, while improving retention and future recruitment. • LIU hosted the Long Island Regional Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band Festival, in conjunction with Jazz at Lincoln Center. LIU faculty and students participated in educational clinics for over 250 student musicians, providing real-world applications for skills students are learning in the classroom and establishing LIU as a creative partner in the Long Island community. • Discovery Day, the annual student research event, saw record participation with over 90 student poster submissions. This year, posters were presented from multiple disciplines, including the arts, and showcased innovative student research. • Pharmacy Technology and Automation, a new Certificate Program, enables PharmD students to gain practical skills that prepare them for real-world application in pharmacy practice. Students complete self-study modules and a 12-hour experience in the Center for Innovative Medication Management (CIMM), a state-of-the-art laboratory, created in partnership with Omnicell, that provides LIU pharmacy students with hands-on experience in pharmacy technology and analytics.
Through strategic investment in innovative, market-responsive programs, the recruitment of distinguished faculty, and the cultivation of exceptional student talent, LIU is enhancing its scholarly rigor and research footprint while ensuring graduates are exceptionally prepared for a dynamic global workforce. From pioneering AI integration across disciplines to breaking ground on state-of-the-art facilities, LIU is actively shaping the future of education, solidifying its reputation as a leading institution committed to academic excellence and impactful innovation. 2025 Long Island University Annual Report | 13
STRATEGIC GOAL 2: ADVANCE SOLUTIONS FOR A SUSTAINABLE GLOBAL FUTURE CHANGING LIVES AND SAVING LIVES: A RESEARCH AGENDA DEFINED BY IMPACT Long Island University is accelerating its ascent as a national research institution. The Carnegie Classification reaffirmed LIU as an R2 High Research Activity National University, demonstrating clear progression toward R1 status. Research expenditures climbed to 18.7 million dollars in fiscal year 2024, rising from 16.6 million dollars from prior year. These gains signal a growing national reputation and increased federal confidence in LIU’s research capabilities. The impact of Long Island University’s research is felt in communities and clinical settings. Pediatric patients are benefiting from in-silico surgical modeling. Stroke treatment is advancing through drug discovery. LIU’s One Health research projects protect food systems. Behavioral health programs are strengthening families. Long Island University’s rise is grounded in a belief that research should elevate people, expand opportunity, and create healthier communities. Dassault Systèmes Center of Excellence in Life Sciences continues to advance as a leader in human centered biomedical engineering. LIU researchers contributed to the first in silico planned AVaTAR valve reconstruction for a pediatric patient. Digital twin modeling allowed surgeons to plan and refine the procedure before entering the operating room, improving safety and life-saving outcomes. This work aligns with evolving National Institute of Health (NIH) priorities that support computational and human relevant models. LIU strengthened its leadership role by hosting the national conference From Virtual Modeling to Clinical Impact, bringing experts from Baylor College of Medicine, the Living Heart Project, and AVaTAR MedTech to campus. Faculty leaders, including Dr. Ignacio Lugones, exemplify the combination of clinical skill, engineering innovation, and patient centered care that defines LIU’s biomedical vision. Long Island University’s partnership with Aneuryst, Inc. received notable recognition from the National Institute of Health (NIH) in an effort to reduce stroke victims in the United States. The partnership showcases LIU’s growing strength in pharmaceutical sciences and its ability to contribute to the national drug development ecosystem. The partnership’s project to advance fasudil as a treatment for subarachnoid hemorrhage earned a perfect score from the NIH Small Business Innovation Research Program. Subarachnoid hemorrhage is among the deadliest forms of stroke. Research from Japan demonstrated that fasudil reduced mortality by seventy four percent. Under the guidance of Professor David Taft, LIU is conducting enzyme phenotyping studies required by the FDA for Phase I clinical trials. A successful Phase I will position the project for a Phase II award exceeding two million dollars. The College of Veterinary Medicine continues to advance scholarship across human, animal, and environmental health. Dr. Maged Hemida, recipient of the Zoetis Award for Veterinary Research Excellence, published more than one hundred studies that deepen understanding of viral pathogenesis and zoonotic disease. 14 | 2025 Long Island University Annual Report
Veterinary students Alana Gates and Carlos Mejia Toro were selected as Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research Veterinary Student Fellows. Only fifteen students worldwide receive this recognition. Their research supports sustainable animal production, global food security, and environmental resilience, all aligned with LIU’s commitment to global health. Long Island University played a central role in a national effort to strengthen the United States medicine supply chain. At the Dirksen Senate Office Building, LIU joined Purdue University, Google, Eli Lilly, and federal leaders to sign the RAMP UP USA Accord to onshoring critical medicine manufacturing to secure America’s health and prosperity. Seventy percent of active pharmaceutical ingredients used in America are produced overseas. The accord seeks to rebuild domestic medicine manufacturing capacity. Shortly after the summit, the FDA announced its new PreCheck initiative aimed at accelerating domestic production facilities. The alignment between these recommendations and federal regulatory action reflects Long Island University’s influence and reputation as a partner in national policymaking. The Howard Murad Inclusive Wellness Program represents a forward-looking investment in health innovation. Founded by alumnus Dr. Howard Murad, the program prepares students to advance whole person health across the physical, emotional, nutritional, and aesthetic dimensions of wellness. The program enhances interdisciplinary research opportunities in dermatology, psychology, pharmacy practice, nutrition, and lifestyle medicine. It strengthens LIU’s position within the global wellness economy and contributes directly to the University’s capacity for R1 aligned scholarship and training. Long Island University’s commitment to strengthening communities at home and abroad is reflected in the accomplishments students and faculty achieved across the region and around the world. Fashion Merchandising and Management students collaborated with the international company Coleo in Barcelona and presented a full consulting plan at the company’s headquarters. Long Island University’s award-winning Model United Nations teams excelled at both the Washington DC national conference and the international conference at the United Nations headquarters in New York City. Students competed against nearly two thousand peers from 128 countries and earned top team and individual awards. Elizabeth Jensen, a Clinical Psychology PhD student, presented research at the International Congress of Psychology in Prague. Her work on stress and wellness among law enforcement officers contributes to mental health scholarship and community well-being. LIU Global students were accepted for the seventh consecutive year to present at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research. Their work reflects field study conducted across multiple world regions and demonstrates the value of immersive global learning. Pharmacy students supported the New York City Department of Aging by providing blood pressure screenings and health counseling to more than five hundred residents. They also delivered multilingual 2025 Long Island University Annual Report | 15
health education webinars in Spanish, Russian, Mandarin, and Cantonese. Students completed sixty-seven cocurricular activities, forty of which focused specifically on community outreach.
STRENGTHENED RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE AND CAPACITY FOR A BRIGHT FUTURE The LIU Science Center, a forty thousand square foot research facility opening in 2027, will expand capacity in drug discovery, biomedical engineering, simulation, and advanced analytics. The project is designed to enhance research infrastructure while maintaining responsible financial stewardship. Combined with faculty hiring and new global partnerships, this investment strengthens Long Island University’s long-term vision of achieving the highest R1 national research university status by 2030.
A UNIVERSITY PREPARED FOR RESEARCH AND READY FOR THE FUTURE Long Island University stands at a strong intersection of mission, momentum, and national relevance. Breakthroughs across biomedical science, drug discovery, One Health, global wellness, and community resilience illustrate a university that delivers. The most promising opportunities lie ahead in Long Island University’s trajectory toward R1 status, and the institution is prepared to meet them with a clear focus on changing lives and saving lives.
STRATEGIC GOAL 3: ADVANCE EXCEPTIONAL 16 | 2025 Long Island University Annual Report
FISCAL HEALTH AND AGILITY In 2025, LIU reinforced its position as a nationally recognized teaching and research institution that consistently demonstrates exceptional financial health and agility. During fiscal 2024-25, the University achieved several notable milestones as total long-term investments surpassed $500M and net assets of $963M approached the $1B threshold. LIU’s financial growth was accompanied by improvements in student achievement, stable enrollment, expansion and modernization of facilities, and implementation of strategic initiatives outlined in the Annual Report. Average SAT scores surpassed 1300, up from an average of 1223 one year earlier. The 2% tuition rate increase for 2025-26, approved by the Board of Trustees in October 2024 marked the twelfth straight year of 2% tuition rate increases, during a period when national and regional rate increases have risen more than double this average. LIU’s cumulative tuition rate increase of 20% over the past decade compares with 34%, 38%, 46%, and 47% for regional institutions such as NYU, Fordham, Hofstra, and St. John’s universities, respectively. The University’s goals focus on delivering a high quality, affordable education; aligning resource allocation with strategic priorities; expanding and diversifying revenue sources; and growing the University’s long-term investment portfolio during a time where evolving Federal regulations including restrictions on loan programs and international student enrollments challenge our University and others across the nation. LIU’s Finance division works closely with academic and administrative departments across the University to articulate performance metrics resulting in revenue and cost management to achieve the financial objectives set forth in LIU’s strategic and long-range operating and capital plans. Critical to this strategy is continuously evaluating the University’s financial health and agility through the objective lens of independent agencies such Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s Investors Service. For fiscal 2025, ratings with Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s remain affirmed at A-/stable and A3/stable, respectively. Key financial and related performance indicators for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2025 (unaudited) include: • Projected $40.0M operating surplus supported by increasingly diverse revenue streams and resource allocations aligned with programmatic needs. • University long-term investments valued at $545.4M, with 126% growth over the past 5 years. • Total assets of $1.18B and net assets of $963.0M, with 35% and 45% growth, respectively, over the past 5 years. • Continued capital investment exceeding $23M in 2024-25 and more than $166M over the past 5-years, funded by University operations, generous donors, and other external sources such as NYS grants. 2025 Long Island University Annual Report | 17
• Perfect 3.0 financial responsibility ratio with the U.S. Department of Education, and a “clean” Single Audit of Federal Financial Assistance programs with no findings. • Strong Composite Financial Index that exceeded 9 out of 10 for the third straight year.
COMMITMENT TO COLLEGE AFFORDABILITY LIU’s focus on college affordability continues attracting highly academically qualified students. Our commitment to 2% tuition rate increases since 2014 plays a pivotal role in the affordability of a LIU education as well as widening the affordability gap between LIU and other educational institutions in our region. The cumulative effect of this commitment shows compelling comparative results over the past decade:
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TUITION RATE INCREASES (10-Years Ended Fall 2025) Institution
Cumulative Increase
Average Increase
Adelphi
47%
5%
Hofstra
46%
5%
Fordham
38%
4%
St. John’s
37%
4%
NYU
34%
3%
LIU
20%
2%
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STRONG ENTERPRISE CREDIT PROFILE The University’s strong financial position is well summarized by the independent assessment of University finances by the bond-rating agencies. In August 2025, Moody’s Investors Service affirmed the University’s credit rating of A3 with a stable outlook at a time when its outlook for the higher education industry has been downgraded to negative. Standard & Poor’s Global Ratings (S&P) review for LIU is scheduled for December 2025 and the University anticipates affirmation of it’s A-/Stable rating for this review. The University’s strong credit ratings have been driven by our ability to not only develop mission-aligned strategies but effectively implement them. In their 2025 credit opinion for LIU, Moody indicated that LIU’s A3 stable profile “benefits from management’s good financial policy and strategy to sustain strong wealth and liquidity generation as they implement strategies to improve the institution’s brand.”
20 | 2025 Long Island University Annual Report
KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS As part of the credit rating review process, the University reports a series of quantitative financial and related measures subject to formal quantitative rating rubrics established by Moody’s and S&P. The University also evaluates its overall financial strength annually and over time through the Composite Financial Index which consolidates multiple dimensions of financial performance – liquidity, operating results, asset management, and debt capacity – into one clear number. Over the past decade, LIU has transformed its financial position through balance sheet strengthening and sustainable operating performance. For 2024-25, the University generated a 9.04 CFI score, representing the third straight year the score has exceed 9 out of a perfect 10 score:
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2025 Long Island University Annual Report | 21
OPERATING PERFORMANCE Strong operating performance is critical to advancing the University’s exceptional fiscal health and agility, and achieving the goals set forth in the University’s strategic plan. For fiscal 2025, the University reported strong operating returns with significant investment in talent, resources and support of effective operations. The schedule below provides the Board-approved budget and operating results (unaudited) for FY 2024-25:
The impact of strong, sustainable operating results over time has enabled the University to expand and redirect resources toward transformation. These resources support critical University priorities, such as funding for academic programs; increased scholarships for students; support for impactful student initiatives; recruitment and retention of talent; and expansion, modernization and maintenance of facilities. This strengthened financial position has keyed long-term investment growth, improved cash and liquidity, fostered strong financial ratios, and empowered a culture of full regulatory compliance.
22 | 2025 Long Island University Annual Report
BALANCE SHEET STRENGTH AND LIQUIDITY Key factors in determining the University’s overall financial health, fiscal stability, and credit worthiness include a strong balance sheet with sufficient liquidity. As of August 31, 2025, the University held more than $963M in total net assets, a 10.1 percent increase over the prior year. LIU’s total net assets as of August 31, 2025, increased more than $88.5M from a year earlier, with 82% growth since 2020. The charts below provide comparative August 31 balance sheet figures for 2025 (unaudited) compared with 2020:
2025 Long Island University Annual Report | 23
ACHIEVING MULTI-YEAR FINANCIAL GOALS In 2023, Finance established and presented the Board of Trustees with a series of measurable financial and related growth goals for the period 2023 - 2026. Below is a summary of the key goals originally established for FY 2026: • Cash and investment growth to $560 million (22%) • Long-term investment growth to $475 million (16%) • Net asset growth to $720 million (12%) • Cash and Investments to Operating Expenses of 1.7x (based on 3% annual growth in operating expenses). Based on the financial results for FY25 (unaudited), the University has surpassed these and other 2026 goals and, accordingly, has revised its 2026 growth plan as follows:
The chart below illustrates this progress and revised key financial goals for 2026:
24 | 2025 Long Island University Annual Report
LONG-TERM INVESTMENT GROWTH Growing the long-term investment portfolio remains a key strategic initiative for LIU. First and foremost, returns from this portfolio provide invaluable scholarships for deserving students, making their tuition more affordable. Our vibrant endowment decreases reliance on tuition for generating financial resources to operate the University and the newly established long-term investment fund supports investment in student scholarships, capital priorities and other strategic initiatives. Long-term investment growth comes in the form of endowed donor gifts; operating surpluses transferred to the portfolio; and market value increases. The link between financial performance, investment growth, and student success is clear, and essential to our goal of securing and sustaining a strong financial position for the institution and future generations of LIU students. The University’s long-term investment portfolio was valued at $545.4. million as of August 31, 2025. The chart below presents the growth in LIU’s long-term investments for the 10 years ended August 31, 2025. During this time frame, the endowment has practically quadrupled its value.
2025 Long Island University Annual Report | 25
PHYSICAL PLANT AND CAPITAL RESOURCES LIU continues to make significant investments in physical plant as guided by the Strategic Plan and long-range capital plan. For FY 2025, the University invested over $23 million in capital projects, representing institutional investment as well as external funding from government grants and donors. This continuing commitment has lowered LIU’s average age of plant and enabled the University to forego issuing new capital debt for financing facilities investment in a high-interest rate environment. Our comprehensive planning for facilities, infrastructure and technology includes consideration of strategic priorities, sustainability and deferred maintenance. The University’s capital plan establishes institutional capital priorities in the areas of instruction, research and administration. The chart below provides a summary of two transformative capital projects – LIU’s Air Rights Development initiative and the College of Science Applied Research & Innovation Facility – and other representative strategic projects and infrastructure/maintenance initiatives.
STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP • Air Right Initiative $60,000,000 • LIU In-Kind Investment $35,000,000 • Pharmacy Space Allocation 55,000 sq. ft. • Pharmacy Research/Product Development • Retail Space Initiative Development
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NYS-LONG ISLAND TECHNOLOGY CORRIDOR •Total Facility Investment $30,000,000 • LIU Investment $20,000,000 • NYS Grant Contribution $10,000,000 • Employment Opportunity 75 • Facility Completion Operations Mid 2026
2026: TRANSFORMATIVE CAPITAL INITIATIVES The university through strategic investments with our development partners RXR and Dassault Systems in the Brooklyn campus, will accomplish and position the new College of Pharmacy facility in the forefront of research, immersive learning and partnership modeling in vibrant downtown Brooklyn. The University will occupy three floors of the new facility, providing state-of-the art lecture halls and accelerator space. The entire RXR development is featured in Figure 1. Figures 2 and 3 represent the entrance and lobby spaces allocated to LIU. Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP Air Right Initiative
$60,000
LIU In-Kind Investment
$35,000,000
Pharmacy Space Allocation
55,000 sq. ft.
Base Building Construction Completion
December 2025
Pharmacy Space Construction
First Quarter 2027
Pharmacy Research/Product
Development
Retail Space Initiative
First Quarter 2028 2025 Long Island University Annual Report | 27
BUILDING THE ACADEMIC INFRASTRUCTURE OF A NEXT-GENERATION UNIVERSITY Across both campuses, LIU continues to upgrade academic facilities to support emerging disciplines, hands-on learning, and interdisciplinary work. Investments include new environments for drug discovery, digital engineering, and advanced modeling through the 3DS Fab Lab, as well as expanded laboratory and clinical teaching spaces in the health sciences. On the Brooklyn campus, the new Culinary Arts Program launches in September 2025 within a modern 4,400-square-foot teaching space, reflecting LIU’s alignment with New York City’s growing hospitality and food-innovation sectors. Additional enhancements to business and innovation spaces create technology-enabled environments that prepare students for contemporary professional demands. The University is also developing residential options for national and international scholars to support faculty recruitment, retention, and interdisciplinary research activity.
28 | 2025 Long Island University Annual Report
PARTNERSHIPS AND PHILANTHROPY Donor support was reflected in both the scope and impact of fundraising efforts. 3,200 donors participated in more than fifty special events, guest lectures, featured talks and research and academic presentations across the LIU Post and LIU Brooklyn campuses, the Plaza Hotel, Cipriani’s, and locations across the country. These efforts and more resulted in over $34 million in philanthropic gifts and pledges, foundation grants and corporate gifts and sponsorships secured during the 2024-2025 academic year.
SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS 2025 LIU Gala Sponsors and Patrons
Ruth Laemmel
Edmund I. Axelroad ‘50
Velma Scantlebury White ‘77
Frank Lalezarian
Mary Wilkins ’69
Helene Fuld Trust
With a particular focus on student success, more than $20 million was raised in FY25 to support scholarships, from private grants and gifts to auction and sponsorship proceeds during LIU Scholarship Gala. These scholarships join gifts from Frank Lalezarian and his family to support students enrolled in the College of Engineering, a grant from the Helene Fuld Trust for the nursing students, a gift from Velma Scantlebury White ‘77 to support students in the Honors College, a scholarship fund for veterinary students from Dr. Gay Senk and $1.635 million from the estates of Edmund I. Axelroad ‘50, Mary Wilkins ‘69, and Ruth Laemmel.
2025 Long Island University Annual Report | 29
GIFTS AND GRANTS FOR THE POLK AWARDS Dr. Lawrence Altman
David Ottaway and Jim Ottaway
Bloomberg Philanthropies
Susan Reed
New York Times Foundation
David and Susan Rockefeller Foundation
The Polk Awards remain a highlight of the calendar year for both LIU and the broader journalism community. This year’s awards featured Lester Holt’s first remarks since stepping down from his role on NBC Nightly News. The event also raised more than $600,000 and reaffirmed LIU’s commitment to journalistic integrity including endowed award gifts of $100,000+ from David and Jim Ottaway and Susan Reed.
TRANSFORMATIONAL AND NAMING GIFTS Manuel Barron ‘68
Steve Hornstein ‘81
Alex and Elisabeth Lewyt
Dr. Howard Murad ‘62
Charitable Trust The Heilbrunn Family
Joseph A. and Dorothy A. Salat Charitable Trust
Dr. Gay Senk
TRANSFORMATIONAL GIFTS • LIU received the largest philanthropic gift in its history: a $20.5 million gift from the Alex and Elisabeth Lewyt Trust that named the Lewyt College of Veterinary Medicine. This gift reinforces the College’s national leadership – it remains one of only four veterinary schools in the Northeast – and ensures the growth of veterinary education for future generations. • Manuel ’68 and Claire Barron pledged $7.5 million to name the Learning Center in the Lewyt College of Veterinary Medicine. • The Heilbrunn Family renewed their long-standing support for LIU’s Brooklyn’s health sciences programs with a $2.3 million gift to support scholarships for nursing and veterinary medicine students. The gift comes 10 years after the initial naming of the Harriet Rothkopf Heilbrunn School of Nursing at the LIU Brooklyn campus.
30 | 2025 Long Island University Annual Report
• Steve Hornstein made a gift of $1 million to name the lobby of the Lewyt College of Veterinary the Debbie ‘79 and Steve ’81 Hornstein Lobby. • Dr. Howard Murad ’62, founder and chairman of Murad Skincare, donated $600,000 to launch the Murad Wellness Program at the LIU College of Pharmacy.
Over $300,000 has been granted by the Joseph A. and Dorothy A. Salat Charitable Trust to provide student scholarships in the College of Business, College of Education, Lewyt College of Veterinary Medicine, and the Roosevelt School as well as a $100,000 gift to name the White House Garden at the Roosevelt School.
• Dr. Gay Senk made a gift of $175,000 to name the Spay/Neuter Clinic at the Lewyt College of Veterinary Medicine.
EXPANDED CORPORATE, FOUNDATION, AND GOVERNMENT PARTNERSHIPS Corporate, foundation, and government partnerships also expanded significantly this year, supporting interdisciplinary research, public health initiatives, and workforce development across Long Island and beyond. New and continuing collaborations with federal agencies, private-sector innovators, and industry leaders in healthcare, engineering, and technology continue to elevate LIU’s applied research and economic impact. The University’s designation as a Dassault Systèmes Center of Excellence exemplifies this progress, bringing global attention to LIU’s leadership in digital engineering and advanced simulation. Grants from federal and local governments to support mental health initiatives and combat the opioid epidemic further reflect the leading role LIU plays in the region. Partnerships with Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory and Brookhaven National Laboratory advance critical research in the health sciences and make the Long Island Health Sciences Corridor a reality as the region becomes a national center for medical and veterinary research.
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STRATEGIC GOAL 4: ADVANCE STUDENT ENGAGEMENT THROUGH EXTRAORDINARY AND DISTINCTIVE EXPERIENCES LIU has strengthened the student lifecycle by implementing a more targeted and data-informed admissions strategy. New recruitment events, improved communications, and expanded virtual outreach have increased visibility and improved yield across regional and national markets. Residential enrollment continues to grow as students benefit from integrated academic support, student organizations, and coordinated engagement programs. Residence hall initiatives now directly reinforce academic priorities and contribute to retention. The re-launched Summer Honors College successfully attracted high-achieving students for intensive academic and leadership development, enhancing LIU’s competitive position and strengthening the honors pipeline. Student success metrics remain strong, including historically high graduation rates. These outcomes are supported by an advising framework, academic support systems, and career readiness programming that incorporates industry partnerships and experiential learning. Division I athletics continues to elevate institutional visibility and student engagement. Student accomplishments in academics, research, the arts, and service are recognized through a structured awards program that highlights the depth of student achievement.
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ADMISSIONS AND NEW STUDENT ENROLLMENT Efforts throughout the 2024–2025 admissions cycle have centered on elevating overall engagement and advancing a more personalized admissions experience. Strategic priorities include growing applications, increasing yield, strengthening national exposure, and expanding recruitment pipelines, while continuing to raise academic quality and enhance institutional selectivity. National and local event attendance has continued to climb, building broader brand awareness of LIU as a premier national teaching and research university. The new Recruiter App, launched in spring 2025 and slated for full deployment in the 2025–2026 cycle, provides on-site access to prospective student information, ensuring a more tailored and data-informed approach to each interaction throughout the admissions pipeline. LIU’s visibility was further elevated through its feature in Season 14 of Amazon Prime’s The College Tour, the Emmy-nominated series hosted by Amazing Race winner Alex Boylan, showcasing universities across the country through the voices of their students.
FALL 2025 NEW STUDENT PROFILE Market
Domestic
% Change
International
% Change
Total
Freshman
1,276
-5.62
60
-21
1,336
Transfer
439
-14
25
-32
464
Graduate
967
-4
99
-77
1,066
Veterinary Medicine
110
3
0
0
110
Long Island University is positioned for meaningful growth in FY 2026. Applications and early interest indicators continue to rise, and increasing selectivity remains a central priority. To convert this heightened interest into stronger yields, LIU has implemented an AI- and data-enhanced admission recruitment dashboard, supporting a refined national strategy that prioritizes high-impact markets and directs efforts to locations with the greatest enrollment potential. Admissions is executing a modernized communication plan featuring customized emails, text outreach, and personalized counselor engagement to strengthen student connections throughout the cycle. Additionally, an expanded series of smaller, high-touch events at the President’s House and other signature venues will help attract and convert top applicants, particularly for the Honors College and Dean’s Scholars programs. Together, these intentional initiatives are designed to increase yield and enrollment rates and elevate LIU’s overall performance
2025 Long Island University Annual Report | 33
APPLICATION GROWTH OVERVIEW Interest for Long Island University continues to accelerate, with new student applications surpassing 44,000 across all markets. Freshman applications exceeded 30,000 for the first time, marking a significant milestone. This momentum reflects sustained growth in national interest, driven by expanded outreach efforts, enhanced visibility through Division I athletics, and a strengthened institutional brand identity. Category
2023
2024
2025
Total New Applications
27,557 41,365
44,625
Total Freshman Applications
13,868 26,714
31,484
FRESHMAN SELECTIVITY RATE While applications continue to rise, maintaining a deliberate focus on increasing selectivity remains central to the University’s strategic trajectory. Strengthening admissions standards ensures LIU continues to attract and enroll top student talent, reinforcing the institution’s academic profile and Category
2023
2024
2025
2026 (Goal)
Acceptance Rate
90%
86%
82%
77%
INTERNATIONAL ENROLLMENT LANDSCAPE Global shifts in the international education landscape led to a nearly 20% decline in U.S. international arrivals this fall, driven by visa appointment shortages, extended processing times, high refusal rates, and new federal policies. India—LIU’s largest market—saw a 50% decrease, with some regions declining by up to 80%, as more students opted for countries such as Canada, Australia, and the UK. • 183 international students enrolled in Fall 2025 compared to 532 in Fall 2024. To mitigate the decline, LIU is accelerating international yield efforts, expanding global recruitment markets, enhancing real-time communication, strengthening agency partnerships, and implementing comprehensive visa-preparation and student-support initiatives to stabilize and rebuild growth.
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ENHANCING STUDENT ENGAGEMENT AND OPERATIONS Admissions strengthened both external engagement and internal operations through expanded communication and improved processes. The text messaging platform allows timely, personalized outreach, while increased use of surveys gathers guest feedback to inform and enhance events. Over 90% of attendees at Open Houses, Accepted Students Days, Academic Receptions, and campus tours report being “Satisfied” or “Very Satisfied.” Enhanced training and updated procedures have increased their impact, supporting campus tours, events, and overall admissions initiatives.
NATIONAL RECRUITMENT The Fall 2025 freshman class shows a broadened geographic reach, with students arriving from 44 states. Out-of-state enrollment continues to rise, with 347 students now representing 26 percent of the class, up from 23 percent in 2023–2024. Recruitment efforts expanded significantly, including high school visits and participation in 719 college fairs across 32 states. Priority markets included Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, Miami, and Philadelphia, supported by year-round virtual events. Regional engagement intensified through 11 East Coast programs attended by 122 counselors from 79 schools, along with 14 accepted-student receptions that achieved a 23 percent conversion rate. These combined efforts contributed to an increase in out-of-state applications—from 7,300 last year to more than 10,000 for Fall 2025—strengthening LIU’s national visibility and applicant pool.
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VIRTUAL ENTERPRISES INTERNATIONAL Long Island University continues to strengthen its partnership with Virtual Enterprises (VE), a program reaching over 20,000 middle and high school students to teach business fundamentals. In 2024–2025, LIU hosted multiple events, including NYC and Long Island Leadership Conferences, the Lightning Pitch Challenge, and regional competitions, engaging over 3,500 students. The Long Island Regional Conference and Exhibition at the Post campus welcomed 3,000 students in January 2024. LIU also participated in four national VE conferences, with School of Business leadership serving as keynote speakers, judges, and booth hosts, while visiting local VE classrooms to connect with students and educators. These efforts contributed to 1,177 VE applicants during the Fall 2025 recruitment cycle, reinforcing LIU’s outreach to emerging student talent.
SUMMER HONORS COLLEGE The Summer Honors College in 2025 welcomed 252 junior and rising senior students, with 206 living on campus for the week, earning 3 college credits through 11 academic programs, including Pre-Vet Scholars, Future Educators, Fashion Merchandising, AI & Digital Engineering, Business and Entrepreneurship, Crime Scene Investigation, Health Professions, Journalism, Music, Musical Theatre, and Politics and Diplomacy. Students participated in evening activities to foster community and belonging. Attendees represented 28 states, including California, Arizona, Florida, Minnesota, Texas, and Georgia, along with a cohort of 23 students from Brazil.
STUDENT ENGAGEMENT Long Island University’s strategic investments in student success, residential life, and engagement produced measurable growth in student outcomes and campus vitality: • Graduation rates reached historic highs • Residential enrollment reached a multi-year peak • Student life programming strengthened a sense of belonging Enhanced student experiences support success in the classroom and beyond. Competitive athletics, global engagement, and cultural competency initiatives reinforce student engagement and deepen alumni connections. The University continues to expand centralized, career-aligned support for undergraduate, graduate, and international students. This initiative strengthens retention, smooths academic transitions, and prepares students for post-graduate success, fostering long-term alumni achievement and connection. 36 | 2025 Long Island University Annual Report
LIU increased its four-year graduation rate by nearly 50 percent and its six-year rate by 25 percent over the past five entering cohorts. The Fall 2019 cohort achieved the highest completion rates in university history, with a four-year rate of 48.9 percent and a six-year rate of 57.4 percent. The University continues to expand centralized, career-aligned support for undergraduate, graduate, and international students. This initiative strengthens retention, smooths academic transitions, and prepares students for post-graduate success, fostering long-term alumni achievement and connection.
RESIDENTIAL GROWTH & EXPERIENCE Overall, on-campus housing grew by 7.7 percent, reflecting strong demand for the residential experience. Fall 2024 marked a 20 percent increase in first-year residential students. Significant facility upgrades demonstrate LIU’s commitment to student comfort, safety, and wellness: • Complete redesign of student dining options on both campuses, including complete renovations of residential dining facilities and the addition of new retail options including Auntie Anne’s. • Creation of new late-night eatery option at the Post Campus, including outdoor patio equipped with firepits, TVs, and elevated ambiance • Renovation of Hillwood Student Center to create new student spaces and modernized look. • Creation of teaching kitchens to offer opportunities for students to prepare meals themselves, and tailored stations for students with specific food needs and allergies. • Full bathroom renovations in first-year halls 2025 Long Island University Annual Report | 37
ENGAGEMENT, ENTREPRENEURSHIP, & CAMPUS LIFE Over 3,200 events were held across both campuses this year, including athletics, performing arts, academic programs, and social programming. New spaces such as Finley’s Student Hub and the Break Room have become focal points for community-building. Student-Run Businesses have achieved record-breaking growth, with sales increasing by 128 percent for FY 2025. This success is fueled by the strategic hiring of a Director of Student-Run Stores, whose leadership has elevated merchandising, operations, and market presence. Expanded product offerings and the deployment of the Shark Nation mobile store to a broader range of high-traffic events has significantly boosted visibility, customer engagement, and revenue.
SIGNATURE EVENTS AND PROGRAMS Signature events and programs showcase a vibrant campus life, intellectual vitality, and deep connections to the broader community. Thought-provoking lectures, nationally recognized alumni, cultural celebrations, and alumni gatherings embody LIU’s commitment to excellence, engagement, and leadership. These opportunities enrich the student experience and strengthen the University’s profile, fostering relationships with alumni, partners, and supporters while reinforcing the university’s role as a hub for innovation, dialogue, and shared achievement: • Emmy-winning actor Keith David screened Clockers on the Brooklyn campus in honor of the film’s 30th anniversary. A Q&A with students in the MFA in Writing and Producing for Television followed the film. David, one of the stars of the film, is an Artist-in-Residence for LIU’s School of Film and Digital Media. • Alumnus Steve Bandrowczak ’88, CEO of Xerox, and 2025 LIU Honorary Degree recipient, returned to the Post Campus to speak with students in the School of Business. • Broadway World, the largest and most comprehensive online theater publication, highlighted the Post Theatre Company’s production of the new rock musical Vincent, a modern reimagining of the inner life of Vincent Van Gogh. • Billboard named the Brooklyn Paramount the “Top East Coast Club or Theater” on its list of Top Music Venues for 2025. • National media outlets Variety and Billboard spotlighted the new state-of-the-art Dolby Atmos pro studio recently unveiled at the Roc Nation School of Music, Sports & Entertainment. Students in the Music Technology, Entrepreneurship, and Production program gain hands-on experience in immersive audio production using this top-tier technology.
38 | 2025 Long Island University Annual Report
STUDENT RECOGNITION AND AWARDS LIU students have distinguished themselves in the classroom, the lab, and on the playing field. The University is proud of each of their accomplishments represented here: • LIU Model UN team competed at the National Model United Nations conference in Washington, D.C., earning five awards, including one team award and four individual awards • LIU Model UN team received the Outstanding Position Paper award and two Outstanding Individual Delegation awards at the international conference at the United Nations headquarters in New York City, competing against nearly 2,000 students from 128 UN member states • Men’s and women’s swimming teams won a combined 21 medals at the Northeast Conference Swimming and Diving Championships, including nine gold medals
• Jasmine Gonzalez, junior in the Harriet Rothkopf Heilbrunn School of Nursing, was elected President of the Nursing Student Association of New York State • Junior Mo Elsayed, Olympic Bronze medalist, won a gold medal and the NCAA Division I collegiate fencing championship in the men’s epee • Men’s volleyball team hosted the New York City Police Department Men’s Finest for an on-campus scrimmage • All seniors in the Global College presented original research at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research in Pittsburgh as part of their final-year program requirements • Phoebe Zhang was named national PA Student of the Year by the American Academy of Physician’s Associates for founding and growing HowMedWorks, a website helping patients navigate the healthcare system • Women’s rowing teams claimed three gold medals at the 2025 New York State Collegiate Rowing Championships • Garrett Yawn was named NEC Baseball Pitcher of the Year and earned All-NEC First Team honors after leading the conference in wins (9), strikeouts (98), innings pitched (88.1), shutouts (2), and pitching two complete games with the second-best ERA in the NEC
2025 Long Island University Annual Report | 39
ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT & CAREERS
The Office of Alumni and Employer Engagement strengthened connections among LIU’s 200,000 alumni while expanding pathways for students and graduates to access career opportunities, industry leaders, and philanthropic partners. The launch of new Regional Clubs in the Lower Hudson Valley, the Federal Capital Region, and the Southeast United States contributed to a 50 percent increase in alumni membership. Dozens of alumni-focused events were held, including the Florida Luncheon, New York Mets and Jets games, the monthly Alumni Cooking Series, athletic alumni events for men’s and women’s basketball, men’s hockey, men’s lacrosse, women’s equestrian, and men’s soccer, and LIU on Broadway. In FY 2025, LIU launched the Gohagan Alumni Travel Program with six trips scheduled through 2026, and piloted the AESU Young Alumni Travel program, further expanding opportunities for alumni engagement and lifelong connection.
CAREER READINESS AND OUTCOMES Multiple career fairs in 2024–2025 featured dozens of employers providing opportunities for LIU students. Fashion Industry Night highlighted fashion icon Ken Downing and branding specialist Aliza Licht, while JPMorgan Chase co-hosted a financial health conference. Students participated in career panels and received coaching for fields including Technology, Finance, Psychology, Social Work, and Athletics. LIU’s upward trajectory in graduation outcomes, exceeding 91% career placement after one year of graduation, combined with record residential demand and a vibrant campus life, demonstrates that strategic investments in student experience are yielding measurable results. These improvements strengthen retention and recruitment while reinforcing the University’s reputation as a student-centered institution delivering both academic excellence and personal growth.
40 | 2025 Long Island University Annual Report
TILLES CENTER FOR PERFORMING ARTS The Tilles Center for the Performing Arts at Long Island University delivered a season of national and international distinction in 2024–2025, reinforcing its role as a leading university-based regional performing arts center. Collaborations with world-class cultural organizations and partnerships with industry leaders including Live Nation and AEG Bowery Presents enabled presentations across multiple disciplines that garnered national recognition. The 2024–2025 season featured performances by Steve Martin and Martin Short, Mandy Patinkin, Kristin Chenoweth, Michael Feinstein, Patti LaBelle, and the London Philharmonic Orchestra with Randall Goosby, along with national tours of Stomp, Dear Evan Hansen, and Come From Away. Three iconic artists—cellist Yo-Yo Ma, dancer Misty Copeland, and jazz master Wynton Marsalis with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra—performed during “Legends Weekend” in April 2025, highlighting the Center’s commitment to excellence in performance, education, and arts advocacy. Long-term collaborations with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center and Jazz at Lincoln Center supported multi-performance residencies at the Tilles Center. The Center also hosted JALC’s Essentially Ellington Long Island Regional High School Jazz Festival, featuring performances from over 200 high school music students who were evaluated by clinicians from Jazz at Lincoln Center and LIU music faculty. Tilles Jazz Fest 2025, presented in collaboration with Jazz at Lincoln Center, was headlined by ten-time Grammy winner Arturo Sandoval and John Pizzarelli with his Big Band. The festival drew nearly 2,000 patrons and featured nine concerts across four indoor and outdoor stages on the LIU campus. Intensive internships, master classes, convocations, and paid performance opportunities provided students with practical experience and training for careers in the arts sector, including: Tilles Center’s Arts Education and Community Programs were supported by philanthropic contributions. The annual Swing for Kids Tournament, led by longtime Chair Peter Tilles and honoring Bradley Gruber, President of Uneeda Enterprises, raised nearly $500,000 to sustain the Center’s educational initiatives.
2025 Long Island University Annual Report | 41
CONCLUSION As Long Island University celebrates its centennial year, the accomplishments of 2024–2025 demonstrate measurable progress toward our vision for the future. Across campuses and disciplines, LIU has established itself as a national leader in teaching and research, guided by a commitment to academic excellence, strategic growth, and measurable public impact. The reaffirmation of high research activity, a year-over-year increase in research expenditures, the launch of next-generation academic programs in artificial intelligence, data analytics, and digital engineering, and record philanthropic support all reflect a university advancing with purpose and guided by a clear strategic plan. Student achievement remains exceptional, with global research presentations, national fellowships, and high-impact experiential learning programs underscoring LIU’s ability to prepare graduates for leadership in their fields. LIU’s trajectory is shaped by innovation in artificial intelligence, health and wellness, global engagement, and digital engineering, supported by a faculty and student body actively producing knowledge, advancing research, and driving societal impact. The University continues to expand its global reach, with students studying in nine countries in 2024–2025 and maintaining a seven-year streak of 100 percent senior acceptance for original research at the National Conference for Undergraduate Research. Entering its second century, LIU is positioned for continued advancement. The University remains focused on what comes next: generating solutions to complex challenges, expanding knowledge across disciplines, and preparing graduates to lead in a rapidly evolving world.
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