SUNYUlster, Author at SUNY Ulster News Blog

A Day In The Life of An Online Student at SUNY Ulster

January 22, 2024 by SUNYUlster

Student sits cross-legged while holding a laptop in one hand and giving a thumbs up with the other

You might know that SUNY Ulster offers online degree programs, but have you ever wondered what the daily life of an online student looks like? To find out, we asked one of our online students to break down a day in the life of an online student at SUNY Ulster.

Starting The Day With Online Learning

The first thing I do in the morning (after brewing a pot of coffee) is check my calendar to see what I have planned for the day. I make sure to schedule my days in advance, leaving blocks of time for school work and studying in between work and my other commitments so I never find myself unprepared for a test or missing a guideline. Google Calendar is a great tool for this, or the Calendar app if you have an iPhone. Most schools recommend at least 2 hours of studying a week per credit hour, and even more for STEM courses, so it’s important to ensure you’re making time to study without getting burnt out. Here are some tips for avoiding academic burnout.

The next thing I do is check my student email, and then log in to Brightspace, SUNY Ulster’s online learning platform, to see if there are any new course announcements I might have missed. Brightspace has a convenient mobile app called Pulse that lets me check for new announcements and grades right on my phone. Once I’ve taken care of any time sensitive emails, I put my phone away and get ready for work.

Balancing Work & School As An Online Student

I’m lucky enough to have the privilege of working from home, which helps me to save time by avoiding a commute, but the great thing about online courses is the flexibility you’re afforded when it comes to your schedule. Even students who have jobs that don’t allow for remote work can take advantage of SUNY Ulster’s online degree programs. When I’m out and about or I have downtime at work, I often find myself opening up the Pulse app to catch up on reading for my English and Western Civilization classes. I also make sure to schedule breaks throughout the day where I’m not working or studying to avoid burnout.

Utilizing Campus Resources – Even As An Online Student

On days I don’t have to work, I often myself visiting campus to take advantage of the amenities and resources available to all students, even fully remote ones! Here’s a breakdown of some of the student services I find myself taking advantage of most frequently:

The Library – Whether I’m looking for research assistance or just a quiet place to study, the library is my go-to place on campus for getting school work done.
The Center for Academic Planning & Support (CAPS) – I visit CAPS when I want to brush up on my study skills or I need help from a student tutor.
On Campus Dining – When I need to fuel up for a long study session, I stop in to the cafeteria for some brain food.

These are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to campus resources! Online students can join clubs, participate in Student Government, and more. Here’s a breakdown of SUNY Ulster’s student support services.

Utilizing Online Resources

There are some days I just don’t have the time to get to campus, and that’s when I make use of the many support services available online, like:

StudentLingo – SUNY Ulster has partnered with StudentLingo to provide courses on anything from stress management to developing a strong thesis statement. These workshops are great when I want to brush up on my study skills.
NetTutor – I access NetTutor via BrightSpace when I need to instantly connect with a tutor and don’t have time to get to campus.
Any Time Library – If I need research assistance and can’t make it to the library, I make an appointment for a video meeting with a librarian.
Online Book Store – I utilize the online book store for finding ebooks of my textbooks and stocking up on other supplies I need.

These are just a few resources I find myself using constantly, but here’s a comprehensive list of online student services that SUNY Ulster provides current students.

The Online Class Experience

Once I’ve finished up work for the day, I log on to Brightspace and start my school work. Some classes are given in the traditional lecture format, either on Zoom or in pre-recorded videos. I make sure to take notes just like I would in an in-person class. Some students might be tempted to skip this step, knowing that the lectures are available to rewatch later, but note-taking is an important part of the learning process!

If I’m struggling with the course material or I have a question on an assignment, I’ll reach out to my professor through the Brightspace platform. Most professors get back to me within 24 hours at the latest, and if I need to reach them for a more in depth conversation, I can schedule an appointment with them on Zoom or stop in and see them on campus during their office hours.

Preparing For The Rest of the Week

At the end of each day, I double check Brightspace to make sure I have all of my upcoming due dates in my calendar, and then I put together my schedule for the following day. This helps me to get right to work in the morning and stay on track with my assignments.

Is Online Learning Right For You?

As a self-motivated and disciplined student, online learning has been perfect for me! It has many of the advantages of going to school on campus, but with a flexibility that allows me to get my degree in between work hours. If you’re like me, the benefits of online learning far outweigh the challenges, especially with the many resources SUNY Ulster offers to support online students! The most important thing to remember when pursuing an online degree is to reach out for assistance if you’re having trouble staying on track.

Still not sure about online learning? Here are a few questions to help you figure out if online learning is right for you.

Ready to get started? Here’s a list of online learning programs and a guide on how to register.

Discover the Arts – Wednesday, March 22 from 4 to 6 p.m.

March 9, 2023 by SUNYUlster

March 9, 2023 – Stone Ridge, NY – On Wednesday, March 22, come learn about SUNY Ulster’s Arts Programs, and preview student work. Prospective students are invited to participate in an optional Portfolio Review of their work, and tour the art department facilities including the Gallery, Print Shop, Mac Lab, Mac Studio, and Inner Space. This event will be held in the Muroff Kotler Visual Arts Gallery in Vanderlyn Hall, room 265. Registration is required. The snow date is March 23, 2023.

Attending SUNY Ulster for the first two years of your college journey can be beneficial and fiscally strategic. Currently, SUNY Ulster offers $1 million in scholarships to students annually, and with financial aid, many of our students graduate with zero debt. Having a tight knit college community provides our students with the opportunity to explore their interests and reinforce their strengths before entering a career in the Arts, or transferring to another college.

SUNY Ulster graduates have transferred on to attend four-year colleges such as Fashion Institute of Technology, Pratt, School of Visual Arts, SUNY New Paltz, SUNY Purchase, and much more.

For more information, contact SUNY Ulster Admissions, The Enrollment & Success Center at admissionsevents@sunyulster.edu or 845-687-5022.

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SUNY Ulster Environmental Studies Program Presents a Lecture on Climate

December 2, 2022 by SUNYUlster

SUNY Ulster Environmental Studies Program Presents a Lecture on Climate
with Tim Guinee & Samrat Pathania on December 13 at 7 p.m.

December 2, 2022 – Stone Ridge, NY – SUNY Ulster welcomes Tim Guinee, Chapter Chairman for the Climate Reality Project, and Samrat Pathania, Wallkill High School STEM teacher for an evening discussion on climate issues and how to get involved in climate activism. This event takes place on December 13 from 7-9 p.m. in the College Lounge, Vanderlyn Hall of the Stone Ridge Campus, and is free and open to the public.

Tim Guinee is the President of Climate Action Now and a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences Commission on Accelerating Climate Solutions. As a leader in former Vice-President Al Gore’s Climate Reality Project, he has given presentations on the climate emergency all over the U.S., Canada, and North Africa. He is also the founder of The Climate Actors and serves on the Leadership Council of Riverkeeper, the board of the Ashokan Center, and the board of Green Product Placement. He is the official climate change liaison for the town of Marbletown, NY with the Climate Mayors, and serves as the New York legislative-action director for the New York Climate Reality Chapters Coalition. Mr. Guinee
earns his living as an actor and has performed in hundreds of films, plays, and episodes
of television.

Samrat Pathania is a former software engineer who currently teaches mathematics, physics, and computer science at Wallkill High School in Wallkill, NY. He is a New York State Master Teacher Emeritus and co-founder of the Educator Collective for Environmental Justice. Samrat is a passionate advocate for inquiry-based and climate solutions-centered STEM education, inside and outside the classroom. He is a Climate Reality Leader and has presented many talks and workshops on practical climate solutions. He lives in New Paltz, NY with his family in a net-zero home.

For more information, contact Jennifer Guiher at guiherj@sunyulster.edu. Registration is required. Please visit http://bit.ly/3UwNiI9 to register to attend.

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Approaching the finish line: Discussion on self care around finals

March 12, 2026November 18, 2022 by SUNYUlster

By Ashley Brown, LCSW-R

Crisis Counselor at SUNY Ulster

April 7, 2022

For everyone on campus, we are approaching the finish line of the semester. Some are also approaching the culmination of their time at SUNY Ulster, graduating and are venturing further into their “start here, go far” journey.

If we think about marathons, the message tends to be to pace ourselves. Don’t rush, find balance, take water and snack breaks to keep ourselves going and maintain stamina. The same can apply to the course of the semester. The final stretch often requires us to pace ourselves leading up to it to support our highest potential. Here are some tips that many have found helpful to support success and overall wellness:

Routines: plan to go to sleep and wake up at the same times everyday. Be mindful of how much caffeine you are drinking and avoid this and sugar later in the day so you can rest.

Eat well: instead of captain crunch for breakfast, consider something more sustaining such as eggs, oatmeal (being mindful of sugars) keep snacks handy for your day that support brain health and energy (nuts, berries, bananas, yogurt, leafy greens).

Hydrate: water, water, water. Many experts believe that anything other than water is not hydrating. Water is like the WD40 for our skin, muscles, joints etc

Take breaks: stand up, stretch, take a walk, look outside your window, give your eyes and being a break from the computer. Even if you don’t have a lot of time, take a walk to your mailbox, around your house, if you are on campus…walk to the furthest restroom or go talk with someone face to face rather than sending an email. The change of perspective for both body and mind can really make a positive difference.

For any questions or other tips, please feel free to contact me at brownas@sunyulster.edu. Better yet, come on by to my office in Van 128. As always, consult with your doctors about what plans and food best suit you.

SUNY Ulster faculty and staff are here to support you to “start here and go far.” Best of luck on finals and all of your endeavors!

SUNY Ulster Senators Spirit & Community Day

September 9, 2022 by SUNYUlster

Basketball player holds basketball on the court

September 8, 2022 – Stone Ridge, NY – SUNY Ulster invites prospective students, current students, and community members to join the campus community in a collaborative interactive day with Admissions and Athletics on September 15 from 5:30 – 7:00 p.m.

Register to participate in an Ulster Student Leadership Showcase with information about athletics, student engagement opportunities, and activities that can build your resume of co-curricular activities. Then stay for a SUNY Ulster Women’s Volleyball game vs. SUNY Dutchess in the Senate Gym at 7:00 p.m.

Wear SUNY Ulster gear or your favorite sports team with the (MAC) Military Affiliated Club!
Take a campus tour!

Register to attend

SUNY Ulster Hosts Annual “Future Voices” Art Exhibit Showcasing Local High School Talent

May 23, 2022May 18, 2022 by SUNYUlster

May 18, 2022 – Stone Ridge, NY – Ulster County high school students will be showcased in an exhibit of their artwork with “Future Voices 2022: High School Art from Ulster County,” opening May 27 and running through June 10, at the Muroff Kotler Visual Arts Gallery on the Stone Ridge campus. The opening reception is on Friday, May 27, from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m.

This annual exhibition features artwork from high school students throughout Ulster County. Participating schools include Saugerties, Onteora, Rondout Valley, Kingston, Ulster BOCES, New Paltz, Ellenville, Marlboro, Highland, Wallkill, and Woodstock Day School. The show will include a wide variety of media including painting, drawing, photography, ceramics, sculpture, digital media, and more.

The Ulster Community College Foundation, Inc. is offering prizes to the artists with the three best pieces in the show. There will be one $100 best-in-show award and two honorable mentions, worth $50 each.

The exhibition is being curated by Allison Constant, owner and founder of Art Bar in Kingston. Ms. Constant is a SUNY Ulster fine art program alumna. In addition to her work at Art Bar, she has curated exhibits for the Woodstock Artists Association and Museum and Woodstock Jewish Congregation. She has also exhibited her own work at The Farber Center in New York City, Samuel Dorsky Museum at SUNY New Paltz, and The Shirt Factory in Kingston, among others.

Ms. Constant will also be joining the SUNY Ulster adjunct faculty to teach a new applied learning course in Curatorial Studies. The course will provide students with hands-on experience in all aspects of curating exhibits culminating in an exhibit in the Muroff-Kotler Visual Arts Gallery.

The Muroff Kotler Visual Arts Gallery is open Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., and by appointment. It is closed on college holidays. The show and opening reception are free and open to the public. SUNY Ulster requires that masks must be worn in all indoor settings at this time. For more information, call 845-687-5113.

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SUNY Ulster Presents a Virtual Event with Author, Erika Meitner

April 13, 2022April 4, 2022 by SUNYUlster

portrait of poet for Ellen Robbins Poetry Forum - Erika Meitner

April 4, 2022 – Stone Ridge, NY – Registration is now open for the 2022 Ellen Robbins Poetry Forum with poet, essayist, and social critic, Erika Meitner via Zoom on Tuesday, April 19 at 1:15 p.m.

Moderated by Rachael Pompeii, Instructor of English at SUNY Ulster, this virtual event will include Ms. Meitner reading from her work and an interview.

Erika Meitner is the winner of the 2018 National Jewish Book Award for Poetry and author of six books of poems: Useful Junk; Holy Moly Carry Me; Inventory at the All-Night Drugstore; Makeshift Instructions for Vigilant Girls; and Ideal Cities, which was a 2009 National Poetry series winner; and Copia. Her poetry and prose have been widely anthologized.

Born and raised in Queens and Long Island, NY, Meitner is a first-generation American: her father is from Israel; her mother was born in a refugee camp in Germany, which is where her maternal grandparents settled after surviving the Holocaust. Meitner is currently a professor of English at Virginia Tech.

Sponsored by the Ulster Community College Foundation, The Poetry Forum is an annual event that brings well-known and award-winning poets to SUNY Ulster for intimate question and answer sessions. In 2007, the program was renamed the Ellen Robbins Poetry Forum to honor the memory of Ellen Robbins (1952-2006) who was on the faculty at SUNY Ulster from 1994 until 2006, and Chair of the English department, 2002-2006.

This event is free and open to the public. Registration is required. Zoom information will be provided upon registration via a confirmation email. To learn more, contact Kari Mack by email at mackk@sunyulster.edu.

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Fine Art/Visual Art Students Exhibition April 1 – April 30

April 13, 2022March 31, 2022 by SUNYUlster

Fine Arts Exhibition paintings and drawings

March 31, 2022 – Stone Ridge, NY – Fine Art/Visual Art students from SUNY Ulster showcase artwork from Drawing & Composition I & II, 3 Dimensional Design, Advanced Studio I & II, Printmaking, Watercolor, and Painting from April 1 through April 30 at the Stone Ridge Library on Main St. in Stone Ridge.

Students participating in the exhibition include Laurel Burch, Magdalana Cruz, Meleah Danner, Sam Goldberg, Isabella Harrell, Margaret Melanson, Alexandra Maher, Arianna Moore, Maggie Priest, Greg Renner, Francis Sargenti, Olivia Schmidt, Lorelei Siegel, Megan Sorbellini, Karen St. Pierre, Brittany Topple, Darryl Underwood, and Kylie Williams.

The Fine Art/Visual Art program at SUNY Ulster is a two-year foundation-based program preparing students for transfer to complete their four year degrees at some of the top art schools or to begin their careers. Students completing the first two years of their four-year degree at SUNY Ulster transfer at the third year level to schools such as SUNY New Paltz, School of Visual Arts, and Pratt Institute. Those entering the job market will graduate with a Competitive portfolio.

This event is free and open to the public. The Stone Ridge Library is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and on Mondays from 1:30 to 7 p.m.

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SUNY Ulster Earns Gold Military Friendly® School Designation

April 12, 2022March 25, 2022 by SUNYUlster

March 23, 2022 – Stone Ridge, NY – SUNY Ulster announced today that it has earned the Gold 2022-2023 Military Friendly ® School designation. Military Friendly® is the designation that measures a school’s commitment to veteran and veteran dependent recruitment, retention, and advancement.

Institutions earning the Military Friendly® School designation were evaluated using both public data sources and responses from a proprietary survey. More than 1,800 schools participated in the 2022-2023 survey with 665 earning special awards for going above the standard.

Methodology, criteria, and weightings were determined by Viqtory with input from the Military Friendly® Advisory Council of independent leaders in the higher education and military recruitment community. Final ratings were determined by combining the institution’s survey scores with the assessment of the institution’s ability to meet thresholds for Student Retention, Graduation, Job Placement, Loan Repayment, Persistence (Degree Advancement or Transfer), and Loan Default rates for all students and, specifically, for student veterans.

“SUNY Ulster’s veteran students and their dependents benefit from a broad array of College-wide support as they work toward a degree including a veterans service coordinator on campus who provides ongoing help navigating the application process for benefits, a Battle Buddy Center on campus which provides a quiet place for veterans and veteran family students to connect and work, and a Military Affiliated Community (MAC) Club,” cited Dr. Alan P. Roberts, President of SUNY Ulster.

Manuel Torres, SUNY Ulster’s Veterans Service Coordinator, says, “We work one on one with veterans to maximize the use of benefits to ensure they are able to reach their desired goal. We also work with outside agencies to address any problem our veterans may encounter, from homelessness to mental health issues. By providing the necessary resources we maximize veterans’ chances for success.”

“Schools who achieve awards designation show true commitment in their efforts, going over and above that standard,” reports Kayla Lopez, National Director of Military Partnerships, Military Friendly®.

Interested veterans and their families can learn more about SUNY Ulster’s military veteran opportunities by contacting Manny Torres at torresm@sunyulster.edu or (845) 688-6003.

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Last Chance Registration for Spring 2022 To Be Held on January 18

January 14, 2022 by SUNYUlster

Student by computer next to text overlay saying: Last Chance to Register January 18th Make appointment Now!

January 14, 2022 – Stone Ridge, NY – The last chance to register for the spring 2022 semester at SUNY Ulster will take place virtually on Tuesday, January 18 beginning at 9 a.m. Both virtual and in-person appointments are available. SUNY Ulster has waived the late registration fee for this semester.

Spring 2022 classes will begin on January 24. Those interested in registering can set up an appointment with their academic department online at bit.ly/springreg22. Appointments are on a first-come-first-serve basis. Once an appointment is set, a confirmation email will be sent with appointment details.

For more information on applying or registering, call (845) 687-5022 or visit SUNY Ulster Admissions.

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