Campus Life

Getting through Finals -10 Tips for Success

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Woman working at finals

Yes, it’s about that time, finals! As a college student, finals are stressful and important. We’re hoping though, these ten tips below, help you be more prepared and less stressed during finals time.

1. Lower your commitments. Don’t take on any extra commitments and even put off any unnecessary social obligations or family commitments. Let your schedule have as much free time as possible within the two weeks leading up to finals. You’ll find you have a lot easier time studying if you make extra time for it. If you’re working, try if at all possible to take 10 days off for final exam period (or at least trim your work schedule). Even a few strategically placed extra hours can make the difference between doing just OK on finals and doing a really great job.

2. Understand your study needs. Some students think they should spend equal amounts of time preparing for each of their finals. Instead, distribute your study time to how hard the final is likely to be and how well you already know the material.

Insider tip: When figuring out when to start studying, count up from the day the study questions are handed out (or if your prof doesn’t do this, a week before the exam) to the day the exam will take place. “Seven days? Then divide the course into sevenths and study two weeks’ worth of lectures each day.”

3. Figure out what’s covered. One of the most important things you need to be clear about is what materials are going to be tested on the final. Are readings and discussion sections included, or is the final going to focus almost exclusively on material from the lectures? Is the final going to concentrate on materials since the midterm or is it going to be a comprehensive or cumulative final? Knowing the extent and the limits of the exam will make it much easier to organize and structure your studying.

4. Find out if you’re answering the big question or a series of smaller questions. Professors have two strategies when making up finals. Some design a single, big question or two; others give a series of more focused questions, each covering some single issue in the course. Before you start studying, make sure you’ve figured out your professor’s test-construction strategy.

5. Understand when to do group study. Many students believe (mistakenly) that a study group always is the best advantage: more brain power plus peer pressure to crack the books. This works well when your study partners are at least as smart as you. Exam time isn’t charity time.

6. Read the instructions—and make a plan. When you get to the exam and get your test sheet, take the time to carefully survey the format of the test. How many questions are you being asked to answer? Is there a choice? How much does each part count? Then make a (tentative) plan—right up front, before you start working—of how much time you’re going to devote to each question.

Insider tip: Don’t waste too much time outlining your answers, writing down formulas you’ve memorized, or (when given a choice) starting a question and then stopping and starting another question. You’re being graded on the quality of your answer, not on notes to yourself or false starts.

7. Be sure to expand your answers fully. Many students don’t realize that, on essay exams, part of what’s being graded is how well you develop and explain your answer, not just how correct it is. Consider explaining your points in more detail so that someone unfamiliar with the answer would know, just from what you say, what the answer is.

8. Don’t panic too soon. In three hours, you’ll probably be confronted with a number of questions of varying degrees of difficulty. There are bound to be ups and downs—times you’re feeling better, and worse, about how the test is going. Ignore such instantaneous feedback. Most tests are designed to have some harder questions, and in any case, such self-evaluation is often wrong.

9. Pace yourself. Two or three hours is a long time. Think of the final exam as a work session, divided into a number of sub-sessions. Take a few minute break between each question or part. Approach each question separately from the rest.

10. Stay until the end. It’s amazing to see, but many students leave before the exam is over. That’s never a good thing to do, since there are always problems to be checked over or essays to be added to or proofread. Even making a single correction to a problem, or adding a single point to an essay (don’t be afraid to pencil a paragraph into the margin or on top of the page), can spell the difference between a good grade and a not-so-good grade.

Three Sisters Get College Start at SUNY Ulster

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The Hart sisters stand with arms around each other

While they have different career plans, sisters Jacquelyn, Chelsea and Brooke Hart from New Paltz agree on the value of starting their education at SUNY Ulster.

With three attending college at the same time and being raised by a single mother who is a veteran and works for the New Paltz Police Department, SUNY Ulster’s low tuition was a key factor in their decision.

But they each also chose SUNY Ulster for its quality education, campus activities, connections and transfer opportunities.

“I chose SUNY Ulster because it is affordable while offering a great educational opportunity,” said the oldest sister Jacquelyn, who will graduate this year.

Jacquelyn, who also works at the College’s Learning Center, plans on transferring to SUNY Buffalo or SUNY New Paltz to study communications and journalism.

The second sister, Chelsea, is pursuing Environmental Studies with plans to go to SUNY Environmental Science and Forestry in Syracuse after earning her associate’s here in May 2016.

“SUNY Ulster was the best idea for me because it is more affordable and studying here will give me a stronger foundation in my studies before transferring to a four-year college,” Chelsea said.

Both Jacquelyn and Chelsea have been active in SUNY Ulster’s Chess Club, serving as treasurer and secretary, respectively.

The youngest, Brooke, is following his sisters’ paths. She will enroll in the fall after graduating from New Paltz High School with similar career aspirations as Chelsea to better the environment.

“I am choosing SUNY Ulster because it offers a wide variety of opportunities to its students in terms of professional connections and extracurricular activities, and it is very affordable,” said Brooke, who wants to become an environmental engineer.

Having all the sisters on campus on the same time will be enjoyable for this close-knit family who is going places. “It will be fun to share the college experience with both of my sisters while also being there to support each of them through the process,” Chelsea said.

 

 

The Skinny on Scholarship Success

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Student accepting award at the 2011 Scholarship Ceremony

Tips from Our Coordinator of the Scholarship Program

Overwhelmed about the thought of applying for scholarships and think you won’t win one anyway? Think again. Burnelle Roser, Associate Director & Coordinator of the Scholarship Program, shares some of the basics about scholarships that will show you how easy it really is and get you applying before you miss out on some great opportunities.

Who: You! Each year, the Ulster Community College Foundation awards over $180,000 in scholarships to more than 200 students. You might think thousands are applying and you don’t have a chance. In fact, only a small percentage of students apply so your chances are good. Scholarships are open to new students entering SUNY Ulster, returning students and those transferring to four-year colleges. “Every single student should apply,” says Burnelle.

When: Right now! The time to start thinking about scholarships for the Spring 2016 semester is December/January. The Foundation’s general scholarship application deadline for SUNY Ulster students is Feb. 6, 2015. Don’t miss out. All the deadlines are on the portal in the “Student Resources” section under “Scholarships.”

How: SUNY Ulster students should fill out the general application and essay to be considered for scholarships administered by the Foundation. You don’t have to pick and choose the ones you want to be considered for. We’ll do it for you. “Our goal is to connect students to as many of the 200 different criteria as we can,” she says. The general application is available in two formats – an electronic PDF that can be completed on a computer or a printable form. Both versions are available at:   www.sunyulster.edu/foundation/scholarships/applications.

Why: Why not? We’re talking FREE money for college that doesn’t have to be paid back. With awards generally ranging from $500 to full tuition, it’s worth the few hours it may take to apply.

Remember to meet the deadlines, carefully follow all the instructions, answer the questions as candidly as possible and go for it! Stay tuned for more scholarship tips here.

Senator Mascot 3

10 Theater Tidbits

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SUNY Ulster Theatre Department Gets Ready for a Performance.

 

When the curtain goes up for SUNY Ulster’s Theater productions, countless hours of work by students, faculty, community members and volunteers have gone into making the show possible. Here’s a peak at 10 things that happen behind the scenes:

  • Did you know Theater Costumer Aletta Vett travels on average 1,500 miles a production in search of the perfect thrift-store and yard sale bargains, fabrics, accessories and wigs to costume our student performers?
  • Bolts of fabric. Yards and yard of thread. Packages of dye. Dress manikins. Patterns and sewing machines. These are some of the tools of the trade for costume.
  • The Fall 2014 production of “Six One Act Plays by Christopher Durang” had 25 actors and 44 costumes, but with the accessories and pieces like bags, jewelry and shoes that totals hundreds of items to track.
  • Costumes are washed every night and arranged on large racks alphabetically by the actors’ last name with each individual piece hung in the order it will be put on – just like they do on Broadway. The order takes away the stress so actors can concentrate on their performances.
  • SUNY Ulster students have learned how to stitch and build costumes, replace buttons, make extensions, add sequins and more by Costumer Aletta Vett, who once sewed kilts for a living in her “retirement” and has been with SUNY Ulster for nearly a decade.
  • Students never wear their own clothing for costumes – with the exception of large size shoes that are hard to find.
  • Helping in the costume shop is a course requirement for Theater Production Participation credit. Students can be found ironing costumes, organizing accessories and getting fitted in between classes.
  • The costumes for “Six One Act Plays by Christopher Durang” were inspired by the mid 1980s and featured bright colors – except for the mourners in “Funeral Parlor” who wore black with pearl necklaces with the exception of one outrageous mourner who wore a lavender shirt and tie.
  • SUNY Ulster Theatre students have plenty of fun outside the classroom too. This Halloween, students haunted the Hurley Cemetery for the Ghost Walk Tour.
  • Costumer Aletta Vett says she loves working with the enthusiastic students in SUNY Ulster’s Theatre Department and there’s nothing like the energy backstage after opening night. “They are flying with energy,” she says. “It’s an amazing accomplishment.”

Students Celebrate No Hate Week at SUNY Ulster

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Student writing on paper against another student's back

SUNY Ulster declares it is a “Safe Space” for everyone.

Bullying is an ongoing issue around the globe, in all demographics. During No Hate Week, SUNY Ulster stepped up to fight bullying, shaming, and other forms of harassment for all SUNY Ulster students.

No Hate Week on campus turned its focus on supporting the students of SUNY Ulster who identify as part of the LGBTQ community while also getting out the word that the campus is a safe space for all students. The focus started with the LGBTQ student community because of the need to give a voice to the countless individuals in the LGBTQ community and around them (allies) who are constantly harassed and bullied for who they are, what they wear, and what race they have been born into.

If you have never been bullied think about that for a moment. How would you feel being harassed on a daily basis for being who you are? For LGBTQ students this is something most of us face on the regular it has become a horrible part of our lives, and no matter how much we try to not let it bother us it always does. For some individuals they cannot take the torment on the daily they do not know who to turn to so the only way they see out of the torment is by taking their own lives.

From November 18th-20th the LGBTA club with support of SGO and countless other clubs held their very first No Hate Week. This was held during Trans Remembrance week leading up to our amazing photo shoot on the 20th which fell on Trans Remembrance Day.

Day 1 November 18th:

The day was surrounded by positive messages for all LGBTQ students on our campus.Day one started off with and opening speech by our very own President Katt. His speech went over statistics on bullying of LGBTQ students, and then went on to talk about SUNY Ulster’s Zero Tolerance policy and how bullying and harassment of any kind is not welcome on our campus, and if any student is getting harassed they should not be afraid of coming forward and reporting any incidents. The harassment will be dealt with in a swift manner without the student seeing any backlashes from it.

“While there have been societal advances toward greater tolerance with members of the

LGBTQ community, e.g. the growing number of states recognizing same sex marriages, we need to

continue to work on a full embrace of non-prejudicial diversity.  I will not accept any student coming

to our campus not feeling completely safe and accepted for whatever lifestyle he or she has

selected.” -President Donald Katt, SUNY Ulster

 

Following President Katt’s speech Stephen Balantzian introduced drama students Jayme Strype, Jaisa London, Damien Stevens, Joel Cruz, Lex Borscherdt, Jena Bruno, Kelsey VanEtten, and Colleen Smith. These amazingly talented drama students preformed skits from The Laramie Project.

Their performances brought tears to many onlookers. For those of you not familiar with The Laramie Project here in an excerpt from the Tectonic Theatre Companies Site “In October 1998 Matthew Shepard was kidnapped, severely beaten and left to die, tied to a fence on the outskirts of Laramie, Wyoming.  Five weeks later, Moisés Kaufman and fellow members of the Tectonic Theater Project went to Laramie, and over the course of the next year, conducted more than 200 interviews with people of the town.  From these interviews they wrote the play The Laramie Project, a chronicle of the life of the town of Laramie in the year after the murder.  THE LARAMIE PROJECT is one of the most performed plays in America today.”

 

Day 2 November 19th:

The Hudson Valley LGBTQ Center’s own outreach personnel, Corrine and Davey were present to share the resources and support available at the center. Davey ran a lively workshop presentation regarding Transgender awareness, sharing poignant facts and involving the audience in a rousing activist minded discussion.

Steven Hengst from the Big Gay Hudson Valley, shared the bounty of recreational resources of the Hudson Valley for the LGBTQ community. He also shared his experience of being a gay man in Hudson Valley and starting a website that celebrates the LGBTQ community with his husband as co-founder. He has received thousands of positive messages of support for the outlet and they continue to pour in daily which fuels his drive to continue the work Big Gay Hudson Valley does (for example the Holiday event for local charities).

“This week was extremely important for SUNY Ulster to acknowledge, recognize, celebrate

and honor our LBGTQ community and put a special spotlight on the importance of creating a

community of inclusion and support for all and especially for our transgender brothers and sisters

who are here among us and for those have lost their lives.” -Hope Windle, Multimedia Instruct Designer Learning Technologies at SUNY Ulster

 

Day 3 November 20th:

On our third and final day was our No Hate Photo Shoot which fell on Trans Remembrance Day and our photo shoot was dedicated to all those who are no longer with us. Our photo shoot had a much larger turn out than expected and was an experience that I am so happy to have been a part of, and even more pleased to say that we started out with 100 photo waivers and had to make more copies. That alone was an amazing thing to witness the outpouring of students and faculty that came and took a stand against hate.

On Behalf of myself and the LGBTQA Club a very special thanks to everyone who was involved in these amazing three days’ worth of events. The following are quotes by some of the individuals who made this special day possible. And please always remember do not be the bully be the preventer, and you yourself can make a huge difference in someone’s life.

“I am so proud of our students, faculty and staff for creating and participating in SUNY Ulster’s

first No Hate Week.The enthusiasm for the events, particularly the NoH8 photo shoot was amazing.

While we’ve only just begun on our journey to eliminate hate, bullying and inappropriate behavior

toward the LGBTA community, our first No Hate Week was a huge, positive leap in the right direction.

We look forward to hosting an even bigger No Hate Week next year.” -Deb Waller-Frederick, Coordinator of Campus Life Community Relations Marketing at SUNY Ulster

 

Ashli Skura Dreher, Adjunct Professor Named State Teacher of the Year

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Portrait photo of Ashli Skura Dreher

SUNY Ulster Adjunct Professor Ashli Skura Dreher Honored, Named State Teacher of the Year

SUNY Ulster online adjunct professor Ashli Skura Dreher has been named the2014 New York State Teacher of the Year by the State Board of Regents.

Dreher, a high school special-education teacher for the Lewiston-Porter Central School District, has taught the online course Supporting Students in Reading and Writing through the College since 2005.

A teacher in the Lewiston-Porter district for 15 years, she is the first in the district to earn National Board Certification for Professional Teaching Standards, one of teaching’s highest honors. She teaches special education in a high school classroom working with students with moderate intellectual disabilities and developmental disabilities.

“New York’s teachers are among the best and most professional in the nation. Still, Ashli manages to stand out,” said New York State United Teachers President Richard C. Iannuzzi. “In her classroom, students with special needs receive a mix of research-based instruction and innovative lessons. Her focus on community and volunteerism, and her close collaboration with parents, make her a sterling example of what happens when great teachers and concerned parents work together on behalf of our children. I join every member of NYSUT in congratulating her.”

Dreher is a dissertation level doctoral student in the teaching and curriculum department of the University of Rochester’s Margaret Warner School of Education and Human Development, where she enjoys researching literacy, specifically the best instructional practices for teaching reading to students with moderate intellectual disabilities. Dreher also served as the NYSUT Education and Learning Trust regional coordinator for the Western New York and Rochester areas for 10 years to promote turnkey training and professional development for teachers and aspiring teachers.

Mindy Kole Honored as an Outstanding Businesswoman

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Mindy Kole standing with Senator Sam mascot and holding an "I love SUNY Ulster sign"

Mindy Kole Honored as an Outstanding Businesswoman

Mindy Kole, Director of SUNY Ulster’s Darlene L. Pfeiffer Center For Entrepreneurial Studies and Assistant Professor in the English, Business and Professional Studies programs, has been named an an Outstanding Hudson Valley Businesswomen by Hudson Valley Magazine. She is one of the honorees at the inaugural Women in Business Luncheon.