Month: December 2025

The Muroff-Kotler Visual Arts Gallery at SUNY Ulster Announces Call for Art Submissions for Black Excellence: A Legacy in Color

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December 12, 2025 – Stone Ridge, NY – SUNY Ulster’s Muroff-Kotler Visual Arts Gallery is now accepting submissions for its next exhibition, Black Excellence: A Legacy in Color. The due date for submissions is Monday, December 29, 11:59 p.m. for an exhibit that will run from February 4 – 20, 2026.

Curated by Sam Goldberg, in collaboration with SUNY Ulster’s black Student Union, and made possible by The Ulster Community College Foundation, Inc., the exhibit will be a collective celebration of Black Artistry across media. Works exhibited will showcase campus and community voices exploring the diversity of Black creative expression and experience, past and present.

Milestone dates for this call for art:

  • Submission Deadline: Monday, December 29, 11:59 p.m.
  • Artist Notification: Monday, January 12
  • Work Dropoff: Tuesday – Friday, January 20-23
  • Show Opening Reception: Wednesday, February 4, 12:30 – 2:00 p.m.

To see the full schedule and requirements, visit https://bit.ly/blackexcellenceart.

Sam Goldberg, a SUNY Ulster alumnus, is a multidisciplinary artist and fabricator interested in social engagement, cooperation, and pedagogy. They collaborate with other Hudson Valley artists to create sculptures, installations, and spaces, including pieces found at the Kingston Land Trust’s Forest Sanctuary, the 2024 Future Sound of Nature Music Festival, and the 2023 Terrain Biennial in Newburgh, NY. Sam is enrolled in Prescott College’s remote Master of Fine Arts program and is a graduate of SUNY Ulster’s Fine and Visual Arts department, where they now work as the gallery/studio tech.

The Black Student Union aims to create a safe space for Black students, promote awareness and understanding of Black culture and history, empower students through leadership development, advocate for their needs on campus, and foster a sense of community.  The mission is to uplift, unite, educate, and empower students on campus.

Questions can be directed to gallery@sunyulster.edu.

About the Muroff-Kotler Visual Arts Gallery

The Muroff-Kotler Visual Arts Gallery serves as a center for creative artistic activity at the College and for the outside community. It also functions as an environment for teaching, performing, and exhibiting.

The College’s permanent art collection enriches the cultural climate on campus by making additional works of high artistic achievement available to students and the community. In this manner, the collection serves as a permanent visual reference source.

The College believes that the acquisition of artworks and the presentation of different art exhibitions assist the College community in setting standards for judgment and perception.

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CALL FOR ART: Black Excellence: A Legacy in Color February

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Opening Reception: February 4, 2O26

Wednesday, 12:30-2:00 pm

(for a flyer of the following, download pdf)

SUNY Ulster’s Black Student Union and the Muroff Kotler Visual Arts Gallery invite the SUNY Ulster campus community and the public to submit artwork for inclusion in their February 2026 exhibition, Black Excellence: A Legacy in Color, a collective celebration of Black artistry across media. Works exhibited will showcase campus and community voices exploring the diversity of Black creative expression and experience, past and present. 

Submissions may include up to 3 works reflecting the vibrant spectrum of Black history, creativity, and identity. All media accepted.

Submission Deadline: Monday, December 29, 11:59 pm 

*Entry to this exhibition implies agreement on the part of the sender to the conditions set forth in this prospectus.

Eligibility:

  • Open to all members of the SUNY Ulster campus community and to the public.
  • Open to artworks in all media, including but not limited to 2-dimensional, 3-dimensional, digital, video/sound-based, fashion/textile, poetry, prose, and new or unconventional media.

Submission Specifications:

  • To submit work for consideration, please email: gallery@sunyulster.edu.
  • In the email subject include your last name and the words “Black Excellence” (Ex. Lastname_Black_Excellence).
  • In the body of the email include a brief statement introducing yourself and reflecting on what motivated your submission. Also include the media and dimensions of the works being submitted and any important information about how they should be handled or displayed.
  • Attach one file for each artwork you are submitting. Name files using the format: Lastname_Firstname_Titleofwork.jpg. Use only the following file types: .jpg (images), .mp4 (video), .mp3 (audio), .pdf (text).
  • 3-dimensional works may be submitted along with up to 3 additional detailed images.For video/sound-based works longer than 5 minutes please submit a short representative clip (<3 min).For written works over 1000 words please submit a representative sample of the text (<500 words).
  • *Submissions that do not follow the guidelines above may be overlooked or disqualified.

Acceptance and Delivery of Work:

Artists whose work is selected for exhibition will be notified by Monday, January 12. Exhibiting artists are invited to provide their contact details, social media @, website url, or other relevant promotional information for display alongside their work.

The gallery will accept in-person delivery of work from Tuesday, January 20 to Friday, January 23.

Artists are responsible for ensuring that their work is properly prepared for hanging/display when it arrives at the gallery. If your artwork requires special handling or hanging/display considerations, or you have questions about preparing your work, please contact the gallery prior to Tuesday, January 20. Work may also be shipped to the gallery at the artist’s expense.

Packaging must be suitable for return shipping.

Send artwork to:

SUNY ULSTER
Muroff Kotler Visual Arts Gallery
491 Cottekill Rd.
Stone Ridge, NY 12484

Important Dates:

  • SUBMISSION DEADLINE: December 29, 11:59pm (Monday)
  • ARTISTS NOTIFIED OF SELECTION: January 12 (Monday)
  • ARTISTS DROP-OFF WORK AT THE GALLERY:  January 20-23 (Tuesday-Friday)
  • SHOW OPENING RECEPTION: February 4, 12:30-2:00pm (Wednesday)
  • ARTISTS PICK-UP WORK FROM THE GALLERY: February 23-27 (Monday-Friday)

Info Session on Free Associate Degree Program for Adults

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Press Release

Tuition, Fees, Books, and Supplies Covered for Adults Ages 25–55 without a Prior Degree with SUNY Reconnect

December 4, 2025 – Stone Ridge, NY – SUNY Ulster invites adults interested in starting or returning to college to attend an info session on SUNY Reconnect, a program designed to help adults without degrees complete an Associate Degree for free. The session will take place on December 15 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Kingston Center of SUNY Ulster.

For adults who never had the opportunity to attend college or for those who didn’t finish, SUNY Reconnect offers the opportunity to earn a degree leading to a career in one of many in-demand fields within our region.

During the information session, attendees will learn about:

  • How SUNY Reconnect works and who is eligible
  • Degree and certificate programs covered by SUNY Reconnect
  • Flexible course formats and times designed to fit work and family commitments
  • Step-by-step admissions support to make returning to school simple and manageable

Participants will also have the opportunity to speak with SUNY Ulster admissions counselors, ask questions, and receive individualized next steps tailored to their goals.

The event is free, but registration is required.

REGISTER NOW!

For more information, visit sunyulster.edu/freeCC or email admissions@sunyulster.edu.

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Governor Kathy Hochul Reappoints Robert R. Jacobsen, Esq. and Appoints Dennis M. Doyle to the SUNY Ulster Board of Trustees

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December 3, 2025 – Stone Ridge, NY – Gov. Kathy Hochul has reappointed Robert R. Jacobsen, Esq., of Kingston, and appointed Dennis M. Doyle, of Tillson, to the College’s Board of Trustees.

A distinguished SUNY Ulster alumnus, Trustee Jacobsen was first appointed by Governor Hochul in December 2023 and has been reappointed through June 30, 2031. A practicing real estate attorney based in Kingston, he represents clients across the Hudson Valley. He is a graduate of John A. Coleman High School, earned his Associate in Science in Business Administration from SUNY Ulster in 1998, followed by a B.S. in Accounting from SUNY New Paltz and a J.D. from Western New England University School of Law.

Trustee Jacobsen brings a strong record of civic engagement, including 15 years on the City of Kingston Planning Board and active membership in the New York State and Ulster County Bar Associations. He has served on the Ulster Community College Foundation Board since 2019, is a 2019 SUNY Ulster Distinguished Alumni Award recipient, and was inducted into the SUNY Ulster Alumni Hall of Fame in 2020.

At the November 18, 2025, annual meeting, the SUNY Ulster Board of Trustees voted unanimously to accept the slate of officers for the 2025-2026 academic year, including the appointment of Robert R. Jacobsen, Esq., as Chair; Timothy Sweeney, as Vice Chair; and Victoria St. John-Gilligan, as Secretary.

Trustee Jacobsen stated, “It is a privilege to serve as a Trustee of SUNY Ulster, and a great honor to do so as an alum of this institution, which has played such an important role in my life and in the lives of so many in our region. I am equally proud to serve as Board Chair and to support the important work of this College.”

Appointed through June 30, 2026, Trustee Doyle brings more than four decades of planning and community development expertise. Since joining Ulster County Planning in 1974 and becoming Director in 2004, he has led significant efforts in transportation systems, land use planning, and environmental stewardship. He also directs the Ulster County Transportation Council.

Born and raised in Ulster County, Trustee Doyle holds a degree in Geology from SUNY Cortland and has extensive training in environmental science, site design, and demographics. His service extends to numerous boards, including Arc Mid-Hudson, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Ulster County, the Hudson Valley AgriBusiness Development Corporation, and the Ulster County Housing Development Corporation. He is also a member of the Hudson Valley Regional Council, a past president of RUPCO, and an active volunteer with American Legion Post 1219.

“I grew up within a mile of SUNY Ulster and remember the enthusiasm as classes began at the new campus. That positive community response to the College continues today.  I want to thank Governor Hochul for the appointment and the opportunity to give back to the community.  I look forward to working with the administration and my colleagues on the Board to support the College’s mission and the students we serve,” said Trustee Doyle.

SUNY Ulster President, Alison Buckley, Ed.D., stated, “We are fortunate to have the support from Governor Kathy Hochul in appointing our newest Trustees to serve our SUNY Ulster students and community of learners. Governor Hochul’s steadfast advocacy and support of our Trustees in their service as community stewards, safeguarding our collective commitment to accessible and affordable higher education, has been truly paramount. We look forward to partnering with Trustees Jacobsen and Doyle as we continue shaping the future of the College and remain committed to meeting the needs of our students, meeting them where they are, and serving the residents of Ulster County.”

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Photo: Robert R. Jacobsen, Esq. Dennis M. Doyle
from left Robert R. Jacobsen, Esq., Dennis M. Doyle

SUNY Ulster Continuing and Professional Education Hosts Information Sessions and Open House with Release of Spring 2026 Brochure

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Robotics

December 3, 2025– Kingston, NY – SUNY Ulster recently released the Spring 2026 brochure highlighting both credit and non-credit courses offered starting as early as January 2026. To give the community a chance to find out more about these programs, two Open Houses are planned:

  • December 15 from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Kingston Center
  • January 8 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Kingston Center

At the Open Houses, instructors, program coordinators, and enrollment specialists will be on hand to discuss details on courses as well as provide information on scholarships that fund many of these courses. Participants will be able to register for classes with the help of staff.

Staff will also be available to talk about SUNY Reconnect, a new program that allows adults with no prior degree, aged 25 to 55 to attain an Associate degree for free in high demand fields. These fields include advanced manufacturing, computer science, engineering, environmental studies, and green building, among others.

SUNY Ulster is making a shift to more evening classes in Kingston to address the growing adult population that is returning to school to finish a degree or earn a career certification. Programs featured include advanced manufacturing, energy auditor, CNC, business, CASAC, clinical medical, bookkeeping, Excel, and business, and more. Many of these courses stack into a microcredential which can be completed in a semester or two. Those completing the microcredential are awarded a digital badge to recognize their achievement.

Spring classes start the week of January 20, 2026, and registration is currently in progress. Registration for info sessions is suggested. Please choose from our  complete list of info sessions. Specific info sessions include Advanced Manufacturing, Building Science, CASAC, and Certified Clinical Medical Assistant.

          For a complete listing of available courses, please visit our website.

          For more information, visit www.sunyulster.edu/ce or call 845-339-2025.

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