The State University of New York at Stony Brook and Suffolk County Community College have announced a new educational program called Sharks and Seawolves at Stony Brook Southampton. The initiative is designed to provide East End students and residents with the opportunity to earn transferable college credit without leaving their local area.
The program, which will start on January 26, 2026, will take place at the Stony Brook Southampton campus. It represents a collaboration between Stony Brook Southampton, Suffolk’s Eastern Campus, and the Hampton Bays School District. The aim is to offer high school students, current college students, and adult learners access to courses that can count toward future academic goals.
Courses in the program include an introduction to psychology focusing on research methods and biological bases of behavior; an overview of the U.S. healthcare delivery system; and a course examining marine organisms found in eastern Long Island waters. The marine science course will be taught by faculty from Stony Brook University’s School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences.
The pilot program has been developed in cooperation with Hampton Bays High School, but other East End high school students are also eligible to apply. Participants can enroll in one to three courses.
Wendy Pearson, Vice President for Strategic Initiatives and Executive Director of Stony Brook Southampton, said: “We envision this program as a powerful bridge for East End learners, from our local high schools to Suffolk County Community College and onward to Stony Brook University, the flagship of the State University of New York and the state’s number one public research university. Our goal is to retain and cultivate the well-educated talent emerging from our East End communities, students who can build meaningful careers, strengthen the regional workforce, and contribute to the future of Long Island.”
Edward Bonahue, president of Suffolk County Community College stated: “We see this partnership as an exciting new pathway for East End students to begin their college journey with the full support of Suffolk County Community College and Stony Brook University. By bringing high-quality, affordable courses directly to the Southampton campus, we are helping students stay connected to their communities, explore academic and career possibilities, and build the strong foundation they need for future success.”
Kurt Bretsch, advanced senior lecturer and faculty director for Stony Brook’s Semester by the Sea program added: “Along with our existing three summer courses that are open to college and high students, this new Stony Brook Southampton course will further strengthen connections with East End schools. While learning about culturally and ecologically important marine organisms of our region, participants will also be introduced to the many future opportunities for involvement in coursework, research, and internships with our marine science faculty and partner organizations on the East End.”
Lars Clemensen, Superintendent for Schools at Hampton Bays Union Free School District commented: “For us, this early college programming is more than giving students access to the rigor of college level coursework. It is about exposing high school students to the college campus experience – the development of self-advocacy and enterprise, certainly a cost-savings, and a true exposure to what post-secondary life is like.”
Students interested in registering can visit stonybrook.edu/suffolksouthampton or sunysuffolk.edu/sbsouthampton for more information.
