SUNY Ulster Hosts “Teaching Diversity in an Adverse Time” with Albert Cook

Albert Cook portrait

April 10, 2026 – Stone Ridge, NY – SUNY Ulster will present Teaching Diversity in an Adverse Time, a special lecture and discussion featuring noted educator and historian Albert Cook, on Wednesday, April 22 from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. in the College Lounge on the Stone Ridge campus.

This event will offer a pedagogical presentation and open discussion focused on the challenges and importance of teaching diversity, equity, and inclusion in today’s evolving social climate. Participants will gain insight into effective approaches for engaging students in meaningful conversations about race, history, and identity.

Albert Cook is a noted lecturer on the history of African cultures and the development of race and racism in North America. He is also the co-author of Bearing Witness: Exploring the Legacy of Enslavement in Ulster County (2024), a work that examines the region’s historical connections to enslavement and its lasting impact on the community.

“Our mission is to educate individuals and elevate the community,” said Dr. Hans Vought, Professor of History and Chair of the Social Sciences, History and Education Dept. “This event combines academic inquiry with current events, creating a forum for thoughtful discussion.”

Developed in coordination with SUNY Ulster’s Social Science, History, & Education department in partnership with the College’s Chief Diversity Officer, the presentation is open to students, faculty, staff, and the public.

For more information, please email Nichola Harris, Ph.D., Professor of European History & Coordinator of History and Political Science at harrisn@sunyulster.edu.

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SUNY Ulster Holds Spring Open House and Accepted Students Day 2026 on Saturday, April 25

Students around a Phi Tehta Kappa tabe

April 9, 2026 – Stone Ridge, NY – SUNY Ulster will host its 2026 Spring Open House and Accepted Students Day on the Stone Ridge campus on Saturday, April 25. Check-in starts at 8:30 a.m., followed by a Welcome Address at 9 a.m. Scheduled sessions and tours will begin promptly at 9:30 a.m. and run through 2 p.m.

Attendees will learn about SUNY Ulster’s academic programs, student services, campus life, athletics, and more. They’ll also have the chance to attend a College Services Fair, an Academic Program Showcase presented by faculty, and a campus tour led by Student Admissions Ambassadors.

Demos and hands-on experiences will also be featured, including art portfolio reviews, a podcast studio tour and digital storytelling, an advanced manufacturing lab demo, a veterinary triage simulation, and more.

 Prospective students will also receive guidance from our Enrollment & Success Center Team and other Student Services professionals through the Admissions process, an overview of SUNY Ulster scholarships, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and other important foundational resources to ensure student success.

 In addition to the above activities, accepted students beginning their studies in the Fall 2026 semester will also attend special sessions designed to help students prepare and transition to college. They will also have the opportunity to schedule appointments with an advisor for a later date.

Student Government President and Phi Theta Kappa member, Aiden Banbury ‘26, will be speaking at Open House and says, “I applied to several four-year schools, but when the numbers came back, reality hit—college is expensive, and pretending it isn’t doesn’t help. I originally planned to transfer after one year, but within my first two months, that plan changed. SUNY Ulster quickly showed me it wasn’t just an affordable option—it was a place where I could grow, get involved, and make the most of my experience.”

Reservations for Open House are preferred, but walk-ins are welcome for this event. Those who reserve their spot in advance will receive an individualized schedule for the day’s planned activities tailored to their interests and educational goals. A brunch buffet will be available at our college services fair and all guests will receive a discount on SUNY Ulster Spirit Wear in the campus bookstore.

Reserve Your Spot. For more information, please contact SUNY Ulster’s Enrollment & Success Center at admissions@sunyulster.edu or (845) 687-5022.

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SUNY Ulster Hosts John Burroughs Natural Science Lecture: “Look Underfoot – An Introduction to the Geology of Ulster County”

portrait of Steve Schimmerich

April 7, 2026 – Stone Ridge, NY – SUNY Ulster invites the community to explore the ancient story beneath their feet at the John Burroughs Natural Science Lecture: “Look Underfoot – An Introduction to the Geology of Ulster County,” presented by Steven Schimmrich. It will take place on Thursday, April 16, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. in BUR-120, the Captain Jack Rose Memorial Lecture Hall on the Stone Ridge Campus. The event is free and open to the public.

Inspired by the words of famed naturalist John Burroughs— “Look underfoot…”—this engaging lecture will reveal the remarkable geological history of Ulster County, a story that spans more than a billion years.

Attendees will learn how the region was once shaped by towering Himalayan-scale mountains, chains of erupting volcanic islands, shallow subtropical seas, and vast glacial ice sheets. The presentation will also highlight how geology has influenced human history in the region, including industries such as bluestone quarrying, natural cement production, and brick-making—key drivers of past economic development in Ulster County.

Professor Schimmrich has taught geology and Earth sciences at SUNY Ulster for more than 25 years. He is the author of Geology of the Hudson Valley: A Billion Years of History (2020) and is widely recognized for his research on the region’s geology and its connection to historical development.

For more information, please email schimmrichs@sunyulster.edu.

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SUNY Ulster Welcomes Acclaimed Poet Sarah Kay as 2026 Ellen Robbins Poetry Forum and the Herbert H. & Sofia P. Reuner Library Writers Series Event

Sarah Kay speaking

March 25, 2026 – Stone Ridge, NY – SUNY Ulster welcomes internationally recognized poet, performer, and educator, Sarah Kay for a special reading and conversation on Thursday, April 9 at 10:15 a.m. in the College Lounge, Vanderlyn Hall on the SUNY Ulster campus.

The event will be moderated by Samantha Dunn, Assistant Professor of English, and will offer students and community members an opportunity to hear Kay’s work and learn about the role poetry can play in education.

 Sarah Kay is best known for her spoken word poetry and has performed at the UN, Lincoln Center and the Tribeca Film Festival, among other venues. She is the founder of Project Voice, an organization that uses spoken word poetry to entertain, educate, and inspire audiences through performances and workshops at hundreds of schools, from kindergarten through the university level.

The author of five poetry collections: BNo Matter the WreckageThe TypeAll Our Wild Wonder, and A Little Daylight Left, she has built a global following through her powerful stage presence. In addition, Kay has delivered a widely viewed TED Talk, and was the first featured speaker in PBS NewsHour’s “Brief But Spectacular” series.

The Ellen Robbins Poetry Forum and the Herbert H. & Sofia P. Reuner Library Writers Series are special programs sponsored by The Ulster Community College Foundation, Inc. that brings renowned writers and poets to campus each year.

This event is free and open to the public. For more information email mackk@sunyulster.edu.

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SUNY Ulster Holds FAFSA & TAP Completion Day April 7

fafsa-zoom composition

March 24, 2026 – Stone Ridge, NY – SUNY Ulster is holding a FAFSA & TAP Completion Day on Tuesday, April 7 from 2-3:30 p.m. in Hasbrouck Hall, Room 207 on the Stone Ridge campus. For both current and prospective students, the event is designed to assist students and families with the college financial aid process.

The workshop will provide one-on-one help filling out the 2026-27 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and New York State Tuition Assistance Program application (TAP). To complete your financial aid applications with a financial aid specialist, both students and parents should have their 2024 Federal and New York State tax returns, their New York State ID/Driver License, and social security numbers.

Federal and state grants can significantly lower the cost of college and they do not need to be repaid. In 2025, 84% of SUNY Ulster students graduated debt-free. Filing the FAFSA is also required for scholarship eligibility.

Save your spot by registering today. For more information, contact the Financial Aid Office at financialaid@sunyulster.edu or 845-687-5058.

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SUNY Ulster Holds Instant Admissions Week March 30 – April 2

instant admissions week at SUNY Ulster

A Quick and Easy Way to Fast Track Your Fall 2026 Enrollment

March 17, 2026 – Stone Ridge, NY – SUNY Ulster is holding an Instant Admissions Week from March 30 through April 2 from 10 am to 4 pm to provide the community with a convenient way to complete all the admissions steps needed for enrollment. For anyone interested in attending SUNY Ulster in Fall 2026, this is a good opportunity to benefit from the hands-on experience of admissions representatives and others who can answer questions and help you through the entire process.

Attendees should bring their official, sealed high school transcript, original GED certificate or original IHIP Letter of Substantial Equivalency, and any official college transcript (if applicable). Participants will be guided through the entire process by admissions counselors. Financial aid reps will also be on hand to assist with the financial aid process.

SUNY Ulster offers students over 60 academic programs that lead to either transfer to a four-year college or entry into the job market. To best help students afford college, the Ulster Community College Foundation budgets $1 million in scholarships annually to entering, continuing, and transferring students.

Reservations for an Instant Admissions appointment are preferred but not required.  Register Now

For more information, contact the Enrollment & Success Center at admissions@sunyulster.edu or 845-687-5022

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SUNY Ulster Celebrates Women’s History Month

portrait of Sojourner Truth

Sojourner Truth: Breaking Barriers and Building Futures, March 9-13 at the Muroff-Kotler Visual Arts Gallery

March 5, 2026 – Stone Ridge, NY– SUNY Ulster is proud to present Sojourner Truth: Breaking Barriers and Building Futures, an exhibit and panel outlining Sojourner Truth’s powerful role in advancing justice as we reflect on Women’s History. The exhibition will be on view March 9 through March 13 at the Muroff-Kotler Visual Arts Gallery on the Stone Ridge campus.

An opening reception will take place on Monday, March 9, from 12:30 to 2:00 p.m., and is free and open to the public.  Welcoming remarks will be shared by SUNY Ulster President, Alison Buckley, Ed.D., Chief Diversity Officer and Professor of English Candice Van Dyke, with a keynote address from Esi Lewis, Esq., Executive Director of the Dr. Margaret Wade-Lewis Center for History and Culture in New Paltz.  A panel will follow featuring full-time faculty, Dr. Hans Vought, Professor of History and Chair of the Social Sciences, Education and History Department, and Dr. Nichola Harris, Professor of European History.

Made possible by the Unified Court System, the Sojourner Truth historical banners on display are on loan from Sojourner Truth: A New Yorkers Path from Slavery to Freedom.

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.

For more information, email vandykec@sunyulster.edu.

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Herrington Showcase Concert this March at SUNY Ulster Honors Memory of Former SUNY Ulster Bandleader, Lee Herrington

Students performing in Concert

February 18, 2026 – Stone Ridge, NY – On Wednesday, March 4, at 7:30 p.m. the music ensembles of SUNY Ulster will perform a concert to honor the memory of Lee Herrington. Herrington was a dedicated musician and mentor, the former band director at SUNY Ulster, a longtime Rondout Valley music teacher, and the former director of the Kingston local American Federation of Musicians Concert Band. The event will be held in the Quimby Theater, Vanderlyn Hall on the Stone Ridge campus. A snow date is scheduled for Thursday, March 5, 2026.

This annual memorial concert will have multiple performances with various combinations of groups that include SUNY Ulster college students, faculty, and staff members, SUNY Ulster Collegian students from Ulster County high schools, Ulster County community members, advanced high school and middle school students from Ulster County, and music educators from Ulster, Orange, and Dutchess counties.

Musical groups include the College Chorus, directed by Janet Gehres with accompanist Edward Leavitt; the College/Community Band, directed by Carla Newsome; the Percussion and African Music Ensembles, directed by Paul Chambers; and the String Ensemble, directed by Anastasia Solberg.

The College Chorus will perform music from the Renaissance, The Patriotic Hymn “My Country ‘Tis of Thee”, and a wonderful arrangement of the well-known spiritual, “Didn’t My Lord Deliver Daniel”.  The College/Community Band will be performing Kaleidoscopic Dances by Joshua Trentatdue, Selections from The Greatest Showman as arranged by Paul Murtha, and Havana Nights by Randall Standridge. The Percussion Ensemble will perform a variety of contemporary works alongside traditional percussion music from Mexico and Uganda. Traditional drumming rhythms and songs from Guinea and Nigeria will be performed by the African Music Ensemble and after a several year hiatus, we happily welcome the String Ensemble back to SUNY Ulster.

This event is free and open to the public, donations are gratefully accepted. For more information, contact Janet Gehres at gehresj@sunyulster.edu.

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Free RUPCO Housing Workshops on Renting & Home Ownership Basics

RUPCO logo

SUNY Ulster Supports Local Housing Education: Hosting RUPCO Housing Workshops on Renting & Home Ownership Basics

January 16, 2026 – Stone Ridge, NY– SUNY Ulster will host two free workshops in February by RUPCO: Housing Foundations – A Workshop for Students & the Community. The workshops will take place on February 3 from 1:30 to 3:30 on the Stone Ridge Campus and on February 10 from 1:30 to 3:30 at the Kingston Center of SUNY Ulster in Room 122.

Designed to help students and community members to better understand renting, buying, budgeting, and the path to homeownership, the workshops will provide practical guidance for renters and first-time homebuyers, along with take-home resources and access to HUD-certified housing counseling.

The workshops will cover a wide range of essential housing topics, including

  • how to find rental housing
  • what to look for—and what to avoid—when searching for an apartment
  • how to read and understand a lease

Participants will also learn how to budget for rent, security deposits, and utilities, as well as what landlords typically look for when reviewing applications, such as credit history, income, and background checks. In addition, RUPCO will review tenant rights and responsibilities in New York State and provide helpful materials, including sample lease handouts, a budgeting worksheet, and a list of local renter resources.

These workshops are free and open to the public and are intended for renters, prospective homebuyers, and anyone seeking to better understand their housing options and financial readiness.

Registration is required.  For more information, email rootss@sunyulster.edu.

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

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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