News

SUNY Ulster Holds Virtual Financial Aid Workshops

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SUNY Ulster Press Release

SUNY Ulster Holds Virtual Financial Aid Workshops

February 24, 2023 – Stone Ridge, NY – SUNY Ulster has scheduled multiple financial aid workshops to be held on Zoom. During the workshop, students can expect to get help from a SUNY Ulster Financial Aid Counselor in completing their 2023-2024 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Registration is required. The workshops will be held from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. on the following dates:

  • March 9, 2023
  • April 6, 2023
  • May 11, 2023
  • June 1, 2023

 

Please have your 2021 tax information on hand before the workshop begins which includes your W-2 forms, federal tax returns, and any other income or asset documents. For more information, contact Kathleen Hasbrouck at 845-687-5217.

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fafsa-zoom

 

Herrington Concert Performance Returns to SUNY Ulster

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SUNY Ulster Press Release

February 22, 2023 – Stone Ridge, NY – On Wednesday, March 1, 2023 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, who was 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, in Vanderlyn Hall on the Stone Ridge campus.

This annual memorial concert will have multiple performances with groups that include current SUNY Ulster students, Alumni, faculty, staff, and the community.  The College Chorus will be directed by Janet Gehres and accompanied by Edward Leavitt while they perform pieces celebrating music making. The African Drumming Ensemble will be directed by Paul Chambers and will be honoring traditional music from Nigeria and Guinea. The College/Community Band will be directed by Victor Izzo as well as guest conductor, Michael Flamhaft. Capital Brass will perform Davenport Blues, A Comedy Tonight as well as other musical pieces.

For more information, contact Janet Gehres at gehresj@sunyulster.edu. The snow date is scheduled for Thursday, March 2, 2023.

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Fall 2022 President’s and Dean’s Lists

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President & Dean's List illustration of block holding diploma

January 26, 2023 – Stone Ridge, NY – SUNY Ulster releases its President’s List and Dean’s List for the Fall 2022 semester.

Full-Time President’s List

A total of 114 students who attended classes on a full-time basis at SUNY Ulster have been named to the President’s List for the Fall 2022 semester, reported Dr. Alison Buckley, President, SUNY Ulster.

The list, compiled each semester, is comprised of students whose final average for the period of all courses taken is 3.75 and higher, plus other requirements.

The full-time Fall 2022 President’s List, by area, is as follows:

  • Accord: Roaa Aboueida, Sophie McCarthy, Patrick Ruger.
  • Bloomington:  Maya Todd.
  • Centerport: Justin McLaughlan.
  • Clifton Park:  Lance Eisele.
  • Cottekill: Daniel Harkin, Desmond Iaia, Gianna Koch.
  • Ellenville: Sameea Khan, Alexandra Martinez, Margaret Melanson, Jacqueline Nunez, Janeliz Pellot-Hilerio.
  • Fishkill: Kaitlyn Bochnik.
  • Gardiner:  Edison DiIorio.
  • High Falls:  Ava Allen, Michael Goodin, Rosa Onderdonk-Knaus, Hiroshi Sawka Hamaguchi.
  • Hopewell Junction: Jennifer Elie, William Rizzo.
  • Hurley:  Hannah Bear, Naava Fox, Kirsten Gudmundsen, Sarah Kiersted, Carol Ruffini.
  • Kerhonkson: Danny Fallaha, Natasha Hefele, Berlin Koehler.
  • Kingston:  Cody Baker, Heather Foster, Alexis Hanauer, Zoey Henderson, Daniel Hickey, Mudasir Khan, Pia Kinsella, Damian Nunez, Emma Odell, Samantha Olson, Cheyenne Rossler, Gabriella Sheth, Kyle Sullivan, Parvin Sultana, Justin Winkleman, Alma Zacarias Mendez.
  • Lake Katrine:  Chazz LoBianco, Nicolette Paptsikis.
  • Marlboro:  Isabella Vicari, Frank Zebrowski.
  • Modena:  Adriana Zocchi.
  • Monticello:  Jeanne VanPelt.
  • Mt. Marion:  Carmen Creisstoff.
  • Napanoch:  Michelle Cruz, Landon Hembdt, Megan McGovern.
  • Newburgh:  Michael Fernandez.
  • New Paltz:  Alicia Hagen, Yiwen Jia, Mark LaBorde, Zoe Marks, Anthony Mayne, Arianna Moore, Kieran Thomas, Patrick Traver.
  • New Rochelle:  Adrian Baginski.
  • Newburgh:  Michael Fernandez.
  • Olivebridge:  Cheyenne Newton.
  • Phillipsport:  Hannah Irwin.
  • Phoenicia:  Autumn Schouten.
  • Port Ewen:  Chase Deising, Munchash Sully.
  • Poughkeepsie:  Justice Deliz, Jorge Guerron.
  • Rosendale:  Liam Roddy.
  • Saugerties:  Tiffany Appollonia, Nicole Costello, Alison Lundy, Seth Martin, Jade Meneses, Ethan Montfort, Aiden North, Dana Parr, Ariel Reuss-Panaro, Ava Salem, Susanna Svensson, Pornchanok Tuancharoensri, Gordon Vought, Kaydee Wagor, Derek White.
  • Shokan:  Catherine Stafford.
  • South Ozone Park:  Yasmeen Zaid.
  • South Richmond Hill:  Ayesha Ilyas.
  • Stone Ridge:  Carmine Carlucci, Dominic Carlucci, Emma Gillis, Emmet JeckerByrne, Otto JeckerByrne.
  • Tillson:  Sanjay Basnet, Matt Boughton, Kaitlyn Curran.
  • Tivoli:  Jessica Perry.
  • Treadwell: Brenden Cairns.
  • Ulster Park:  Rileigh O’Brien.
  • Wallkill:  Lauren Hall, Sabrina Hickey, Tyler Porter, Penelope Rose, Yulissa Rosello, Alexandra Strock.
  • Wappingers Falls:  Aimee Baruch, Devon Hutton.
  • West Hurley:  Violet Ross.
  • West Shokan:  Donovan Edinger.
  • Woodstock:  Asia Gross.

Part-Time President’s List

A total of 36 students who attended classes on a part-time basis at SUNY Ulster have been named to the President’s List for the Fall 2022 semester, reported Dr. Alison Buckley, President, SUNY Ulster.

The list, compiled each semester, is comprised of students whose final average for the period of all courses taken is 3.75 or higher, plus other requirements.

The part-time Fall 2022 President’s List, by area, is as follows:

  • Amenia:  Rebecca Venezia.
  • Gardiner:  Cassidy Thacker.
  • Highland:  Alice Dong.
  • Hurley:  Autumn Bear.
  • Kerhonkson:  Amber Shamson.
  • Kingston:  Jeffrey Belardo, Riley Jacobsen, Luis Ramirez, Estelle Smith, Derek Snyder, Mary Sullivan.
  • Marlboro:  Michele Landis.
  • Milton:  Xin Gao, Gabrielle Minard.
  • Mt. Tremper:  Alexandra Bagensie.
  • New Paltz:  Bryce Casamento.
  • Pine Bush:  Michael Finch.
  • Port Ewen:  Ariel Sanchez.
  • Red Hook:  Sonja Heupler.
  • Rochester:  John Jones.
  • Rosendale:  Aurora Gill.
  • Round Top:  Hannah Seebacher.
  • Saugerties:  Madeline Bucci, Adam DiVenere, Dawn Hollis.
  • Shokan:  Hannah Gritman.
  • Stone Ridge:  Wendy Stewart.
  • Tivoli:  Aliana Pegelow.
  • Ulster Park:  Elizabeth Loughlin.
  • Wallkill:  Mark Crowder, Nelson Guzman, Antonio Morales, Manuel Sosa, Jamel Torres, Michael Young.
  • West Hurley:  Meleah Danner.

Full-Time Dean’s List

A total of 151 students who attended classes on a full-time basis at SUNY Ulster have been named to the Dean’s List for the Fall 2022 semester, reported Kevin R. Stoner, Vice-President for Academic Affairs, SUNY Ulster.

The list, compiled each semester, is comprised of students whose final average for the period of all courses taken is 3.30 or higher, plus other requirements.

The full-time Fall 2022 Dean’s List, by area, is as follows:

  • Accord:  Olin Andrews, Logan Erlwein, Daniel Palladino.
  • Bloomington:  Alessandra Gumaer.
  • Climax:  Aurora Gandolfo.
  • Clinton Corners:  Rebecca Reed, Travis Slater.
  • Connelly:  Colton Arenella.
  • Cornwall:  William Hazard.
  • Cottekill:  Lili Vitek.
  • Cuddebackville:  Amber Martine.
  • Ellenville:  Laura Bonilla, Joseph Cortes, Cherity Hiltz, Tanvirul Islam, Douglas Lewis, Adriana Murray, Jacquelyn Nunuvero, Arianna Sarantapoulas, Ireland Travis.
  • Esopus:  Giana Bradley.
  • Gardiner:  Brooke-Lynn Caso, Aleese Crocco, Avani Schmeltz, Jacob Schwarz, Sophie Sullivan.
  • Highland:  Lawrence Dahowski, Ian Falco, Wilfred Jones, Grace Krug, Natasha Kulcsar, Hunter Lass, Mackenzie Mason, Kevin Mitto, Layla Mosbacher, Jason Willis.
  • Highland Falls:  John Magallanes.
  • Hopewell Junction:  Daniel Sica.
  • Hurley:  Michael Armanious, Erin Lindgren, Christopher Potter.
  • Hyde Park:  Amandeep Kang, Mary Phillips.
  • Kerhonkson:  Skylar Barringer, Italia DeGrote, William Hamling, Gillian Marcel, Eliza Thurst.
  • Kingston:  Sadie Albright, Lea Avery, Patricia Beader, Kaitlyn Bryngelson, Gregory Buono, Uriel Calixto, Anayeli Contreras-Pacheco, Cameron Drake, Syndell Foster, Jacob Franklin, Zamaria Frazer, Gabrielle Gallo, Jake Goodman, Colin Griswold, Brittany Guido, Jacobus Hockx, Vera Hrab, Jeremy Melenciano, Corin Mosack, Cameryn O’Brien, Taleema Platts, Joseph Safford, Joshua Selle, Ava Simonini, Anotida Taziva, Makiya Walker, Trinity Wilson.
  • Lake Katrine:  Veronica Barreto, Katherine Guerra, Brian Lopez.
  • Marlboro:  Tatiana Hickman, Jozef Lisiecki, Ashley Votta.
  • Middletown:  Samantha Maurizzio.
  • Modena:  Karley Badner, Joseph Schofield.
  • Monroe:  Victoria Rivera, Jessie Ryder.
  • Mount Marion:  Johanna Heppner.
  • Napanoch:  Nicklos Alvarado, Valentina Femia, Lya Lutz.
  • New Paltz:  Aidan Grinevics, Jason Harding, Cameryn Profous, Maria Shmarina, Andrew Sykut, Max Zurlini.
  • New York:  Jackson Newby Zavala.
  • Newburgh:  Mariah Conklin, Steven Ortiz.
  • Olivebridge:  Christian Amarilla-Barrios, Chasity Bergenn, Stevie Erceg, John Kurz.
  • Pine Bush:  Hunter DeGroodt, Nicholas Loparrino, Erin Meyerson.
  • Pine Hill:  Raven Ryan.
  • Pleasant Valley:  Joelianice Feliciano.
  • Port Ewen:  Molly Corkery, Aaron Dovel, Rayan Khan.
  • Poughkeepsie:  Kevin Coronel.
  • Red Hook:  Rodrigo Garcia-Hernandez.
  • Rhinebeck:  Michael Venturella.
  • Rosendale:  Sequoyah London, Maria Rodes Arbulu.]
  • Saugerties:  Charlize Avena, Joann Bathrick, Khristian Chauncey, William Deis, Mykhailo Dovzhynskyi, Robert Freer, Kevin Haines, Isaiah Jaegar, Daniel MacIsaac, Nicole Moorhus, Evan Olsen, Kaylie Quinn, Sabrina Whitaker.
  • Shandaken:  Samantha Berryann.
  • Shokan:  Iris Espinoza, Hayden Kothe.
  • Stone Ridge:  Andras Beke, Elizabeth Buley, Adrian Cristian-Fernandez, Naomi Koch, Kya Lowery, Sydney Nilsen.
  • Tillson:  Riley Denham, Devon Lanman, Vincent Stella.
  • Ulster Park:  Jared Carlson, Georgia Johns, Michael Whelan.
  • Walden:  Jillian Rufino.
  • Westtown:  Luke McKeon.
  • Woodstock:  Jackson DeVito, Greta Gottardello, Maria Mazariego.
  • Wurtsboro:  Alexis Ochse.

 Part-Time Dean’s List

A total of 54 students who attended classes on a part-time basis at SUNY Ulster have been named to the Dean’s List for the Fall 2022 semester, reported Kevin R. Stoner, Vice-President for Academic Affairs, SUNY Ulster.

The list, compiled each semester, is comprised of students whose final average for the period of all courses taken is at least 3.30 or higher, plus other requirements.

The part-time Fall 2022 Dean’s List, by area, is as follows:

  • Accord:  Catharina Christiana, Jeremiah Flaherty, Deowaher Rabanillo.
  • Bearsville:  Daniel Rosenfeld.
  • Bloomingburg:  Jill Sherlock.
  • Cottekill:  Emily Handschuh.
  • Ellenville:  Ottayia Humphrey, Cheyenne Mitchell.
  • Fishkill:  Alexa Ricotta.
  • Fleischmanns:  Gina Barto.
  • Gardiner:  Elizabeth Rivera.
  • Highland:  Jada Gardener, Rhiannon Lucas, Nicole Lynch, Ava Mazzetti, Erik Nelson, Clarissa Sullivan.
  • Hurley:  Elisha Slovensky.
  • Kerhonkson:  Alexus Woinoski.
  • Kingston:  Moira Cleary-Dwyer, Beverly Cullinan, Ashly Felter, Douglas Freeman, Michelle Houghtaling, Steven Maximowicz, Isaura Rivera, Veronica Ruth, Rachel Senate, Linda Williams.
  • Lake Katrine:  Stephanie McClure.
  • Napanoch:  Brooklynn Manning.
  • New Paltz:  Aidan Barritt, David Sparling.
  • Newburgh:  Monserrat Medina.
  • Rosendale:  Elana Kellerhouse.
  • Saugerties:  Ian Brady, Lorrie Carey, Shannon Gelles, Dakota McArdle, Brandon Pendell.
  • Stone Ridge:  Alexa Peck.
  • Walden:  Denise DeSantis.
  • Wallkill:  Ari Apuzzo, Pedro Ayala, Daniel Gonzalez, Joseph Patterson, Joey Reillo, Norman Risden, Rodolfo Rodriguez, Joleah Russell, Emanuel Sangoniyi, Stephen Sakai, Michael Stevens, Gregory Wright

SUNY Ulster Students Bring Awareness to Fashion Sustainability Options

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SUNY Ulster students looking at the flip book for reuse reduce recycle they made.

After learning the harsh realities of the fashion industry from their professor Kristin Flynn, four first year students at SUNY Ulster sought to bring attention to the harmful impact of ‘fast-fashion’ and the steps we can all take to limit our footprint.

Rosa Onderdonk-Knaus, Jackson Zavala, Arden Johnson, and Izzy Vicari note a few issues with the industry:

  • 8% of global Carbon emissions are due to the fashion industry
  • 10% of microplastics in our oceans originate from textiles
  • 85% of all textiles end up in landfills yearly 

The Fashion industry’s global emissions are expected to double by the end of the decade. “We want to empower people to make choices that help lessen the impact” Vicari said during an interview with Blue Stone Press reporter, Anne Pyburn Craig. The foursome is promoting the old adage, “Reuse, Reduce, Recycle”. 

The students agree that a cultural transition from fast-fashion to sustainable fashion will be a tough but necessary shift. The average person in the United States discards 81 pounds of clothing each year. To put that in perspective, that’s about the weight of a twelve year old child. Instead of tossing clothing into the trash over a rip or missing button Vitari suggests learning some “simple mending”, in fact events like Repair Cafe in Kingston are a wonderful resource to learn these skills. All the students encourage people to recycle properly using Fab Scrap which picks up leftover materials or The Blue Jeans Go Green program that collects denim (made from cotton) so that it can be recycled back to its original fiber state and transformed into something new.

 In addition to reducing our closets turning door, we can all be conscientious when we buy. Pre-loved and gently used clothing from Peoples Place, Lovefield Consignment, and Rock Candy Vintage always have beautiful clothing that you can feel good about purchasing. Finally, turn those old threads into funky new items to give them a new life! 

After learning about the environmental impact of the fashion industry these students are still passionate about the field they’ve chosen, and seem to have valuable ideas and information to share about the future of the fashion industry. Cavala admits she’s “absolutely getting a solid and excellent foundation” here at SUNY Ulster.

Reuse, reduce, recycle flip book

Fighting Hunger One Bag at a Time

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Peanut butter and Jelly on a rack in the Pantry

The Pantry at SUNY Ulster is proud to announce that it has been selected as January’s nonprofit for the West Hurley Hannaford Fight Hunger Program. Each month, the Hannaford Fight Hunger Bag Program selects a remarkable nonprofit local to each store to benefit from the purchase of every Fight Hunger Bag.

During the month of January, for every $2.50 spent on Fight Hunger Bags, $1.00 will be awarded to The Pantry at SUNY Ulster. The Pantry at SUNY Ulster provides students, faculty, and staff who may be experiencing food insecurity, with food and select personal care items, in a stigma-free environment. The more bags that are purchased, the more needs can be filled!

Add fighting hunger to your New Year’s Resolutions! Purchase your Fight Hunger Bags at  Hannaford 295 State Route 375, West Hurley NY.

The Pantry at SUNY Ulster is located on the Stone Ridge Campus in Vanderlyn Hall, Room 155, around the corner from the Senators Store Bookstore.

Phi Theta Kappa Hosted its 2022 Induction Ceremony

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Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society

December 21, 2022 – Stone Ridge – The Alpha Rho Delta Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa hosted its 2022 Induction Ceremony in the Quimby Theater at 6 p.m. on Monday, December 19, 2022. SUNY Ulster’s Alpha Rho Delta Chapter is the international honor society for community college students. Membership is lifelong and offers numerous benefits including scholarships, letters of recommendation, and recognition of academic prestige. SUNY Ulster would like to congratulate all newly inducted members listed below.

Accord:  Celeste Atkins, Daniel Milov, Daniel Palladino.

Bloomington:  Maya Todd.

Connelly:  Colton Arenella.

Ellenville:  Sameea Khan, Janeliz Pellot-Hilerio.

Gardiner:  Cassidy Thacker.

High Falls:  Hiroshi Sawka Hamaguchi.

Highland:  Alexander Papazov.

Highland Mills:  Alice Rodriguez.

Hopewell Junction:  Jennifer Elie.

Hurley:  Hannah Bear, Thomasina Citron, Christina Osterhoudt.

Hyde Park:  Mary Phillips.

Kerhonkson:  Danny Fallaha, Catarina Lutin, Amber Shamson.

Kingston:  Autumn-Lynne Aarons, Lea Avery, Jeffrey Belardo, Moira Cleary-Dwyer, Cheyanne Corbin, Iad Elmassalemah, Trinity Wilson.

Lake Katrine:  Robert Stoutenburg.

Marlboro:  Jozef Lisiecki.

Middletown:  Devon Pelton.

Napanoch:  Michelle Cruz, Megan McGovern.

New Paltz:   Ivelisse Cabrera, Bryce Casamento, Mark LaBorde, Julia Whitworth.

Newburgh:  Dakota Wolff.

Port Ewen:  Chase Deising.

Rochester:  John Jones.

Rosendale:  Aurora Gill.

Saugerties:  Tiffany Appollonia, Joann Bathrick, Adam DiVenere, Ethan Montfort, Gordon Vought, Derek White.

Shokan:  Hannah Gritman, Catherine Stafford.

South Richmond Hill:  Ayesha Ilyas, Maryam Ilyas.

Tillson:  Devon Lanman.

Tivoli:  Aliana Pegelow.

Ulster Park:  Georgia Johns, Rileigh O’Brien.

Wallkill:  Sabrina Hickey, Penelope Rose, Yulissa Rosello, Joleah Russell.

West Park: Lilyanna Palumbo.

Woodridge: Sierra Barbiani.

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Phi Theta Kappa group photograph

SUNY Ulster Art Students and Faculty Showcase in SUNY Annual Exhibits

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Arianna Moore still life of various objects

December 20, 2022 – Stone Ridge, NY – Margaret Melanson (Ellenville, NY) and Arianna Moore (New Paltz, NY) have been selected for the Chancellor’s Gallery Exhibition for 2023. Arianna Moore’s, The Apple and the Pear and Margaret Melanson’s, Portrait of a First-Year were selected for this exhibit. In addition, Margaret Melanson’s piece, Finally, Home has been chosen for the 2023 SUNY Best of the Year Student Art Exhibition.

Margaret Melanson is a Fine Art/Visual Arts student whose artwork, Finally, Home was part of the Spring 2022 SUNY Student Exhibition. This exhibition was then juried by four prominent art experts from around the state who made the selections for the Best of the Year exhibition in the summer. The exhibition has cash awards for the best art works. Margaret was chosen amongst students of all levels from 2- and 4-year art programs in the SUNY system, and judges chose her work as one of the best of the year in the entire SUNY system.  After graduation, Margaret plans to pursue a BFA in Animation/Film.

Arianna Moore, a Sophomore in the Fine Art/Visual Arts program and works as a student aide and intern for both the Community Relations and Fine Arts departments. She plans to apply to SUNY New Paltz as a Graphic Design major after her graduation in the spring.

The two art faculty members chosen to exhibit two pieces each are Joan Ffolliott and Chris Seubert. Courses taught by Joan Ffolliott include printmaking and 3 dimensional design. Chris Seubert teaches drawing and composition and advanced studio, among others.

SUNY creates three exhibitions annually of student and faculty artwork from all the SUNY campuses and creates a fall exhibition & spring exhibition that takes place in SUNY Plaza in Albany. In addition, a Best of the Year exhibition takes place in the NY State Museum.

The Best of SUNY Art Show takes place at the H. Carl McCall SUNY Building in downtown Albany in January 2023. The building is open to the public Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.  Those who are interested in viewing the works in the Chancellor’s Gallery are asked to make an appointment by emailing specialevents@suny.edu.

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SUNY Ulster Receives Reimagine Workforce Preparation Grant

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SUNY Ulster Press Release

December 19, 2022 – Stone Ridge, NY- The State University of New York granted SUNY Ulster a Reimagine Workforce Preparation Training Grant to deliver an enhanced Certified Pharmacy Technician training program tuition-free to people who were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The New York State Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that employment for pharmacy technicians is expected to grow 5 percent annually through 2031 with an average of approximately 43,000 job openings per year through the decade.  These jobs can be full time or part time and are ideal for those looking to start a career or to return to the workforce.

This enhanced training program will include building math and soft skills such as problem solving and communication as well as information needed to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification exam. Upon completion of coursework, students will be prepared to take the ExCPhT Pharmacy Technician Certification exam.

The Pharmacy Technician program will be held on Mondays and Wednesdays from 5 – 8 p.m., beginning January 23 and will run until May 10. Monday classes are in person at the Kingston Center of SUNY Ulster, Room 204; Wednesday classes are remote via Zoom. In addition, there will be 5 hours of asynchronous learning assigned per week.

Scholarship applications for this program are now being accepted. To apply for a scholarship, please complete the online application. For more information, contact SUNY Ulster’s Career and Continuing Education division at 845-339-2025 or visit www.sunyulster.edu/ce.

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SUNY Ulster PR – National Science Foundation Grant – Environmental Studies

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SUNY Ulster Press Release

The grant will help satisfy the growing need for environmental STEM workers in the Hudson Valley region

December 5, 2022 – Stone Ridge, NY – SUNY Ulster announces it has been awarded a three-year $349,838 National Science Foundation Grant to Support Applied Learning in its Environmental Studies program. The goal of the project is to improve student retention and career readiness in environmental STEM students to fill a growing industry need for qualified workers in the Hudson Valley.

SUNY Ulster offers one of the most affordable Environmental Studies degrees in the region, serving many nontraditional students who may be working, and have limited funds for college, or first-generation students as well as traditional graduating high school students. This grant will offer these students the opportunity to conduct field research during class time, giving them the skills to work for the NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and in other environmental careers.

SUNY Ulster is augmenting its General BIO II lab with in-class and in-the-field research activities that mirror industry settings and standards. To accomplish this, faculty will work with industry partners, including the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the Ulster County Executive’s Office. This collaboration will result in students learning technical skills such as GIS, water quality, and safety as well as soft skills such as problem-solving, effective communication, and collaboration.

Environmental Studies program coordinator and professor, Dr. Jennifer Guiher, states, “We are looking for students who see a career in Environmental Studies as a calling. As these students progress through the program, they will be gaining specific hands-on skills needed by the environmental industry. These skills will make these students desirable to many potential employers. Whether students further their education at a four-year college or university or decide to move directly into a job upon attaining their Associate’s degree, they will be in a position to earn a liveable wage.”

Chris Marx, Vice President for Workforce, Economic Development, and Community Partnerships believes, “This program is exactly what community colleges were designed to do. Working with our partners at the NYCDEP, our faculty can build modern, real-world skills into their curriculum. Our students complete the program ready to move into competitive jobs in this field. Our local employers are able to hire talent right from the community. It is a win-win for our students and the community.

Former Ulster County Executive Patrick Ryan, now U.S. Congressman, and his Ulster County team, further fostered the connection between NYCDEP and SUNY Ulster in Environmental Studies and water quality programs.

National, state, and local employment projections indicate a growing demand for skilled workers for those with Associate degrees and higher. A recent article for science.org  by practicing scientist and author Adam Ruben, Ph.D. reveals, “We often looked for fresh-out-of-college candidates who had worked in a lab for at least a year and finding them wasn’t easy.

To help support interested students with financial needs, the Ulster Community College Foundation will award $1 million in scholarships this year. Students fill out one application to be considered for over one hundred scholarships.

The NYCDEP, one of the largest employers in the region and charged with the important role of maintaining the quality of New York City’s drinking water, and SUNY Ulster have had a longstanding relationship. For over 20 years each summer, the DEP has taken on about eight SUNY Ulster students for paid internships, some of which have resulted in permanent positions with them.

To learn more about SUNY Ulster’s Environmental Studies program visit sunyulster.edu/enviro_studies.

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Photo caption: SUNY Ulster students conducting fieldwork at Tivoli Bay Marsh on the east side of the Hudson River.

Approaching the finish line: Discussion on self care around finals

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pitcher of water pouring into glass

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!