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What Are Microcredentials? How Can They Benefit Me?

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Woman presenting at a business meeting

Both locally and nationally, today’s employers are now looking for candidates with more than a college degree. Employers are looking for personnel that have detailed credentials with a proven and tailored skill set to fit a specific job description. A combination of applied learning experiences, credentialing, and a quality degree stack the competencies needed for graduates to succeed in today’s highly competitive job market. SUNY Ulster is one of the growing number of colleges providing these credential options for individuals and students looking to enhance their skill sets with highly marketable qualifications.  

What is a Microcredential?

At the most basic level, microcredentials verify, validate, and attest that specific skills and/or competencies have been achieved. They differ from traditional degrees and certificates in that they are generally offered in shorter or more flexible time frames and tend to be more narrowly focused. Microcredentials can be offered online, on campus, or via a hybrid of both.

Who Needs a Microcredential?

The industries with the most common use or requirement of microcredentials are in Industry Trades (including technology and advanced manufacturing); Health Care, Computers, Networking, and Engineering. The majority of licensure‐related offerings are within Education and Health Care. Others who may be interested in microcredentials are individuals working in fields such as Business, Entrepreneurship, Human Resources, Paralegal Studies, Mental Health, Protective Services, Veterinary Sciences, and more!

MicroCredentials at SUNY Ulster

SUNY Ulster currently offers four microcredentials, with several more currently in development. The four currently offered are Accounting Computer Skills, Computer Game Design, Mobile Application Developer, and Web Application Developer. Each consists of four classes which, when finished, earn the student a 14 or 16 credit microcredential. Accounting Computer Skills is designed primarily for Business majors, while the other three are geared toward those with a Computer Science background.

Start Your Creative Career with the SUNY Ulster Graphic Design Program

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Graphic Design students holding the bee brochures they designed

Are you a creative person? Do you dream of making money from your art or designs? If so, a degree in Graphic Design may be for you!

Perfect for traditional and adult students who are looking for more employment options or a career change, students can find themselves on a path to success when they start with the Advertising Design and Graphic Technology Program at SUNY Ulster, also known as the Real World Classroom.

The Real World Classroom is a unique opportunity for SUNY Ulster Graphic Design students. Each semester they are paired with local clients who are in need of design help. Recently, these classes have designed a brochure for the Ulster County Jewish Federation and created packaging for SOUL, a socially responsible coffee company supporting farmers in Rwanda. In addition to classroom work, students have the opportunity further their education in specific disciplines by participating in local internships.

Numerous graduates have transferred to four-year programs or gone directly on to employment within the fields of Print Media, Multimedia, Video, Web Design, and Illustration. Design careers combining graphic design and technology, including Video and 3D Printing, have become especially popular.

Students from a variety of backgrounds find a great fit in the Graphic Design program. SUNY Ulster student Sharon Wasko received her bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts in the past. She came to SUNY Ulster after learning about the Real World Classroom, as she wanted directly employable skills with real clients. Graphic Design alumna Leanna White has had an exciting career since her 2012 graduation, designing album covers, patrol car wraps, and advertisements featured in magazines right after graduation.

No matter what stage of life you’re currently in, you have to take the first step to begin your career if you want to make a living doing what you love. For artists and designers, the Graphic Design Real World Classroom can be the perfect place to start.

Make the Most of Your Time this Winter Break

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Person walking in the woods

The fall semester is over, and the spring semester is still a few weeks away. Winter break is here! It’s important to wind down and enjoy some time with friends and family during your time off. However, once the holidays are over and everyone goes back to work, life can sometimes get a bit boring – so here are some great activities to help you make the most of your time off this winter break!

Volunteer

If you have some free time, local organizations and charities are always looking for extra help! Think of something you’re passionate about: chances are, there’s an organization for it! There are many unique groups who need help right here in the Hudson Valley, including animal shelters, libraries, museums, mentorship programs, and many more. By volunteering, you can meet new people, have a great addition to your resume, and have fun, all while supporting a cause you care about! If you won’t have much time when the semester starts again, you can always look into one-time volunteer gigs; organizations often need extra help with special events that only happen once. Check local websites, keep an eye out for bulletin board notices, and stop by places that might need extra help to see what’s out there.

Work on Your LinkedIn Profile

No matter what your major is or what your plans are for the future, having a network of professionals will help! Even if you haven’t decided on a major yet, you can benefit from creating a professional profile and adding professors, fellow students, bosses, and coworkers whose experience and advice could be useful as you begin to search for jobs or transfer colleges. While you’re at it, you may also want to take the time to tidy up your personal profiles on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook to make your online persona more professional and appealing to future bosses and admissions representatives.

Make a Career or Financial Plan

When you’re in the middle of the semester, it’s easy to get caught up in the little day-to-day struggles like figuring out where to get dinner and completing the assignment that’s due early the next day. It’s easy to get discouraged and begin questioning why you’re working so hard for your career and degree when you’re tired, stressed out, and broke. While you’re on winter break, it’s easier to see the big picture, think positively, and plan for the future. You can plan for just the spring semester, or take it further and plan the next few months or years, in terms of both your finances and where you hope to be with college and your career. Having your plans and goals mapped out and written down will help you get through the mid-semester blues if they set in.

Apply for Scholarships

Every January and February, the Ulster Community College Foundation opens their scholarship application website to continuing and transferring students. Winter break is an excellent time to work on your applications and get them sent in before the full force of the spring semester sets in again. Check out our scholarship application tips post to get started!

Do Something You’ve Been Putting Off

We all have those things we put off, either because we don’t want to do them or because there’s just no time to do them. Winter break is an excellent opportunity to go for a dentist appointment, take your car in for the service it’s been demanding, or clean that closet (or room) you’ve been shoving things into for years. Even if it’s something you absolutely dread, just do it! You’ll be glad you did once you’re low on time again when the spring semester begins.

Do Something FUN!

Is there a book you’d love to read? A trip you’ve been wanting to take (even if it’s just for the day)? Maybe you want to start learning a new language or practice your drawing skills. If you haven’t seen your friends in a while, you might want to invite them over to catch up. Whatever it is, take the time to do it! Doing something meaningful and enjoyable is an important part of rejuvenating yourself after a long semester and enriching your life.

Get Started Today

Hopefully these tips have inspired you with some fun and productive things to do! What plans do you have for winter break? Comment them below!

Close to Home Holiday Family Fun

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A dark forest landscape with set of train tracks leading out of the forest and off the side of the photo, the tracks and the train on top of them are covered and lit completely by rainbow christmas lights

Looking for an inexpensive way to entertain the kids next weekend? Look no further than the SUNY Ulster campus screening of Polar Express! Chris Van Allsburg‘s masterpiece fantasy children’s book will come to life on the big screen. Transporting you and your family to the North Pole in all of it’s enchanting glory.

Winner of the Caldecott Medal in 1987, this book was adapted to the big screen in 2004. The tale of holiday spirit is told through the awestruck eyes of a child, complete with graphics that make you feel like part of the magic. Positivity and hope are the invaluable lessons taught to youngsters through the experience of Polar Express. 

A young blonde woman, a brown haired man in glasses and a baby all sit in front of a fire place in their pajamas while laughing at the baby who is playing with what appears to be a scarf

Not only character building, but cheap too!

Admission is only $5 for adults and if the kids, under twelve, come in holiday apparel or pajamas, they get in for absolutely free. Just click here to buy tickets. Not only will the kids have fun watching the movie but afterward they will get the chance to see Santa in person, along with Mrs. Claus and their helpers, all included in the donation received as admission. We will be the best Christmas photo-op in town!

A woman with short hair and a bald man hold their smiling and laughing child while standing togetherDon’t forget that if transportation is an issue, you can always use the affordable UCAT bus service to get to and from campus with ease.

This event is a great opportunity to spend memorable time with your little ones and capture memories to hold on to forever!

Audience members on Saturday get a special deal!Professors and staff of SUNY Ulster sit with instruments and christmas hats on at last years Tuba Christmas show

After the screening taking place on Saturday December 15th, at 12:30 p.m. there will be another holiday event on campus, Tuba Christmas. An annual holiday concert where tuba and euphonium players of all ages perform Christmas music from around the world. If you happen to come join us for the Saturday screening, not only will you get to see the movie but you also will receive free admission to our Tuba Christmas concert that begins at 3 p.m., shortly after the screening.

 

Study Abroad with SUNY Ulster in 2019!

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Benbulbenmount in Sligo, Ireland

It may still be 2018, but that’s no reason not to get excited about what next year will bring! And what could be more fun than having an exciting trip to look forward to? This spring and summer, SUNY Ulster has two study abroad opportunities, one to South Africa and another to Ireland! Read on to learn more.

Explore Durban, South Africa with NUR 254

Are you interested in seeing South Africa, particularly through the lens of the country’s healthcare system? If so, be sure to sign up for this trip, running during Spring Break from Friday, March 8 to Saturday, March 16, 2019. This trip, which is open to students, alumni, health and human services professionals, and the community, allows participants to work with nursing students from the Durban University of Technology in South Africa.  SUNY Ulster Nursing Professor Dr. Ellen Tangney will lead and instruct the course.

The class will include:

  • An opportunity for students to connect with Durban University of Technology’s
    nursing student culture first hand
  • A visit to psychiatric clinics to view local mental health services
  • A visit to Community Health Clinic Centers
  • A visit to traditional healers and health practitioners who practice a holistic
    approach to healing
  • A day visit to deep rural clinics
  • A service learning component and the opportunity for all participants to act as
    international ambassadors

Those interested are encouraged to register soon, as seats are limited. For more information on the trip, travel guidelines, or to reserve your space, visit www.sunyulster.edu/durban or contact Christopher Seubert, Academic Travel Program Coordinator, by phone at (845) 687-5134 or by email at seubertc@sunyulster.edu.

Visit Ireland with ENG 206 Topics in Literature

Get ready to explore the Emerald Isle from a literary point of view with this trip in June and July! Experience a hundred years of Irish literature as it spans “The Three Arts:” Prose, Poetry, and Drama. The trip runs from June 21-July 3, 2019. SUNY Ulster Professor of English Nicholas Haines will lead and instruct the three-credit course. In addition to students and alumni, the program is open to all community members, veterans, and adult learners.

Participants will be learning about the history and works of Irish authors over the last 100 years, such as Yeats, Joyce, Samuel Beckett, and Roddy Doyle. There will also be visits to a number of historical attractions throughout the country, including Sligo, Galway, Limerick, and Dublin. Participants will tour a variety of cultural destinations including the Trinity College Library, Sligo Abbey, the Cliffs of Moher, and Bunratty Castle.

Included in the cost of the class is transportation to and from SUNY Ulster and the airport, airfare, shared accommodations including breakfast, some site fees, and the three SUNY Ulster credits. Registration for the class in now open. For more information, visit www.sunyulster.edu/ireland or contact Chris Seubert, Program Coordinator of Academic Travel, by phone at (845) 687-5134 or email at seubertc@sunyulster.edu.

Food For Thought- The Best Brain Foods For College Students!

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person holding shopping basket full of vegetables

As a college student, the temptation and accessibility of energy drinks and fast food can be plentiful. We have put together this post with the best brain foods in mind! Scientific research has produced some pretty interesting data about what the diet of a college student should include.

Remember: Food is Fuel!

Most of these foods totally portable and can be kept in your backpack! These snacks can help keep your mind in tip-top study shape!

 

Coffee!, Coffee!, Coffee!

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Caffeinated coffee in small dosages can aid in concentration. A “small” serving is about an 8-ounce cup (smaller doses help to avoid the caffeine jitters). So pick up some coffee or even a cup of green tea to fuel up and focus!

 

Did Somebody Say Chocolate?!

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Chocolate specifically speaking dark chocolate helps to “increase blood flow to your brain.” The Cocoa density in dark chocolate “is where you are getting the nutrition and the brainpower” explained Web MD.  Now you’ll never need an excuse to eat chocolate again!

 

Remember When Your Mom Told You To Eat Your Vegetables?

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Turns out Mom was right when she told you to “eat your greens”! Green vegetables such as spinach, asparagus, broccoli, and brussels sprouts just to name a few all provide your body with Folate- this is an essential vitamin that helps your brain function. Mixing up your greens can provide you with a powerful mix of mineral and nutrients!

 

Bread!

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Can bread make you smarter? (Well kinda). Whole Grains (yes-even in bread form), pasta, wraps, oatmeal, and even popcorn are all helpful whole grains! Whole grains contain fiber, vitamins, minerals, protein, and antioxidants which are all helpful in your overall mental and physical health.

 

Blue Berries.

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Blueberries (berries and fruits as a whole) can really pack a punch in supporting your immune system and overall health. Blueberries, in particular, are considered “–One of nature’s perfect foods, blueberries are packed with nutrients that give them their deep-blue color. One study links blueberries to improved learning and memory.”  They are the perfect powerful portable snack- great in yogurt or on their own!

Resources For This Article: 

https://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/features/top-10-smart-foods-college-students#1
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/9-benefits-of-whole-grains#section2

SUNY Ulster’s Interactive Arts Timeline.

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art gallery wide view with many people talking in small groups

SUNY Ulster’s campus, much like the Hudson Valley itself, has served as a hub for both a historic and booming art scene. SUNY Ulster’s interactive timeline provides an intimate look at the lives of the artists that have visited SUNY Ulster’s campus since 1994.

Explore Our Interactive Timeline Here: https://www.sunyulster.edu/artstimeline.html

With assistance from  The Ulster Community College Foundation, INC., SUNY Ulster has been able to provide students and local residents exposure to different cultural and artistic expressions through programs like Words & Music, Herbert H. & Sofia P. Reuner Library Writers Series, Ellen Robbins Poetry Forum, Visiting Artist Series, and the Larry Berk Artist-In-Residence Series.

A Spotlight Of Artists Who Have Visited Us Through The Decades:

 

1994-Sharon Olds (Poet) 

An American poet. Olds has been the recipient of many awards including the 2013 Pulitzer Prize in Poetry, the 1984 National Book Critics Circle Award, and the first San Francisco Poetry Center Award in 1980.

1999- Mary Frank (Visual Artist) 

Born in London, England in 1933, Mary Frank moved to the United States with her family in 1940. Frank works across mediums as a sculptor, painter, photographer, and gifted ceramic artist.

 

2004- Gail Godwin ( Keynote Speaker Author and Visting Artist) 

Gail Godwin is a novelist and short story writer born in 1937 in Alabama. Gail attended St. Genevieve’s of the Pines, a Catholic school for girls, through the ninth grade. Her time in Catholic school inspired her novel, ‘Unfinished Desires’.

 

2007- Will Cotton (Painter) 

American painter, Will Cotton was born in 1965 in Massachusetts. In 1987 he earned his B.F.A. from the Cooper Union School of Art in NYC. His work primarily features landscapes composed of sweets, often inhabited by human subjects. In 2010, he notably served as the artistic director for Katy Perry’s music video “California Gurls,” and has painted several portraits of the singer.

 

2013- Diane Ackerman (Author) 

Diane Ackerman is the author of two dozen highly-acclaimed works of poetry and nonfiction, including New York Times bestsellers turned blockbuster film ‘The Zookeeper’s Wife’ which starred Jessica Chastain and Daniel Brühl in 2017.

 

2017-Okey Ndibe (Author) 

Okey Ndibe is the author of the novels “Never Look An American In The Eye: A Memoir of Flying Turtles”, “Colonial Ghosts”, and the making of a Nigerian American, “Foreign Gods, Inc.”, and “Arrows of Rain”, and co-editor (with Zimbabwean writer Chenjerai Hove) of “Writers Writing on Conflicts and Wars in Africa”.

 

Five Truths of Being An Adult Student!

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a man sits outside in a warm sweater, happily reading a self-help book

Returning to college in your adulthood can be nerve-racking, but adults pursuing their educations are not alone. Many adult students put off going back to school because of all the “What if” scenarios- “What if this, that, or the other thing”.

Peirce College reports that “ Students over the age of 25 are the fastest-growing segment in higher education”, and that “ From 2000 to 2012, the enrollment of students over the age of 25 has increased by 35%, and by 2019, the share of students over age 25 is projected to increase by another 23%.” 

Being an adult student may require some adjustments to your personal and professional life. Here are some of the fun and occasionally challenging scenarios that many adult students experience!

You Will Study In Unexpected Places.


During your kids sports team practice, on your own lunch break at work, and during the commercial breaks of your favorite television show are all potential study opportunities when you’re a hard-working adult student! (You’re going to develop some stellar focusing abilities my friend!)

Organization Will Become Your Best Friend.


Going back to college as an adult student can mean adding even more tasks to an already very full plate. We have put together 12 tips & tricks that can help you keep your personal and educational responsibilities so you never miss a beat! http://blog.sunyulster.edu/12-tips-for-organizing-your-college-life/

Part-Time or Full-Time, You Can Get It Done!


As an adult student, the “traditional” track to graduation may not be fit for your busy life. You may find yourself taking a full-time semester here, and maybe a part-time semester there with Summer, Winter, and Express Semesters sprinkled in along the way. Whatever the roadmap to your graduation or certification looks like- YOU CAN GET IT DONE!

You Can Include Your Kids!


If you are an adult student with a child, try to make homework and study time a group effort. By encouraging your kids to join you in your efforts you can create a bonding experience. You can also make it a fun game, for example, you could say “If we study for 45 minutes, then we get to have a sweet treat.” 

The Struggle Is Worth The Reward.

Late nights, fitting a class load in to your already hectic schedule, occasionally choosing to stay in on the weekends, pushing yourself in adulthood to learn and expand your ways of thinking are all the elements of going back for your education as an adult! But so is an improved sense of self, higher paying job opportunities, adding new and improved skills to your repertoire, and gaining mentorship and friendships that can last a lifetime!

Join us at an Info Session | Request more information

Contact:
845-687-5022
admissions@sunyulster.edu

Explore Adult Ed. Opportunities at SUNY Ulster:

Business Administration (AS, Online Program)

Business & Entrepreneurial Studies (AAS)

Entrepreneurship (Certificate)

Computer Science (AS, Online Program)

Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor (CASAC)

Criminal Justice (AAS) (traditional 15-week schedule)

Human Services (AAS) (traditional 15-week schedule)

Direct Support Practice (Certificate)

Individual Studies (AS, Online)

Web Development

 

 

SUNY Ulster Students Go International with COIL

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Joanna Munley with her COIL certificate

Here at SUNY Ulster, we have several courses hosting COIL (Collaborative Online International Learning) projects. Students can sign up for these classes and learn to communicate within collaborative teams, which pair a SUNY Ulster team with a team from a college in another country. COIL courses give Ulster students the opportunity to learn from another culture, which is increasingly important in today’s global market.

I didn’t know anything about the COIL program until I took an entrepreneurship class during the Spring 2018 semester. I was already excited to learn about the different aspects of starting and running a business when I discovered that our class would be participating in a COIL project. Our professor, Dr. Mindy Kole, explained that our class would be working with students from the Netherlands. I was excited, but I had no idea how it was going to work. How would we work with students that far away? How would we meet? When would we meet? What would we do?

For a six week period, the class interacted in assigned groups with students from the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences (AUAS). First, Ulster students met the Dutch course’s teacher, Eva Haug, Professor and COIL Coordinator at AUAS. Dr. Kole assigned our class to look up interesting facts about the Netherlands. A meeting was set up using the Zoom video conferencing application via the internet. An overhead projector was also set up so the class could see and meet Professor Haug. Each of us had an opportunity to ask questions about the Netherlands. Professor Haug asked the Ulster class a number of questions about the United States. It was an exciting cultural exchange. We learned many new things about the Netherlands, and we were able to share our perspectives about our own culture. It was fun to discover the many differences and similarities.

During our Entrepreneurship COIL class project, we were separated into groups. Small groups of Ulster students were given two or three student partners in Amsterdam. We were assigned to reach out to these students using the mobile apps we already carry on our cell phones. Some students used Facebook Messenger, some used WhatsApp, and some used Skype. The class buzzed with conversation about the different mobile apps they preferred. We were also required to use our international dialing code to reach students in the Netherlands – something not usually done in the United States.

Our COIL project provided an opportunity for our class to build teamwork and communication skills. We were able to work with people from another culture and share our experiences. We used Facebook and WhatsApp to collaborate, ask questions, and send photos from our hometown. Dr. Kole and Professor Haug guided us every step of the way with project outlines and protocols to follow. My team project consisted of a report and PowerPoint presentation on social entrepreneurship, where the goal of a business is to make a profit while providing a benefit to society. It was fascinating to learn how the United States and the Netherlands approach this type of business model.

I highly recommend COIL courses. They allow students to build 21st century skills of communication, teamwork, and problem solving, all at no additional tuition cost to class participants. It is a great experience to put on a resume, and students also receive a COIL certificate upon completion of the course. We live in a time when we can communicate over vast distances with mobile apps and internet connections. Why not use these tools to learn and build relationships around the world? SUNY Ulster students should be the first to take advantage of this unique academic opportunity!

Joanna Munley is a first-year Business Accounting major at SUNY Ulster. She also serves as the Student Aide for the COIL/Academic Travel program.

Fun Free College Resources!

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overhead view of work table covered in laptops, tea cups, smartphones, pens, cords, and some hands typing

We’ve compiled a small group of free resources that can help to make your time in and outside of class that much more productive! Whether it be studying, staying organized, writing tools, or additional resources for parents we have a little bit of everything included here!

Studying:

Sometimes when you’ve been studying certain materials for an extended period of time you can begin to feel like you aren’t retaining information at a level you are satisfied with. Enter studying resources like SparkNotes.com, Quizlet.com, and Unstuck.com. These study assist websites are designed to help you develop study techniques, provide insights, and take practice quizzes. You can also take advantage of the MacDonald Dewitt Library for some on-campus peace and quiet.

Staying Organized:

Just like you don’t want to have to hunt through your backpack for important papers the same goes for your digital documents.  Much of what you work that will be done in your classes will need to be saved and often submitted digitally.  Digital saver resources include Google Drive, the free version of Dropbox.com, as well a project tracking resources such as Any.do.

Writing Tools:

If there is one thing you are going to be doing a lot of while in college it is writing.  Exceptional writing resources are  EnhanceMyVocabulary.com designed by college professors to help students advance their personal vocabularies. Grammarly is an app extension that can be added to your Google Chrome that “-automatically detects grammar, spelling, punctuation, word choice, and style mistakes in your writing.” Easybib.com is another online resource that can assist in creating bibliographic references as well as formatting in the proper citation writing style such as APA, MLA, or Chicago style. Don’t forget you can also visit the SUNY Ulster Writing Center for some 1-1 writing assistance.

Additional Resources For Parents and Students of Incoming Students:

Go College! Now has multiple resources for both entering students and parents! From preparing, paying, finding a mentor and beyond this site has the answers to many questions.