SUNY Ulster Holds 58th Commencement on May 21

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Class of 2022 SUNY Ulster

May 13, 2022 – Stone Ridge, NY – SUNY Ulster’s sixth President, Dr. Alan P. Roberts, will preside over the College’s 58th Commencement on Saturday, May 21 at 10:00 a.m. on the SUNY Ulster Soccer Field on the Stone Ridge campus. President Roberts will present 175 students with a degree or certificate at the Commencement ceremony.

Graduates marching in academic regalia will receive four tickets each for guests to attend the commencement. The Soccer Field will be open for guest seating at 9:00 a.m., and the ceremony starts at 10:00 a.m. The ceremony is rain or shine.

The event will be video streamed live for guests without tickets and can be viewed from any remote location as the ceremony occurs from our website or from our YouTube channel.

The graduating class consists of 461 students. Three hundred forty-nine will receive associate degrees and 112 will receive certificates. The youngest graduate is 17, and the oldest is 63. Of the class, 76 are graduating with highest honors, 155 are graduating with honors, 7 students are graduating with the Honors Studies program distinction, 9 students are being recognized with the President’s Medal of Highest Honor for earning a 4.0 GPA, 67 are members of the national honor society Phi Theta Kappa, and 3 are graduating from the President’s Challenge Scholarship. There are also six students graduating as College Scholars and 32 graduating as nurses.

Thomas DiNapoli, New York State Comptroller will give the keynote address. DiNapoli has been comptroller since 2007. He was formerly a member of the New York State Assembly and New York State Legislature, representing the 16th district in Nassau County. DiNapoli graduated magna cum laude from Hofstra University in 1976 with a bachelor’s degree in history and received his master’s degree in 1988 in human resources management from The New School’s Graduate School of Management and Urban Professions.

Other speakers include Grand Marshal Cornelia Denvir, Professor of Business; Faculty Marshal Kevin R. Stoner, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of Faculty; Deborah Briggs, Board of Trustees Vice Chair; The Honorable Michelle Hinchey, New York State Senator; The Honorable Patrick K. Ryan, Ulster County Executive, The Honorable Tracey A. Bartels, Ulster County Legislative Chair, and James Hobbs, Professor of Behavioral Sciences & Academic Senate Chair.

Graduating students Evan M. Smith and Van W. Demps are Student Marshals with Evan M. Smith bringing greetings from the class of 2022.

The Reverend Allison Moore, Ph.D. of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, New Paltz, will deliver the invocation and benediction. Music will be performed by members of the College Choral Ensemble directed by Janet Gehres and accompanied by Edward Leavitt, and the SUNY Ulster Brass Quintet directed by Victor Izzo, Jr.

The security policy does not permit large bags and backpacks. Large purses and diaper bags will be checked. Guests will be asked to leave their strollers in a designated area on the soccer field.

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Study Tips for Finals: 10 Ways to Ace your Exams

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student studying
  1. Avoid the Urge to Procrastinate
    This Natural tendency seems to define the college experience with some students even boasting about their ability to survive all-nighters. In reality, however, procrastination is not cause for celebration or even lighthearted joking. This harmful practice stresses students out and almost always leads to worse scores.
  2. Get Plenty of Sleep
    At first glance, sleep might not seem like the most important of the many study tips for finals. In reality, however, all that prep work will do little good if it’s not accompanied by plenty of rest. The need for sleep underscores the importance of avoiding procrastination.
  3. Create a Study-Oriented Space
    Environment matters. You might find it difficult to focus if your space is cluttered or chock full of distracting devices. If possible, set up a nook exclusively dedicated to studying. This area should include a desk, an ergonomic chair, quality lighting, and any materials you might require during your study session.
  4. Level Up Your Playlist
    The right music can make your study session more enjoyable and more effective. Several studies highlight the value of classical music in particular.
  5. Ditch Distracting Devices
    In today’s digital world, it’s tough to go even a few minutes without glancing at our smartphones. Unfortunately, this dependence can cause big problems when it’s time to buckle down and study. For best results, commit to turning your phone off for at least an hour and placing it in a space as far from your desk as possible.
  6. Experiment with a Variety of Study Tactics
    No one study method works equally well for everyone. Some people learn best from reading notes out loud, while others benefit from flashcards or highlighters. Experiment with several approaches until you find a strategy that best addresses your unique needs.
  7. Create Sample Test Questions
    This method provides a variety of benefits. First, it forces you to boil down weeks of learning into a few basic takeaways. Writing sample questions also allows you to think like an instructor. This thought process may benefit you when the actual exam arrives.
  8. Get Involved in a Study Group
    It’s never too late to start a study group. While these gatherings are most beneficial if they take place throughout the entire course of the semester, they can provide plenty of value in the last few days before finals.
  9. Don’t be Afraid to Ask for Help
    Don’t hesitate to seek help from your instructors. Office hours exist for a reason, and yet far too many students are too intimidated to chat up those in the best position to help. SUNY Ulster also has tutoring in almost all subjects. Call 845-687-5039 or email tutoring@sunyulster.edu to make an appointment.
  10. Keep the Big picture in Mind
    Final exams aren’t designed to torture stressed-out students. If you take exam prep seriously, you’ll come away with a richer understanding of key concepts, which in turn, will ensure that you retain the knowledge you’ve worked so hard to gain. As you move forward with upper-level courses, graduate school, or your eventual career, you’ll thank yourself for putting in the effort. 

Yom HaShoah Remembrance Day

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Star of David symbol next to lit candles

Tonight (April 27) marks the beginning of Yom HaShoah, a day to commemorate and remember the Holocaust, its victims, and its survivors. April is also Genocide Awareness Month. 

During this time, we not only reflect on the horrors that humans are capable of inflicting on others but on the goodness that people are also capable of and the resilience of survivors to build new lives.

A few weeks ago, President Biden declared April 24 – May 1, 2022, as a week of observance of the Days of Remembrance of Victims of the Holocaust and called upon the people of the United States to observe this week to remember victims and survivors of the Holocaust.

Here is his full proclamation: 

In addition, there are several people on campus who are children of Holocaust survivors and whose parents were interviewed for Steven Spielberg’s testimony project for the Shoah foundation. 

The story of  Buena Alcalay Pearlman, can be found on YouTube

Buena Alcalay Pearlman
Buena Alcalay Pearlman

The stories of  Lola & Walter Kaufman can be found found on Google. 

Lola and Walter Kaufman
Lola and Walter Kaufman

There have been other genocides that have occurred in recent history against Armenians, Rwandans, Cambodians, and Bosnians. And, of course, in Ukraine today. 

Here’s to hoping that “Never Again” can become the goal of all humankind.

Diversity logo SUNY Ulster (multi-colored Us)

 

SUNY Ulster Fine Art and Fashion Design Student Exhibition May 6 – May 21

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three fashion drawing figures and three illustrated figures

April 26, 2022 – Stone Ridge, NY – Students from the Fine Art/Visual Art and Fashion Design programs of SUNY Ulster exhibit their work in the Muroff-Kotler Visual Arts Gallery and College Lounge. The opening reception is on May 6 from 4 to 7 pm. Attendees can come at 4 pm to celebrate with the Fine Art students in the Gallery and then take a short walk down the hall to see the Fashion Design work in the College Lounge at 5 pm.

Fine Art students participating in this exhibit include Meleah Danner, Samuel Goldberg, Angela Mayer, Margaret Priest, Francis Sargenti, Gregory Renner, Colin Secore, Olivia Schmidt, Megan Sorbellini, Darryl Underwood, Lorelei Siegel, and Kylie Williams.  They will be exhibiting work in a variety of media.

The Fashion Design exhibit will showcase the work of first and second-year students. This exhibition is the final presentation of second-year students whose garments will be worn on live models and mannequins. Their portfolios of apparel illustrations and computer-aided design will also be on display. Work from first-year students will include blouse and skirt outfits. Second-year students include M.E. Baker, Cali Kircher, Sierra Madison, and Ariel Pazer. First-year students include Brooke-Lynn Caso, Sarah Connolly, Mikyla Hough, Vera Hrab, Sophie McCarthy, Stephanie McClure, Janyia McNabb, Monserrat Medina, Deja Squire, and Anna Thomas.

The Fine Arts/Visual Arts and Fashion Design programs are two-year foundation programs that prepare students for both transfer to a four-year college as a junior or entry into the job market. While at SUNY Ulster, students will have the opportunity to connect with area artists and art organizations through internships, an active Fine Arts Club, community exhibition opportunities, and the College’s thriving teaching gallery.

Graduates of SUNY Ulster’s art programs have consistently transferred to some of the best art colleges in the nation including Pratt Institute, SVA, SUNY New Paltz, Fashion Institute of Technology, Savannah College of Art & Design, Otis School of Design, and Marist College.

For more information on this exhibit or art programs at SUNY Ulster, contact Chris Seubert at seubertc@sunyulster.edu or Kristin Flynn at flynnk@sunyulster.edu.

COVID screeners will be on-site to conduct a brief health screening and issue wristbands for all visitors.  Additionally, SUNY Ulster has moved to a masks-optional policy for all vaccinated employees, staff, and visitors. Visitors will be required to show proof of vaccination at check-in. Those without proof of vaccination will be required to wear a mask while indoors.  Face masks are still encouraged to be worn in any setting where social distancing of three feet cannot be maintained.  SUNY Ulster fully supports all members of our community who wish to continue wearing masks to protect themselves, dependents at home, or for various reasons.

 

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Spring Open House Returns to Campus May 7, 2022

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Students pose outside campus with 'Spring 2022 Open House' text overlay

April 22, 2022 – Stone Ridge, NY – SUNY Ulster will hold its Spring Open House in person on the Stone Ridge campus on Saturday, May 7, 2022 beginning at 9 a.m. Prospective and accepted students and their families are invited to register to attend this informative and fun event.

Attendees will be able to learn more about SUNY Ulster’s programs, athletics, student support services, campus life, and more. Also available will be a financial literacy workshop to get insight on making college affordable, a career & transfer exploration workshop, a classroom experience in Business and Entrepreneurship, and a student-led hands-on workshop on navigating the SUNY Ulster student portal.

 Student Admissions Ambassadors will lead campus tours and SUNY Ulster’s Business Club and Student Government Organization have arranged for food trucks on campus.

Prospective students will be able to get help applying to SUNY Ulster and are encouraged to schedule a future one-on-one session with an Enrollment & Success Counselor for guidance through the entire admissions process.

Accepted students will be able to schedule an advisement and registration appointment to complete their fall schedule.

Registration for Open House is required and can be completed by visiting https://conta.cc/3CO11TN and questions can be directed to (845) 687-5022 or esc@sunyulster.edu.

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Spring Concerts on April 27 and May 5, 2022

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SUNY Ulster Press Release

April 22, 2022 – Stone Ridge, NY – SUNY Ulster will hold its Spring Concerts on April 27 and May 5 in the Quimby Theater. Both concerts begin at 7:30 pm. The concerts are free and open to the public.

The April 27 concert will feature the SUNY Ulster Community Band, Brass Choir, and Woodwind Choir, Victor Izzo, director. The program includes three major Wind Band works directed by special Guest Conductor, Dr. Adam Fontant, director of Ensembles at SUNY New Paltz:

  • Downtown Divertimento by Johan de Meij
  • Vientos y Tangos by Michael Fanfolfi
  • Shine by Julie Giroux

The Brass Choir will perform Symphony No. 1 for Brass by Brian Balmages with Guest Conductor, Adam Kuliszewski.

The Woodwind Choir will perform works by Telemann and Debussy.

On May 5, the SUNY Ulster Chorus directed by Janet Gehres and accompanied by Edward Leavitt will open with “Viva la Musica” (Long Live Music) and continue with an eclectic program of music from the Renaissance, the Beatles, Ukraine, Americana, and music based on the poetry of Langston Hughes.

The SUNY Ulster Mixed Instrument Ensemble, directed and arranged by Greg Dinger will perform works by Carcassi, Mozart, and Lennon/McCartney arranged for flute, alto sax, guitar, piano, and electric bass.

In addition, winners of the Best Solo Performances from the Spring 22 Music Department’s convocation Series will be announced.

For more information and questions, email gehresj@sunyulster.edu.

COVID screeners will be on-site to conduct a brief health screening and issue wristbands for all visitors.  Additionally, SUNY Ulster has moved to a masks-optional policy for all vaccinated employees, staff, and visitors. Visitors will be required to show proof of vaccination at check-in. Those without proof of vaccination will be required to wear a mask while indoors.  Face masks are still encouraged to be worn in any setting where social distancing of three feet cannot be maintained.  SUNY Ulster fully supports all members of our community who wish to continue wearing masks to protect themselves, dependents at home, or for various reasons.

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SUNY Ulster Presents a Virtual Event with Author, Erika Meitner

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portrait of poet for Ellen Robbins Poetry Forum - Erika Meitner

 April 4, 2022 – Stone Ridge, NY – Registration is now open for the 2022 Ellen Robbins Poetry Forum with poet, essayist, and social critic, Erika Meitner via Zoom on Tuesday, April 19 at 1:15 p.m.

Moderated by Rachael Pompeii, Instructor of English at SUNY Ulster, this virtual event will include Ms. Meitner reading from her work and an interview.

Erika Meitner is the winner of the 2018 National Jewish Book Award for Poetry and author of six books of poems: Useful Junk; Holy Moly Carry Me; Inventory at the All-Night Drugstore; Makeshift Instructions for Vigilant Girls; and Ideal Cities, which was a 2009 National Poetry series winner; and Copia. Her poetry and prose have been widely anthologized.

Born and raised in Queens and Long Island, NY, Meitner is a first-generation American: her father is from Israel; her mother was born in a refugee camp in Germany, which is where her maternal grandparents settled after surviving the Holocaust. Meitner is currently a professor of English at Virginia Tech.

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 for intimate question and answer sessions. 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, 2002-2006.

This event is free and open to the public. Registration is required. Zoom information will be provided upon registration via a confirmation email. To learn more, contact Kari Mack by email at mackk@sunyulster.edu.

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Fine Art/Visual Art Students Exhibition April 1 – April 30

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Fine Arts Exhibition paintings and drawings

March 31, 2022 – Stone Ridge, NY – Fine Art/Visual Art students from SUNY Ulster showcase artwork from Drawing & Composition I & II, 3 Dimensional Design, Advanced Studio I & II, Printmaking, Watercolor, and Painting from April 1 through April 30 at the Stone Ridge Library on Main St. in Stone Ridge.

Students participating in the exhibition include Laurel Burch, Magdalana Cruz, Meleah Danner, Sam Goldberg, Isabella Harrell, Margaret Melanson, Alexandra Maher, Arianna Moore, Maggie Priest, Greg Renner, Francis Sargenti, Olivia Schmidt, Lorelei Siegel, Megan Sorbellini, Karen St. Pierre, Brittany Topple, Darryl Underwood, and Kylie Williams.

The Fine Art/Visual Art program at SUNY Ulster is a two-year foundation-based program preparing students for transfer to complete their four year degrees at some of the top art schools or to begin their careers. Students completing the first two years of their four-year degree at SUNY Ulster transfer at the third year level to schools such as SUNY New Paltz, School of Visual Arts, and Pratt Institute. Those entering the job market will graduate with a Competitive portfolio.

This event is free and open to the public. The Stone Ridge Library is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and on Mondays from 1:30 to 7 p.m.

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SUNY Ulster Earns Gold Military Friendly® School Designation

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Military Friendly School Badge

March 23, 2022 – Stone Ridge, NY – SUNY Ulster announced today that it has earned the Gold 2022-2023 Military Friendly ® School designation. Military Friendly® is the designation that measures a school’s commitment to veteran and veteran dependent recruitment, retention, and advancement.

Institutions earning the Military Friendly® School designation were evaluated using both public data sources and responses from a proprietary survey. More than 1,800 schools participated in the 2022-2023 survey with 665 earning special awards for going above the standard.

Methodology, criteria, and weightings were determined by Viqtory with input from the Military Friendly® Advisory Council of independent leaders in the higher education and military recruitment community. Final ratings were determined by combining the institution’s survey scores with the assessment of the institution’s ability to meet thresholds for Student Retention, Graduation, Job Placement, Loan Repayment, Persistence (Degree Advancement or Transfer), and Loan Default rates for all students and, specifically, for student veterans.

“SUNY Ulster’s veteran students and their dependents benefit from a broad array of College-wide support as they work toward a degree including a veterans service coordinator on campus who provides ongoing help navigating the application process for benefits, a Battle Buddy Center on campus which provides a quiet place for veterans and veteran family students to connect and work, and a Military Affiliated Community (MAC) Club,” cited Dr. Alan P. Roberts, President of SUNY Ulster.

Manuel Torres, SUNY Ulster’s Veterans Service Coordinator, says, “We work one on one with veterans to maximize the use of benefits to ensure they are able to reach their desired goal. We also work with outside agencies to address any problem our veterans may encounter, from homelessness to mental health issues.  By providing the necessary resources we maximize veterans’ chances for success.”

“Schools who achieve awards designation show true commitment in their efforts, going over and above that standard,” reports Kayla Lopez, National Director of Military Partnerships, Military Friendly®.

Interested veterans and their families can learn more about SUNY Ulster’s military veteran opportunities by contacting Manny Torres at torresm@sunyulster.edu or (845) 688-6003.

 

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SUNY Ulster Celebrates Pi Day!

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Professor Albertini at the blackboard

March 14 marks Pi Day, an annual celebration of the mathematical sign pi which was founded in 1988 by physicist Larry Shaw. March 14 was selected because the numeral date (3.14) represents the first three digits of pi and it also happens to be Albert Einstein’s birthday-the perfect pi-incidence.

One of the reasons Pi is special is because it’s involved in many common formulae, such as the area of a circle (Pi*r^3) and the value of a sphere (4/3 Pi*r^3). From an early age, we learn that for any circle with radius r and diameter d=2r, the circumference is Pi*d and the area is Pi*r^2.

Pi Day With Professor Jules Albertini

At SUNY Ulster, Pi Day is Professor Jules Albertini and his students’ favorite day. “All those that appreciate any level of mathematics and science love the number Pi. Even though, no matter how hard we try, we can only ‘taste’ a finite piece of it. I am so happy that our culture celebrates such a useful and mysterious number (even with the constant irrational behavior!), says Professor Albertini. Have fun watching Jules on Pi Day!

Fun Ways to Celebrate Pi Day

  • Eat Pi Foods: A celebration without food is not a celebration. On this day, have students eat foods that start with “Pi”. Pizza and pineapples, or pineapples on the top of the pizza are other examples of Pi foods.
  • Bake Pies: Have students bake pies in the shape of the pi symbol. If you are not much of a baker, don’t worry. An ugly pie can still be an edible pie. A few ideas include mini pi-shaped pies, pi-shaped turnovers, and baking a pizza pie with pepperoni in the shape of the pie symbol.
  • Classroom Pi Day Workout: After consuming all that Pi-shaped food, a workout to burn off some calories may not be a bad idea. So start with the number three and work your way through the digits of Pi.
  • Pi Day Scavenger Hunt: Have a scavenger hunt by hiding Pi-related clues around the school and allowing students to search for them. Clues can be 3 markers, 1 notebook, 4 folders.
  • The Form of Pi: Have the students line up outside in a field or oval. The students should form the Pi symbol. Take an overhead of it. This can be a great Pi day event.
  • Pi Contests: Hold a relay race that requires students to run from station to station. In order to proceed, they must answer a piece of Pi trivia. Another idea is to have a contest to see how many words can be made that start with ‘Pi’. The winner can take home an actual pie.
  • Hold a Pi Day Run: It’s a great way to get your community involved in the celebration. Be sure that the run is 3.14 miles in that there is a prize for the winner. Prizes can include a few pies and a medal of some sort that represents Pi day.

How Did We Come to Celebrate Pi Day?

In 1988, the earliest known or large-scale celebration of Pi Day was organized by Larry Shaw at the San Francisco Exploratorium where Shaw worked as a physicist, with staff and public marching around one of its circular spaces, then consuming fruit pies. And, the Exploratorium continues to hold Pi Day celebrations.

On March 12, 2009, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a non-binding resolution (111 H. Res. 224), recognizing March 14, 2009, as National Pi Day.

The entire month of March 2014 (3/14) was observed by some as ‘Pi Month’. In 2015, March 14 was celebrated as “Super Pi Day”. It had special significance as the date is written as 3/14/15 in month/day/year format. At 9;26;53, the date and time together represented the first 10 digits of Pi, and later that second Pi instant represented all of Pi digits.

Go eat some Pi today!