Careers in Your Community Series: Health & Human Services Panel on Monday, March 9, 2020

June 9, 2020February 27, 2020 by SUNYUlster

SUNY Ulster Presents Careers in Your Community Series: Health & Human Services Panel on Monday, March 9, 2020

February 27, 2020 – Kingston, NY – SUNY Ulster will be holding the first in a series of panel discussions to highlight growth fields where jobs are available in Ulster County. The Health & Human Services Career Panel will take place on Monday, March 9, 2020 from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. at the Kingston Center of SUNY Ulster, Room 101. Light refreshments will be served at 5:30, with the panel beginning at 6, followed by a discussion about SUNY Ulster financial aid, scholarships, and tuition payment options.

The panelists for this event include:

Vicky Burgh-Harris, Coordinator of the Human Services program at SUNY Ulster, who will share information about the two-semester Direct Support Practice Certificate program to Associate degree for transfer or career. She will also present a Human Services new concentration in Chemical Dependency Counseling and discuss how to become part of the first student cohort in Fall 2020.

Terrence Conklin, SUNY Ulster alumnus, class of 2019 will share his academic and professional journey. Terrence returned to college after a 14-year hiatus, transferred upon his graduation from SUNY Ulster to SUNY Empire for his Bachelor’s degree where he is studying psychology and earning a 3.75 GPA. He also has years of experience working in the human services field, working with individuals with traumatic brain injuries (TBI), at Devereux, and at his current position at The Institute of Family Health.

Marie Kropp, Assistant Director of Workforce Development & Career Services at SUNY Ulster will share tips on how to search for healthcare careers. A licensed social worker, Marie will talk about her own career path as well.

Lisa Moruzzi, SUNY Ulster Nursing Chair and a SUNY Ulster alumna herself, will discuss her own academic and professional journey along with the requirements for entry into the Nursing program.

Ethan Burwell graduated from SUNY Ulster in 2013 with an Associate degree in Liberal Arts: Math & Science and in 2014 with his Nursing Degree. A registered nurse with Health Alliance of the Hudson Valley in Kingston, Ethan too will share his experiences as a local health professional.

Registration is open now for the March 9, 2020 session and those interested in attending can register at https://conta.cc/2HWHDID.

###

Student Wellness with Spinning

February 26, 2020 by SUNYUlster

fit desk bicycle against a plain white background

School, Work, Study, Repeat!

Who has time to take a stroll, stop and enjoy the view, hit the gym for a quick set? Unfortunately, most of us don’t. However, at SUNY Ulster we like to take care of our students’ minds and bodies.

Beginning in January 2020 there has been an addition to the already calming Mountain View Room located in the Macdonald DeWitt Library. Through the generosity of the Ulster Community College Foundation, Inc. we were able to add four Fit Desk Bicycles.

These bikes are whisper quiet so they don’t disturb the hushed study area. Each bike has a small drawer to place personal items and a strap to hold your laptop or tablet in place. Nearby outlets make powering your devices easy. The desk can also be used as a great way to read a book while spinning away.The seat height and backrest height are adjustable along with the resistance of the spin itself.

Caring for the Mind & Body

Cycling desks are becoming very popular throughout the business world. Therefore, studies are being done. Most have come back inconclusive. However, it is seen as more of a benefit than not. Cycling desks eliminate some of the sitting time that leads to health problems.

The rhythmic movement of the peddaling can be beneficial to your mind as well as your body. Calming and soothing. Take time for yourself today. Take a spin, enjoy the view, take care of YOU!

Circle K International at SUNY Ulster

February 26, 2020February 24, 2020 by SUNYUlster

We have a new club here at SUNY Ulster, Circle K International.

It started with Key Club.

Key Club is a Kiwanis sponsored program for high schools throughout the world. Each chapter partners with a local Kiwanis Club member.

Through service and volunteering students learn leadership skills, build character, and gain hands on knowledge of what personal and social responsibilities are thereby making a positive impact on their community.

However, fear not…If you missed out on Key Club…there is Circle K International!

Circle K International, also known as CKI, began in 1936 as a Kiwanis Club service project. This provided opportunities, to qualifying young men, to acquire a college education through scholarships and/or employment assistance. Soon after it began, the group began to incorporate community service as a part of their activities. Consequently, this is when colleges began to show more interest in participating.

Today, there are more than 11,000 collegiate members, at over 500 campuses throughout the world and is now open to everyone. CKI SUNY Ulster has 11 active members including president, Shaye Witkus, Vice President, Muhammad Shabbir, Secretary, Elyssa DeWitt, and Treasurer, Stephanie Sensini. It is a student-led club chartered by Kingston Kiwanis Club member and SUNY Ulster Board of Trustees Vice Chair, Bill Spearman.

Key Players

Mr. Spearman is a 1969 graduate of SUNY Ulster and original participant in Circle K club here at SUNY Ulster. In its heyday, the club held dances, car washes, arranged basketball games between faculty and students, and other forms of fun! They also participated in fundraising and service projects throughout the community. Sadly, the SUNY Ulster Chapter faded away in the early 1970’s.

Now, through the hard work, dedication, and advisement of Meg Sheeley, Coordinator of Campus Life, and Bill Spearman, Circle K International has a Chapter here at SUNY Ulster! It took two long years of paperwork and recruitment but they did it. Meetings began in the Fall of 2019 and the Charter was officially approved on February 13, 2020.

Benefits

CKI SUNY Ulster is intended to broaden student opportunities through personal contact with business and professional leaders throughout their communities. This helps in developing leadership skills, civic responsibility, and fellowship. CKI Treasurer, Stephanie Sensini, seemed very excited to talk about volunteer opportunities, working with others, and her desire to study abroad after graduation. One of the many benefits of CKI is its geographical outreach. The organization is worldwide. Because of her participation in Circle K Stephanie is making connections that can help her achieve her goals for her future.

Local Connections

CKI SUNY Ulster is currently working with Ten Broeck Commons in Lake Katrine. They provide companionship to residents. In addition they also host games and activities as well. They participate in community events like the Rosendale Pickle Fest and the upcoming Kiwanis Kingston Classic. However, the club is still in its early stages. They are branching out into the community to find more service opportunities.

Circle K International meets every Monday at 10:45am in the Dining Hall. Please come and be a part of their fresh start here at SUNY Ulster. If you have any questions Meg Sheeley, sheeleym@sunyulster.edu, is always ready to help you get answers!

BestColleges.com Ranks SUNY Ulster #1 Best Community College in New York State

June 9, 2020February 20, 2020 by SUNYUlster

BestColleges.com Ranks SUNY Ulster #1 Best Community College in New York State

February 20, 2020 – Stone Ridge, NY – Best Colleges has ranked SUNY Ulster as #1 in their annual ranking of Top Ten Best Community Colleges in New York State for 2020, recognizing the College in several important categories:

High quality academics
Affordability
Diverse opportunities for involvement that includes clubs, athletics, and cultural events
Balance of transferable and career-ready associate degrees

Best Colleges noted the wide variety of fields and disciplines SUNY Ulster offers including arts, education, human services, nursing, public safety, and STEM, and also mentioned our selection of online courses.

Criteria for ranking New York State’s community colleges is based on academic quality, affordability, and online competency using the most recent data available from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) and College Navigator, both of which are hosted by the National Center for Education Statistics.

Best Colleges mission is to help prospective students find the school that best meets their needs through proprietary research, user-friendly guides, and independent college rankings. According to their website, their intent is to inform people toward institutions that “provide a quality education and a meaningful learning experience at an affordable cost.”

SUNY Ulster has recently acquired two other rankings: Computer Science Zone ranks SUNY Ulster # 3 nationally for our Online Associate Degree in computer science and Intelligent.com ranks SUNY Ulster as having one of the best Online Associate Degrees in the nation in Business Administration.

Dr. Alan P. Roberts, President of SUNY Ulster asserts, “We have an incredible community of students, faculty, staff, Trustees, Foundation Board of Directors, County and State partners who all contribute to serving the SUNY Ulster community in many ways. I am honored to be part of SUNY Ulster.”

For more information about SUNY Ulster, visit the website at http://www.sunyulster.edu.

###

SUNY Ulster Offers Digital Marketing Boot Camp Series

June 9, 2020February 12, 2020 by SUNYUlster

SUNY Ulster Offers Digital Marketing Boot Camp Series

February 12, 2020 – Kingston, NY – The SUNY Ulster Office of Continuing and Professional Education is offering the Digital Marketing Boot Camp series that highlights the tools and techniques required for a small business to succeed online. These classes will be held at the Kingston Center of SUNY Ulster located on Mary’s Avenue in Kingston.

As a series, each course builds upon each other creating an overarching marketing strategy. However, each class is designed to stand-alone and can be taken separately.

Students who attend all six classes in the series will receive a Digital Marketing Boot Camp certificate of completion.

Chris Short will teach the classes. Chris has worked over twenty years with small business owners to large-scale industrial manufacturing teams educating others in the aspects of complex marketing and communications.

Dates:

02/26/2020 All Eyes & Ears-Video & Podcast Production Tips

03/04/2020 Search Engine Optimization (SEO) 101

03/18/2020 How to Build Your First E-Mail Marketing Campaign

03/25/2020 Optimizing Your Instagram for Business

04/01/2020 A Beginners Guide to Navigating Google Analytics

04/15/2020 Mobile Optimization – How Local Search Drives Business

Day: Wednesdays
Time: 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Fee: $49 per course

For more courses or to register, call Continuing and Professional Education at (845) 339-2025 or register online at www.sunyulster.edu/ce.

###

SUNY Ulster Announces Summer Session Courses

June 9, 2020February 10, 2020 by SUNYUlster

SUNY Ulster Announces Summer Session Courses

February 10, 2020 – Stone Ridge, NY – Registration has begun at SUNY Ulster for Summer Session 2020. There are three summer sessions from which to choose with online and on-campus classes, as well as many internships. On-campus courses will be taught at both the Stone Ridge campus and the Kingston Center of SUNY Ulster.

Summer session I runs from May 18 – June 29. Summer Session II runs from either May 18 – July 14 or May 18 – July 27. Summer Session III runs from July 6 – August 13. Over 70 courses are being offered. They range from art, business, math, and the sciences to criminal justice, history, social sciences, and languages. Included are many general education courses needed to complete both an associate degree as well as a bachelor degree.

Tuition for Summer Session is $180 per credit for in-state residents, one of the lowest tuition rates in New York State. Payment plans are available and students may be eligible for financial aid.

SUNY Ulster welcomes visiting students who may transfer credits back to their institution.

To view course offerings and to learn more, visit www.sunyulster.edu/summer.

###

SUNY Ulster Offers Grant Writing for Non-Profit Fundraising & Bookkeeping Courses

June 9, 2020February 7, 2020 by SUNYUlster

SUNY Ulster Offers Grant Writing for Non-Profit Fundraising and Bookkeeping Courses

February 7, 2020 – Kingston, NY – The SUNY Ulster Office of Continuing and Professional Education is offering grant writing and bookkeeping courses at the Kingston Center of SUNY Ulster located at 94 Mary’s Avenue.

Grant Writing for Effective Non-Profit Fundraising

This course introduces students to best practices for foundation grant writing. Each student will write a grant application, including need statements, goals, step-by-step action plans, assessments, and budget documents. Students will learn to write clearly and with impact.

Margot Becker, who has successfully raised funds for non-profit organizations in both the United States and abroad for thirty years, will teach the class.

Dates: 02/18/2020 – 03/24/2020

Days: Tuesdays

Time: 2:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. (Note: 02/25/2020 12:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.)

Fee: $399

Bookkeeping Series

This course is designed for those that wish to gain an entry-level position as a bookkeeper. Each participant who completes all three courses, while meeting class requirements, will receive a Certificate of Completion.

The instructor for this course will be Dan Boice, MBA. He has worked in the fields of Accounting, Financing and Operations, as well as 35 years as a tax preparer.

Dates: 02/18/2020 – 03/03/2020 Basic Bookkeeping, $99

03/17/2020 – 04/07/2020 Bookkeeping the Easy Way with QuickBooks, $199

04/14/2020 – 04/21/2020 Introduction to Excel, $59

Days: Tuesdays

Time: 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

For more information or to register, call Continuing and Professional Education at

(845) 339-2025 or register online at www.sunyulster.edu/ce.

###

SUNY Ulster Offers Two Complimentary Learning Opportunities In Their Lunch & Learn Program

June 9, 2020February 6, 2020 by SUNYUlster

SUNY Ulster Offers Two Complimentary Learning Opportunities

February 6, 2020 – Kingston, NY – The SUNY Ulster SUNY Ulster Offers Two Complimentary Learning Opportunities In Their Lunch & Learn Program on Tuesday, February 18, 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. and Future Rich on Wednesday, April 8, 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. at the Kingston Center of SUNY Ulster, 94 Mary’s Avenue. A free lunch is included.

Digital Marketing Boot Camp Teaser

This is a small business startup blueprint class that covers the seven free things to solidify your online presence. It is also a snapshot of the classes Chris Short teaches at SUNY Ulster.

For over twenty years, Chris Short has worked with small business owners to large-scale industrial manufacturing teams educating others in the aspects of complex marketing and communications.

As Executive Director of the New Paltz Regional Chamber of Commerce, he advises and guides companies by using cutting edge marketing tactics focused around Content Creation, search engine optimization (SEO), and social media marketing (SMM).

Future Rich!

Barbara Ginty, owner of Independent Financial Services, will be giving instruction to the participants in the basics needed to set oneself up for success with their personal finances.

Barbara Ginty is a professional Certified Financial Planner and holds both security and insurance licenses including series 7, 63, 65, and health, life, and disability insurance. Her company, Independent Financial Services, is a family business that has been in operation for over twenty years, specializing in comprehensive financial planning.

For more Lunch & Learn topics and dates visit: www.sunyulster.edu/continuing_education/info_sessions or call Continuing and Professional Education at (845) 339-2025.

###

Over 50 Years of Nursing at SUNY Ulster

February 12, 2020February 5, 2020 by SUNYUlster

Group photo of nursing students on Campus

Nursing Awards Announcement:

In the Spring of 2018, the SUNY Ulster Nursing Department became the recipients of the PNA Honorary Recognition Award. This award recognizes an agency which has rendered distinguished services or valuable contributions to the nursing profession. This award came as the nursing program celebrated its 50th anniversary of service to the Ulster County community.

Celebrating 50 Years of Service:

Since its inception in 1968, the SUNY Ulster Nursing Program has proven itself time and time again as a leader in the healthcare industry of the Hudson Valley. The SUNY Ulster Nursing Program has had over 1,900 graduates- many of these graduates have gone on to win awards and be nationally recognized. Jess Robie Class of 2016 won the Future Nurse Leader Award 2017, Dana Wright class of 2015 represented the WMC/Health Alliance of the Hudson Valley on the Today Show in May 2018, and Donna Becker class of 2014 received the Registered Nurse of the Year Award at Golden Hill Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in May 2018.

Our History:

The prestigious 50 year history of the SUNY Ulster Nursing Program is one that is filled with the highest standards of academia, ethical standards, and professionalism. The commitment to student success in the Nursing Program began in 1968 under Head Professor Mrs. Florence Irwin (pictured below) and her original staff made up of Miss. Elizabeth Dunn and Miss Joan Cassavant.

From the get-go, the Nursing Program has boasted itself as innovative and forward- thinking in its approaches to the healthcare field. In its earliest pubic recruitment efforts, the program made it known it was “-open to Men or Women, Married or Single, with High School or GED Degrees.” By the Fall of 1968, SUNY Ulster proudly announced in a newspaper headline that “50 Students Enrolled in the UCCC Nursing Program.” This first class was made up of 48 women and 2 men; 24 of those students were the first class to graduate from the program in 1971.

The photo below is of the 2019 graduating class, which was made up of 34 students and had a pass rate of 97.05% for the NCLEX (National Council Licensure Examination), which means 33 of the 34 students passed on their first try!

From the start, students in the SUNY Ulster Nursing Program have been exposed to and taught about all the different elements that go into making a healthcare facility reach its appropriate standards. Below is a photograph of students from the 1970’s practicing skills such as bed making and other “practical chores”.

Students since 1968 have been gaining experience during clinical settings. Here, a nursing student is exposed to patients of all different ages: infants, children, adults, and the elderly.

SUNY Ulster nurses have always been given the opportunity to practice the skills that make them exceptional: working hands-on with medical equipment, working one-on-one with patients, and working collaboratively at the nursing station.

The SUNY Ulster Nursing Program continues to prepare its students for the workplace, by instilling in them the skills needed to provide safe, compassionate, and evidence-based care to those in the Hudson Valley community.

The opportunities continue to grow for our nursing students!

During the 2019 Spring semester, there was a collaborative project with the Nursing program of Durban University of Technology of South Africa. It was an opportunity for our nursing students (present and alumni) to travel to South Africa to meet with their collaborating partners and observe their teammates in clinical settings.

SUNY Ulsters graduates that decide to continue with their education can now look to our recently forged partnership with Empire State College. This partnership is making it easier for Registered Nurses (R.N.) to secure their Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in the Hudson Valley. It is designed to support students during their transition from an associate’s degree or diploma to a baccalaureate degree, in both an online and on-site format.