Campus Life

SUNY Ulster Holds Instant Admissions Week June 16, 17, 18, & 20 and  One Day – One Stop June 25

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Press Release

A Quick and Easy Way to Go From Application to Accepted & Enrolled on the Spot

June 2, 2025 – Stone Ridge, NY – SUNY Ulster’s Instant Admissions Week is scheduled from June 16 through June 20 from 10 am to 4 pm. Campus will be closed on Thursday, June 19 in observance of Juneteenth. The event will be held in Vanderlyn Hall on the Stone Ridge Campus. For anyone interested in attending SUNY Ulster in Fall 2025, this is a quick and easy way to complete the admissions process in one day.

On Wednesday, June 25 from 10 am to 4 pm, the Enrollment & Success Center will hold a One Day-One Stop event at the Kingston Center of SUNY Ulster on Mary’s Avenue in Kingston. Arrive, apply, get accepted and registered all in one day. You’ll also have the opportunity to take SUNY Ulster’s Entering Student Assessment if applicable, and Financial Aid Representatives will be able to assist you and your family with questions about the financial aid process.

Those interested in attending 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 answer questions and assist with the financial aid process. You’ll also have the opportunity to take SUNY Ulster’s Entering Student Assessment on campus (if applicable).

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 awards $1 million in scholarships each year to entering, continuing, and transferring students.

Reservations for an Instant Admissions appointment are required. REGISTER NOW!

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

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SUNY Ulster Faculty and Staff have been awarded the 2025 Chancellor’s Awards for Excellence

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 May 29, 2025 – Stone Ridge, NY – SUNY Ulster is proud to announce four members of the faculty and staff have been awarded the 2025 Chancellor’s Awards for Excellence. These members include; Dr. Mark Stewart, P. Matthew DeLaMater, Rebecca Mercado, and Kirk Maisch.

The Chancellor’s Awards for Excellence are system-level honors conferred to acknowledge and provide system-wide recognition for consistently superior professional achievement and to encourage the ongoing pursuit of excellence. These programs underscore SUNY’s commitment to sustaining intellectual vibrancy, advancing the boundaries of knowledge, providing the highest quality of instruction, and serving the public good. Through these awards, SUNY publicly proclaims its pride in the accomplishment and personal dedication of its instructional faculty, professional and classified staff across its campuses.

Dr. Mark Stewart, Assistant Professor of Engineering and Coordinator of Engineering received the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching. A colleague stated, “Mark is always active beyond engineering, helping in math. He’s a pleasure to work with and is kind to our students.”

Matthew DeLaMater, Adjunct Instructor, Social Sciences, History & Education received the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Adjunct Teaching. A peer stated, “Matthew started teaching here in the midst of the Covid pandemic in 2020 and proved adept at teaching remote, online, and HyFlex courses.  He always makes time for his students and treats them with dignity and respect.”

Rebecca Mercado, Enrollment & Success Counselor received the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Professional Service. A colleague stated, “Rebecca is such a vibrant light and positive force at SUNY Ulster. As an Enrollment and Success Counselor, she treats every prospective student with the utmost respect, care, kindness, and consideration. She is an excellent co-worker and team player, always lending a helping hand to her colleagues.”

Kirk Maisch, Campus Maintenance Specialist, Maintenance & Plant Operations received the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Classified Service. A peer commented, “Kirk wears many hats here on campus. What some people do not realize is that when Kirk works, he gives 100% of himself to the job. That is the way he shows us he cares and his only reward is to see you smile when he has completed his job.”

Individuals selected for this tribute are the SUNY community’s role models in their respective areas. In acknowledgment of their selection, recipients will be given recognition for the particular award received in the college catalog, a letter, certificate, and a Chancellor’s Award for Excellence Medallion are also bestowed to commemorate selection. Each individual has long lists of impressive professional achievements in addition to their remarkable comradery with the campus community. Even more telling is the high praise they have received from colleagues for their dedication, commitment, and inspiration to students and our College community. SUNY Ulster applauds their hard work and effort in going above and beyond for both their colleagues and students.

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Photo caption: Dr. Mark Stewart, Rebecca Mercado, and Kirk Maisch. No photo included for P. Matthew DeLaMater.

SUNY Ulster’s 61st Commencement on Saturday, May 24, 2025

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2025 Commencement

May 20, 2025 – Stone Ridge, NY – SUNY Ulster will proudly celebrate its 61st Commencement Ceremony on Saturday, May 24, 2025, at 10 a.m. in the Senate Gymnasium on the Stone Ridge campus. Presiding over the event will be President Alison Buckley, Ed.D., who will confer degrees and certificates upon 143 graduates during the ceremony.

The Class of 2025 comprises 340 students in total. Of those, 288 will receive associate degrees, and 81 will be awarded certificates. The graduating class spans generations—its youngest members are three 17-year-olds, and its oldest is 65.

Of the class, 51 students will graduate with highest honors, and 112 with honors, 8 students will receive the President’s Medal of Highest Honor for maintaining a perfect 4.0 GPA, 52 graduates are members of Phi Theta Kappa, the national honor society, 15 students are recipients of the President’s Challenge Scholarship, who will receive the Darlene L. Pfeiffer Medallion of Excellence, and 6 are recognized as College Scholars.  14 nursing students will receive their pins as part of the ceremony.

Each participating graduate will receive six guest tickets, and the Senate Gymnasium will open for seating at 9:00 a.m. For friends and family unable to attend in person, the event will be livestreamed and available on the college’s website  and on the SUNY Ulster YouTube channelr.

The keynote address will be delivered by Elliott Auerbach, former New York State Deputy Comptroller and current Director of the Ulster Community College Foundation, Inc. A dedicated steward of education and opportunity, Mr. Auerbach has devoted nearly five years to advancing the Foundation’s mission, championing scholarship initiatives that have profoundly enriched the lives and futures of our students.

Representing the student body, Deli Smith, this year’s Student Trustee, will serve as the student speaker. Smith is graduating with an Associate Degree with High Honors, is a member of Phi Theta Kappa, and was recently honored with the 2025 Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence. They plan to continue their education at SUNY Oneonta.

Introductions will be made by Jenn Zell, Chief of Staff & Secretary to the Board and Alison Buckley, Ed.D., President. Other participants include Grand Marshal James Hobbs, Professor of Psychology; Faculty Marshal Candice Van Dyke, Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs & Dean of Faculty; Deborah Briggs, Board of Trustees Chair; The Honorable Peter Oberacker, NYS Senator; The Honorable Peter Criswell, Ulster County Legislative Chair; Dr. Mark Stewart, Assistant Professor of Engineering & Academic Senate Chair, Rebecca Mercado, ESC Counselor & Staff Assembly Co-Chair, and John DeGasperis, Esq., Ulster Community College Foundation, Inc. Chair.

The invocation and benediction will be offered by The Rev. Gregory Simpson, Ph.D., SUNY Ulster Trustee and Pastor of Nauraushaun Presbyterian Church.

Musical performances will feature the College Chorus, under the direction of Janet Gehres, and the Old Capital Brass, directed by Victor Izzo, Jr.

Security Notice: Guests are advised that large bags and backpacks are not permitted. Large purses and diaper bags will be subject to inspection, and strollers must be left in designated areas.

SUNY Ulster looks forward to honoring the achievements of its graduates with family, friends, and the community in attendance.

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Alumni Art Exhibit – Call for Artists

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The Muroff-Kotler Visual Arts Gallery is pleased to present a celebration of work by our valued alumni.


June 26 – July 24
Gallery Hours: Tuesday – Thursday 11 am – 3 pm

Calendar

  • Exhibition Dates: Thurs. June 26 – Thurs. July 24
  • Submission Deadline: Fri. May 16
  • Delivery of Artwork: Mon. June 2 & Weds. June 4 Noon – 5 pm
  • Opening Reception: Thurs. June 26, 4-6 pm
  • Pick up/Return of Artwork: July 28, 29, 30

Call for Entry

The Department of Fine and Visual Art and the SUNY Ulster Foundation invites all SUNY Ulster alumni to submit work to be included in the 2025 Alumni Exhibition. Alumni can submit up to three pieces for consideration.  All artwork must be original and all media are acceptable.

Eligibility

Open to all SUNY Ulster alumni. Works must be completed after graduation, preferably within the last three years. Artwork may be 2-dimensional, 3-dimensional, video-based, or installation/site-specific.

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

Media/Specifications

All work accepted for the show must be ready to hang, be self-supporting on a pedestal or the floor, be prepared for viewing on a monitor, or be ready for display in another specified manner.

Three-dimensional or installation work may include up to 2 additional detail images. Artists submitting video artwork must submit a 5 minute clip of the video for review. Potential final acceptance of video work will be determined after viewing the full video.

Submission Format

  • All works must be submitted in .jpg format.
  • Submissions will be accepted online only; any submitted work that differs from the digital entry guidelines below may be disqualified.
  • All image files must be named exactly as follows: Lastname_Firstname_Titleofwork.jpg
  • IMPORTANT: The names of your image files must not contain spaces or special characters ( – / . # etc). Underscores _ are fine.
  • Files must be 72 dpi and no more than 600 pixels on its largest side
  • Email files to: Gallery@sunyulster.edu Please include “Alumni Exhibition” in your subject line.

Delivery of Work

Selected artists are requested to provide a current artist statement to accompany exhibited artwork addressing where you are in your career. Additionally, selected artists are requested to provide information for promotion (3 images, contact information, website, and social media contact).

Accepted work may be delivered in person or shipped postage paid by the artist in appropriate packaging for artwork that is reusable upon return shipment.

Deliver or ship work to arrive between June 2 and 4 to:

SUNY Ulster Community College,
℅ Muroff-Kotler Gallery,
491 Cottekill Rd,
Stone Ridge, NY 12484

  • Shipped artwork will be returned in the packing that it arrives in and must contain information (prepaid shipping label…) for return
  • All artists/lenders are responsible for transportation of the work to and from SUNY Ulster
  • C.O.D. deliveries will not be accepted
  • PLEASE: NO PACKING POPCORN

Presentation

Wall-mounted work: Not to exceed 5’ in height or width, and 60 lbs.

Installations: May not alter the character of gallery walls, ceiling or floor.

Pedestals will be provided for 3-D work.

All works must be ready to install. 2-D work must be framed under plexiglass or glass (with exception of works on canvas) and wired with the necessary hanging device attached. Unframed works should be shipped with the appropriate hanging equipment and installation instructions.

The juror or Program Coordinator may withhold works that are misrepresented by digital submission or that are not adequately prepared for display.

Meet Michelle Moore

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image of floral fabric designed by michelle moore

Michelle Moore is a SUNY Ulster alumnus and now an adjunct faculty member at SUNY Ulster. Here is her recent interview with Bold Journey Magazine:

Michelle, appreciate you making time for us and sharing your wisdom with the community. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others overcame obstacles can be helpful. One of those struggles is keeping creativity alive despite all the stresses, challenges and problems we might be dealing with. How do you keep your creativity alive?

Creativity like all things in life needs nurturing and care. There will be periods of high activity and periods of dormancy. I have learned that when I am in either state that I have to be mindful that it will not last forever.

The creative mind needs rest in order to come up with new ideas and be to be inspired. The only way to keep it thriving is to listen, and give it what it needs when it needs it.

On the other side of that is when the “creative spark” hits, I know I have to act on it, and move the idea forward in order to keep my advancing my work.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

Hi! I am an Artist, Surface Designer and Art Educator located in the Hudson Valley region of New York State.

I am currently focused on the use of natural dyes using homegrown flowers and botanicals for textiles and artwork. I spent the last ten(ish) years experimenting with this craft and have honed in on the specific area of hammered flowers and leaves on cloth and paper. Over that time I have worked with major retail brands to bring naturally dyed goods to the commercial market. I have designed natural dye kits that have been sold across the US, and have taught many workshops to share this art form with others.

Over the last few years I have been writing a book about my hammered flower process that is due to publish at the end of the year. Keep an eye out!

I also teach art courses at my Alma Mater – SUNY Ulster. I teach courses in drawing, 2D Design, graphic design foundation.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

  1. Digital design. I decided early on in my artistic journey that it was as important if not more to learn how to Floral wall hanging use CAD programs, as well as create my own website in order to showcase my artwork. We live in the world of tiny screens and limited attention spans. You need to grab your viewers attention quick, and the best way is through great photos and presentation of the work your invested so much time creating.
  2. Stop comparing yourself. This is indeed a learned “skill”. It doesn’t matter what everyone else around you is doing. Just keep focused on what you are doing and it will in time evolve organically the way it i supposed to. Everything good takes time, energy, and consistency. Keep chipping away.
  3. Don’t focus on what you “don’t know”. I think the biggest challenge sometimes is getting started. We often think we don’t know enough to make progress. The truth is that you need to start somewhere. Be curious, make mistakes, lean into the process. The more experiments you do, the more knowledge you will gain.Keep at it. It gets easier.Continuing to show up for yourself is best quality you can have.
How can folks who want to work with you connect?

Yes, I’m always looking for new ways to share my work with the world!

I’d love to do collaborations with my hammered flower art specifically.I’d love to work with an eco friendly stationery or home goods brand to bring these designs into the retail market in small batches. I also would love to work with a fashion designer to create a really beautiful hammered flower garment for something special.

I’m also looking to exhibit more of my original artwork this year.

More flowers on everything!

Contact Info:

SUNY Ulster Presents Annual Spring Concert Series

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Press Release musical concert

April 16, 2025 – Stone Ridge, NY – The SUNY Ulster Music Department will present its second and third concerts of the spring semester on Wednesday, April 30, and Thursday, May 8 at 7:30 p.m. The performances will be held in the Quimby Theater in Vanderlyn Hall on the Stone Ridge campus. These concerts are free and open to the public. Donations are gratefully accepted.

The April 30 concert will feature the SUNY Ulster College/Community Band co-directed by Victor Izzo and Carla Newsome. Members include SUNY Ulster students, faculty, staff members, Community Members, Advanced Area High School and Middle School students, and Area Music Educators. They will be playing a variety of band literature including Cyrus the Great, Caccia and Chorale, Puszta, and Niflheim, and featuring Haven Kara Forte on marimba.

Also, on April 30, join us as we celebrate Victor Izzo, who has been the director of the College/Community Band since 2006. Vic may be stepping down as the long-time director of this concert, but he plans to continue to play with the group. He has had a tremendous impact on the SUNY Ulster music department, its instrumental music program, and music programs throughout Ulster County and beyond. His legacy will continue well into the future.

On May 8, the SUNY Ulster College Chorus, African Music Ensemble, and the Best Performances of the “Wednesdays@1:00” LIVE Music Series will take the stage. The performers are made up of primarily SUNY Ulster students, along with SUNY Ulster Faculty and Staff, as well as Community Members.

The College Chorus, directed by Janet Gehres and accompanied by Edward Leavitt, will feature an uplifting, eclectic program which includes music ranging from the English Renaissance to the Beatles, Folk Music from Ireland, French Canada, Kentucky, and music with texts from Native American poetry and East Africa. Paul Chambers and Anastasia Solberg are the special instrumental guests.

Also performing on May 8 is the Best Performances from the Spring 2025 “Wednesdays@1:00” LIVE Music Series voted by the Music Faculty.

The evening will conclude with the African Music Ensemble directed by Paul Chambers and will include Music from the Ivory Coast, Guinea, Ghana, and Nigeria, featuring the African instruments: Djembes, Ghanaian Bells, and Shakers.

For more information, contact Janet Gehres at gehresj@sunyulster.edu.

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Poet and Activist, Kyle “Guante” Tran Myhre will read at 2025 Poetry Forum

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Press Release Kyle Tran Guante and book cover

SUNY Ulster Presents Poet and Activist, Kyle “Guante” Tran Myhre

2025 Ellen Robbins Poetry Forum

April 8, 2025 – Stone Ridge, NY – SUNY Ulster presents the 2025 Ellen Robbins Poetry Forum with poet and activist Kyle “Guante” Tran Myhre along with student and faculty presenters on Thursday, April 17, at 1:15 p.m. in the College Lounge in Vanderlyn Hall on the Stone Ridge campus.

Kyle Tran Myhre (aka Guante) is a poet and activist whose work explores the relationships between narrative, power, and resistance. He’s performed at the United Nations, been featured on a Grammy-winning album, been a member of two National Poetry Slam championship teams, and visited countless colleges, conferences, and festivals, using spoken word and storytelling as doorways into critical dialogue. His most recent book is “Not a Lot of Reasons to Sing, But Enough.” Learn more about Guante.

Whether writing about men’s roles in ending gender-based violence, challenging dominant narratives related to race and racism, or just telling stories about the different jobs he’s had, Tran Myhre strives to cultivate a deeper engagement with social justice issues, one based in both empathy and agency. An educator as well as a performing artist, Tran Myhre completed his Masters studies at the University of Minnesota with a focus on spoken word, critical pedagogy, and social justice education, and regularly facilitates workshops and residencies. He currently lives in Minneapolis.

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. 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 from 2002-2006.

This event is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Kari Mack at mackk@sunyulster.edu or 845-687-5214.

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Elizabeth Gross Horticulture Lecture Features Ecological Garden Designer, Rebecca McMackin, April 8

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Rebecca McMackin with f flowers

April 1, 2025 – Stone Ridge, NY – SUNY Ulster invites members of the community to Adventures in Ecological Horticulture, a lecture by Rebecca McMackin on April 8 at 2 pm in the College Lounge on the Stone Ridge Campus.

Perfect for gardeners, photographers, architects, and landscape admirers, among others, the Elizabeth Gross Lecture series at SUNY Ulster is sponsored by the Ulster Garden Club and made possible by the Ulster Community College Foundation. The event is free and open to the public.

For ecological horticulturist Rebecca McMackin, biodiversity is central to landscape management. In her 10 years as Director of Horticulture at Brooklyn Bridge Park, Rebecca oversaw 85 acres of diverse, organic landscapes, all managed to support birds, butterflies, and soil microorganisms.

 Learn how to use ecological insight and experimentation to develop new management strategies – and why careful observation and documentation of the insects, birds, and other wildlife in your gardens is crucial to their success.

The Elizabeth Gross Horticultural Series at SUNY Ulster is made possible through a bequest received by the Ulster Garden Club from long-time club member and Kingston resident, Mrs. Elizabeth Gross. The Ulster Garden Club made a charitable gift to the Ulster Community College Foundation, Inc. to establish the lecture series in her honor.

 The series presents expert lecturers in the fields of horticulture, floriculture, landscape design, forestry, city planning, land management, botany, conservation and environmental studies.

The Ulster Community College Foundation, Inc. is a not-for-profit organization providing enhanced educational and cultural opportunities at SUNY Ulster. Fundraising initiatives support scholarships, arts and culture, technology, and innovation in academic programs.

For further information, please contact Pat Clarke at (917) 817-3246 or Anne Shultz at (845) 419-9870.

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Community/College Band & Stissing Mountain High School Presents their first Exchange Concert

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Press Release musical concert

SUNY Ulster Community/College Band & Stissing Mountain High School Presents their first Exchange Concert in April

March 27, 2025 – Stone Ridge, NY – The SUNY Ulster Music Department’s College/Community Band with the Stissing Mountain High School Band will perform an exchange concert on Thursday, April 10 at 7 p.m. at Stissing Mountain Junior/Senior High School, 2829 Church St., Pine Plains, NY.

Exchange concerts are an opportunity for two musical ensembles to perform for both each other and their respective audiences. It’s a chance for them to make music for and with each other and a fantastic opportunity for all parties involved to share their love of music and keep it alive and thriving which is the end goal.

The April 10 concert will have approximately 100 musicians and feature the SUNY Ulster College/Community Band co-directed by Victor Izzo and Carla Newsome. The Stissing Mountain High School Band will be directed by Erin Marlow.

The SUNY Ulster College/Community Band will perform “Strange Humors” by John Mackey and feature Paul Chambers on djembe and “Vesuvius by Frank Ticheli.” The Stissing Mountain High School Band will perform Selections from “The Greatest Showman”, including “The Greatest Show, A Million Dreams, Never Enough, This is Me and From Now On”, musical arranger Paul Murtha. The combined bands will perform “First Suite in E-Flat” by Gustav Holst and “Rippling Watercolors by Brian Balmages”.

For more information, contact Janet Gehres at gehresj@sunyulster.edu.

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Celebrating National Public Health Awareness Month with New York Blood Center Blood Drive in April

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Press Release

SUNY Ulster Celebrates National Public Health Awareness Month with New York Blood Center Blood Drive in April

March 25, 2025 – Stone Ridge, NY – SUNY Ulster’s Student Government Organization is donating blood with the New York Blood Center to celebrate National Public Health Awareness Month. The blood drive will be held on Thursday, April 3 from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. in the Student Life Dining Hall in Vanderlyn Hall on the Stone Ridge Campus.

Schedule an appointment to guarantee your time, however walk-ins are welcome. In preparation for donating, please bring a photo student ID or government-issued ID, eat well and hydrate before your appointment, and be symptom free of any sickness.

 Donating blood provides numerous benefits for both the donor and the recipient. We all know donating blood saves lives and donations are essential for medical procedures, surgeries, and emergencies. Recipients are provided life-sustaining treatment and blood transfusions can help patients with blood disorders, injuries, and chronic diseases.

Donating blood is a great way to get involved in the SUNY Ulster community and make a positive impact. This is a feel-good-factor that can provide a sense of purpose knowing you are helping others. Help the Student Government Organization make an impact. All students who donate will receive 1-hour of community service from the Office of Student Affairs.

For more information, contact Samm Chambers at chambers@sunyulster.edu or 845-687-1560. This event is free and open to the public.

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