News

SUNY Ulster Faculty and Staff have been awarded the 2024 Chancellor’s Awards for Excellence

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Chancellor's Award Medal

May 23, 2024 – Stone Ridge, NY – SUNY Ulster is proud to announce four members of the faculty and staff have been awarded the 2024 Chancellor’s Awards for Excellence. These members include; Rachael Pompeii, Alfred Ragucci, Jamal Lis-Simmons, and Elaine LaBoy.

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.

Rachael Pompeii, Assistant Professor of Developmental English, English, Languages, & Philosophy received the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching. A peer stated, “She really cares about both her students and the tutors she manages. She goes beyond her job title to make sure that they get the help that they need.”

Alfred Ragucci, Adjunct Faculty, Business & Professional Studies received the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Adjunct Teaching. A student stated, “…my Principles of Management teacher has shown great passion for his field and interest in us as students.  Every day, he is attentive to our ideas and guides discussions in an intelligent and respectful manner even though he may disagree.”

Jamal Lis-Simmons, TRIO Counselor received the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Professional Service. A colleague stated, “Jamal is a dedicated Senior TRIO Counselor/advisor and coach of the top ranked SUNY Ulster Men’s Soccer Team. His advising skills and rapport with students are exceptional. Jamal is also an enthusiastic staffer who is always willing to share his knowledge and expertise with TRIO staff, and others. He exhibits a positive attitude every day. Jamal is a SUNY Ulster staffer who truly supports students and embodies the belief that SUNY Ulster students start here and go far.”

Elaine LaBoy, Administrative Aide/Typist, Enrollment & Success Center/Admissions received the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Classified Service. A peer commented, “She is the cornerstone of the entire enrollment process; she goes above and beyond working tirelessly and is always helpful to our colleagues.”

 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. SUNY Ulster applauds their hard work and effort in going above and beyond for both their colleagues and students.

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chancellor's awardees with VP Stoner, President Buckley & Jenn Zell

Five Students Recognized by SUNY, Phi Theta Kappa, & EOP for Academic Achievements

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May 22, 2024 – Stone Ridge, NY – SUNY Ulster celebrates its students recognized for their academic achievements. Each of these individuals are pursuing careers in different fields and are on a successful path toward realizing their collegiate and personal goals.

The SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence recognizes students for outstanding academic achievements, leadership, campus involvement, community service, and the arts. This award is the highest honor bestowed upon a student by the State University of New York. The 2024 Chancellor’s Awards go to Roaa Aboueida and Kaydee Wagor.

Roaa Aboueida received an Associate in Arts degree in Adolescence Education 7-12. Committed to academic excellence, Roaa has been named to the President’s List for multiple semesters and is a member of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society with an overall GPA of 3.6. Author of a poem entitled, “Under This Roof in America”, she was selected as one of six prize winners by SUNY Ulster’s Faculty Association for the 2023 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Ceremony.

Kaydee Wagor started her college journey as a New Start student. While balancing work and care of her son, Ian, Kaydee brilliantly managed a full-time academic schedule, completing her Certificate in General Management and graduating with her Associate in Science in Individual Studies this May. A member of Phi Theta Kappa with an overall GPA of 3.9, Kaydee is also a President’s List recipient. Passionate about special needs education as a former lead teacher at Head Start, Kaydee chose to complete her internship at the Brookside School, leading to full-time employment in 2023.

The Phi Theta Kappa All-New York Academic Team recognizes high achieving college students who demonstrate academic excellence and intellectual rigor combined with leadership and service that extends their education beyond the classroom to benefit society.  Sanjay Basnet is the 2024 Recipient of the Phi Theta Kappa – All New York Academic Team – 2nd Team.

Sanjay Basnet completed his SUNY Ulster studies with a 3.9 GPA and is currently attending SUNY New Paltz with the goal of becoming a human rights lawyer. His hope for his future is work on human rights issues for the variety of ethnic and religious groups that experience discrimination and inequality in Nepal, increasing access to education, healthcare, and social services, and providing assistance to children and women.

SUNY’s Norman R. McConney, Jr. Award for Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) Student Excellence is awarded to Raven Ryan. Now celebrating its fifth class of honorees, the award recognizes outstanding EOP students for their academic merit and perseverance.

Raven Ryan earned her Associate’s degree in Human Services this May, and is transferring to SUNY New Paltz to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in psychology. Raven is interested in becoming either a social worker or school guidance counselor, so she can help students overcome obstacles they encounter in their lives.

The Mid-Hudson Section of the American Chemical Society has chosen Pia Kinsella as a recipient of the College Recognition Award for 2024. The award is presented to an outstanding student at each of the colleges in the Section.

Pia Kinsella graduated from SUNY Ulster this May with an Associate in Science in Environmental Studies and is transferring to SUNY New Paltz to earn her Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Science. She hopes to “get a job working outside doing field work, botanizing the Hudson Valley, and potentially educating.”

SUNY Ulster President Alison Buckley, Ed.D. said, “I am proud of our student’s individual and collective commitment to academics, service, and excellence as they reach their educational goals by starting here at SUNY Ulster and Going Far!”

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Barbara Reer Named 2024 Council of Industry Manufacturing Champion

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Portrait of Barbara Reer

Barbara Reer, SUNY Ulster Assistant Dean for Workforce, Career Development, and Apprenticeship Initiatives Named 2024 Council of Industry Manufacturing Champion

May 8, 2024 – Stone Ridge, NY – SUNY Ulster is proud to announce that Assistant Dean, Barbara Reer, has been named a 2024 Council of Industry Manufacturing Champion at their annual Awards Breakfast & Workforce Developers Expo. The Manufacturing Champions Award recognizes individuals who have helped make it possible for Hudson Valley manufacturers and employees to prosper by helping to overcome industry challenges.

Ms. Reer has spent over 20 years creating pathways to careers in manufacturing, clean technology, business, and health-related fields at SUNY Ulster. In this capacity, she creates training programs, secures grants, and develops stackable microcredentials that help students build careers that pay a living wage. Through a recent SUNY Apprenticeship Grant she secured, registered apprentices have the opportunity to take up to $5,000 worth of trade courses for free. For students who are not yet at an apprenticeship level, she received funding for a Pre-Apprentice program which awards $500 for courses.

“What I enjoy most about this job is working with the students and helping them face their challenges”, says Reer. “Sometimes we get students who tried college a long time ago and it didn’t work out for them, but now they’re coming back and discovering that with the right career pathway, they can succeed.”

Barbara Reer serves on the SUNY Ulster Business Advisory Council and the CUNY/SUNY Clean Jobs Consortium, among others. She is the recipient of the 2019 SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Professional Service and the 2019 Krembs Family Innovation Award. And, her current work includes creating programs sensitive to the training needs of those in the community with autism spectrum disorders who wish to further their education at a community college.

The Council of Industry is a not-for-profit organization promoting the success of member firms within the manufacturing sector and their employees whose work contributes to the success of the Hudson Valley community.

If interested in learning more about SUNY Ulster’s advanced manufacturing or other workforce programs, contact Barbara Reer at reerb@sunyulster.edu or visit sunyulster.edu/ce.

SUNY Ulster Students Plant Wire Sculptures Among Tulips for Mohonk’s Annual Tulip Festival

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SUNY Ulster Press Release

May 1, 2024 – Stone Ridge, NY – Mohonk Mountain House’s overnight and day guests will find a whimsical surprise when visiting the tulip garden, floral wire sculptures created by SUNY Ulster students have been planted among the real tulips. The tulip festival at Mohonk Mountain House runs from April 29 through May 10.

SUNY Ulster’s Art Club student members, advised by Chris Seubert, Associate Professor and Coordinator of the Fine Art: Visual Arts department created the wire sculptures. It is the third year SUNY Ulster has created art to enhance the 20,000 colorful spring tulip display. This year’s wire sculptures are flowers. Past years have included insects such as dragonflies.

SUNY Ulster’s art department is an inspirational choice for students looking to explore their personal passion, hone their skills in many mediums, and prepare for transfer to a four-year college or university to gain their Bachelor’s degree. SUNY Ulster students have transferred as juniors to colleges such as Pratt Institute, the School of Visual Arts (SVA), SUNY New Paltz, and Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT).

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Wire sculptures of flowers

 

SUNY Ulster Presents Annual Spring Concert Series

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Press Release with music concert

April 12, 2024 – Stone Ridge, NY – The SUNY Ulster Music Department will present its second and third ensemble concerts of the spring semester on Wednesday, April 24, and Wednesday, May 1 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.

The April 24 concert will feature the SUNY Ulster College/Community Band directed by Victor Izzo. Carla Newsome, Sam Newsome, and Adam Kulizewski will be the guest conductors. Members include SUNY Ulster and SUNY New Paltz students, Community Members, Advanced Area High School students, and Area Music Educators. They will be playing a wide variety of both classic and new Wind Band Concert pieces and Marches.

On May 1, the SUNY Ulster College Chorus directed by Janet Gehres and accompanied by Edward Leavitt will feature a diverse choral program including music by Italian Renaissance composer Orzio Vecchi, Austrian Classical/Romantic composer Franz Schubert, Musical Theater composer Stephen Sondheim, along with Folks Songs from America and Hungary. The choir is made up of SUNY Ulster students, faculty and staff, as well as community members. Also performing is the African Music Ensemble directed by Paul Chambers. The African Music Ensemble is preparing arrangements of traditional djembe rhythms and balafon melodies from the peoples of Guinea and surrounding areas of West Africa. Music featured includes that of the Susu, Malinke, and Baga peoples. Members include students, faculty and staff, and community members. The evening will conclude with the Best Performances of our Wednesday 1:00 Convocation Series featuring Applied Music and Community Music School Lesson Students and other SUNY Ulster music students.

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

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April Events at SUNY Ulster

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April 4, 2024 – Stone Ridge, NY – SUNY Ulster celebrates the start of spring with two annual cultural events.

The Elizabeth Gross Lecture Series, sponsored by the Ulster Garden Club, presents Growing with Nature: Native Plants & Ecological Horticulture. This Lecture will take place on April 16 at 2 p.m. in the College Lounge, Vanderlyn Hall. The talk will explore ecologically conscious horticulture concepts, assumptions, and challenges.

Uli Lorimer is the Director of Horticulture for Native Plant Trust. He oversees the facilities and operations at Garden in the Woods and Nasami Farm in Western Massachusetts. He brings 20 years of experience working with native plants in public gardens with previous positions at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Wave Hill Garden, and the U.S. National Arboretum.

The Elizabeth Gross Lecture Series is made possible by a bequest from long-standing Ulster Garden Club member Elizabeth Gross. The Ulster Garden Club was founded in 1914 and is dedicated to community improvement through horticulture and conservation.

The Sofia & Herbert Reuner Library Writers Series and Ellen Robbins Poetry Forum present Mark Doty, a distinguished poet and essayist, N.Y. Times best-selling Memoirist, and National Book Award Winner. Join us in the College Lounge in Vanderlyn Hall on Thursday, April 18 at 10:15 a.m. for this poetry reading, Interview, Q&A, and book signing.

The Herbert H. & Sofia P. Reuner Library Writers Series brings renowned writers to campus and is a unique opportunity for SUNY Ulster students and community members to hear award-winning authors read from their work.

Ellen Robbins Poetry Forum is an annual event that brings well-known and award-winning poets to SUNY Ulster for intimate question-and-answer sessions.

These events are sponsored by the Ulster Community College Foundation and are free and open to the public. No registration is required.

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Herbert H. & Sofia P. Reuner Library Writers Series & Ellen Robbins Poetry Forum - Mark Doty

Spring Open House and Accepted Students Day on Saturday, April 27

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Spring Open House sign

SUNY Ulster Holds Spring Open House and Accepted Students Day 2024 on Saturday, April 27

April 2, 2024 – Stone Ridge, NY – SUNY Ulster will hold its 2024 Spring Open House and Accepted Students Day on the Stone Ridge campus on Saturday, April 27 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.  Prospective and accepted students, and their families are encouraged to attend this informative, fun event.

All attendees will learn about SUNY Ulster’s academic programs, student services, campus life, athletics and more. All will have the opportunity to attend a College Services Fair, an Academic Program Showcase presented by SUNY Ulster faculty, as well as take a Campus Tour guided by Student Admissions Ambassadors.

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 2024 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.

Reservations 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 light continental breakfast will be available upon check-in and all guests will receive a discount on SUNY Ulster Spirit Wear in the Senators Store.

To reserve your spot, visit sunyulster.edu/visit. For more information, please contact SUNY Ulster’s Enrollment & Success Center at admissions@sunyulster.edu or (845) 687-5022.

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Emerging Hispanic Serving Institution Status

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SUNY Ulster Press Release

SUNY Ulster Earns “Emerging Hispanic Serving Institution” Status
with 17% of Student Body Now Hispanic

March 21, 2024 – Stone Ridge, NY – SUNY Ulster took a significant step forward in its commitment to serve all Ulster County residents by achieving the designation of “Emerging Hispanic Serving Institution” (HSI) by the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities. It is an exciting milestone demonstrating our progress in providing affordable and flexible educational opportunities for our Hispanic neighbors.

SUNY Ulster has been identified as an “emerging” Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) based on the percentage of its student population who identify as Hispanic. A college is identified as emerging if Hispanic students comprise more than 14 percent of the student population and the institution has the potential to reach the full HSI threshold of 25 percent within the next few years.

Out of the 270 colleges and universities in New York State, there are only 28 Emerging HSIs even though the Hispanic population is the second-largest racial and ethnic group in the state. Closer to home, Ulster County is comprised of nearly 11% or 19.4 K Hispanic residents.

“As an institution, we have worked hard to expand our commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice. Our recognition as an emerging HSI is important and brings with it more resources to advance this work as we serve our community with affordable access to higher education,” says Alison Buckley, Ed.D., President of SUNY Ulster.

Chief Diversity Officer, Candice Van Dyke adds “The designation of Emerging Hispanic-Serving Institution is an opportunity for us to better our efforts, to grow our resources, and to serve our students. This is an exciting title that bears the weight of the important work we have ahead of us.”

As an Emerging HSI, SUNY Ulster’s Hispanic students now have access to benefits, including scholarships, paid internships, and leadership development programs. Once SUNY Ulster attains full HSI status, the benefits increase.

“SUNY Ulster has been steadfast in their commitment to serve their students and community by providing invaluable opportunities to access higher education,” said HACU President and CEO Antonio R. Flores. “HACU looks forward to supporting the efforts of SUNY Ulster to serve their community as they move forward on the path towards becoming a Hispanic-Serving Institution.”

The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) was established in 1986 with a founding membership of eighteen institutions. Today, HACU represents more than 500 colleges and universities committed to Hispanic higher education success in the U.S., Puerto Rico, Latin America, Spain, and U.S. school districts. HACU is the only national educational association that represents Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs).

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Hispanic student with tutor

Future Voices Art Exhibit Showcasing Local High School Talent

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SUNY Ulster Press Release

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

  March 25, 2024 – Stone Ridge, NY – Ulster County high school students will be showcased in an exhibit of their artwork with “Future Voices 2024: High School Art from Ulster County,” opening April 5 and running through April 19, at the Muroff Kotler Visual Arts Gallery on the Stone Ridge campus. The opening reception is on Friday April 5, from 4 – 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.

The Muroff Kotler Visual Arts Gallery is open Tuesday through Friday 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. It is closed on college holidays and weekends. The show and opening reception are free and open to the public. For more information please contact Gallery@sunyulster.edu or call 845-687-5113.

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Artwork credit:

Anna Weber
11th Grade
Pieces of Self
Rondout High School

 

Portait

SUNY Ulster Holds Instant Admissions Week March 25 – 28 

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Students in front of Campus

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

March 18, 2024 – Stone Ridge, NY – SUNY Ulster’s Instant Admissions Week is scheduled from March 25 through March 28 from 10 am to 4 pm. For anyone interested in attending SUNY Ulster in Fall 2024, this is a quick and easy way to complete the admissions process in one day.

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.

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. Visit https://conta.cc/48pMsEz to register.

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

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