[3] Founded in 1906 as the School of Agriculture (SOA) at St. Lawrence University, SUNY Canton was the first postsecondary, two-year college authorized by the New York State Legislature.

Students enrolled in SUNY Canton's Center for Criminal Justice, Intelligence and Cybersecurity can enroll in University at Albany's College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity (CEHC) and will lead directly to a Master of Science in Information Science degree.

Specific programs at the university are also accredited by appropriate discipline-specific accreditors:[8] Cook Hall is home to the School of Science, Health and Criminal Justice.

[11] It was named after President Emeritus Earl W. MacArthur[12] The School of Business & Liberal Arts is located inside the building as well as many of the faculty and administrative offices.

The $12 million building opened in 2002, replacing the Kingston Theatre which suffered extensive fire damage in 1997.

[13] It houses college archives, a coffee shop known as the Cyber Cafe, the university's print and digital media collections for use by students for research and recreation.

Features include a multi-purpose classroom and meeting space, and a large open courtyard for recreation and outdoor activities.

The university is a member of the NCAA Division III ranks, primarily competing in the North Atlantic Conference (NAC) since 2018–19 the academic year.

The Kangaroos previously competed in the short-lived D-III American Collegiate Athletic Association (ACAA) during the 2017–18 school year; as an NCAA D-III Independent from 2011–12 to 2016–17 (while held provisional status until 2014–15); and the Sunrise Conference[16] of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) from 2004–05 to 2010–11.

[27] The SUNY Canton men's ice hockey program began in the mid-1960s and has won 15 NJCAA National Championships in: 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1978, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1987, 1989, 1992, 1996, 1997, and 2000.

[28] The team currently competes in the Division III (NCAA) level as it was awarded independent status with eventual admittance into the SUNY conference.

[30] The SUNY Canton men's hockey program is set to join the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) as an associate member in the 2024-25 season.

The facility features several athletic courts, an ice arena, a pool and a fitness center, along with office and student spaces.