Make the Most of Your Time this Winter Break

by
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!

Top Five Tips for Winternet Class Success

by
Cat laying by keyboard

The fall semester is over and the holiday season is in full swing, which means it’s just about time for Winternet classes! If you’ve signed up for one of these intersession classes, you’ll be taking an online course that covers all the information covered in a 15 week in-person or online course in about 3 weeks instead. Though that may sound overwhelming, it is manageable, and you can greatly benefit from taking one! Since we’ve already discussed what Winternet is and why you should take one of these classes, today we’ll jump right in to how to succeed at Winternet courses this break!

#1: Check Early, Check Often

Your email and course site on Blackboard, that is. Normally professors will post information about the course, including necessary textbooks, introductions, and sometimes even icebreakers and class content before the technical “start” of the class. At the absolute minimum, you should read the syllabus, have your textbook, and familiarize yourself with the course site before the start of class. Finding out this information as soon as possible will put you on the path to success, especially when working with such a small window of time to begin with. If you can’t find something or it doesn’t make sense….

#2: Don’t Be Afraid to Talk to Your Professor

Remember, your professor wants you to succeed as much as you do. Reach out to them via their email or online office hours with any questions you have, and be sure to let them know of any problems you’re having with the material or logistics of the course sooner rather than later.

#3: Have A Strict Daily Schedule

A common estimation for a winter session class is that students should set aside 30-40 hours per week to do all that needs to be done if they’re taking a 3-credit course. It’s not recommended that students try to work at full-time jobs while taking Winternet classes. For optimal results, log in daily to check and make sure there are no new assignments or readings.

#4: Maintain a Distraction-Free Environment

Ideally, you will have a consistent space to use each day for Winternet work. This could be your bedroom, a home office, or the local coffee shop, but it needs to be somewhere where you can focus and not be distracted during the time you’re working. Put your phone on silent, turn the TV off, close the door and put a “Keep Out” sign up… do whatever needs to be done so that you can work efficiently! Remember, it’s just three weeks!

#5: Complete ALL Assignments (On Time)

Since Winternet classes are short and online, your professor has even less to go on, which means every forum post, test, and paper counts even more toward your grade. One missed post or late quiz can be the difference between an excellent and mediocre final score. Keep an updated planner with ALL due dates, no matter how insignificant they may seem, so that you can maximize your time on projects and hand things in when they’re due.

Now Go Check Out Your Own Course Site!

By following these tips and working hard on your Winternet course for three weeks, you’ll likely pass with flying colors! Even though it’s a lot of work, the short time frame can be a blessing, especially if you’re not particularly interested in the subject matter. Have you developed any helpful tips and tricks for Winternet or online courses in general? Comment them below!

South African Nursing and Human Services Faculty Visit SUNY Ulster

by
Professor Makhathini with Health Alliance Hospital staff

From December 1-7, 2018, two faculty from Durban University of Technology (DUT) visited SUNY Ulster and the local area! Elliot Mqansa Makhathini, Professor of Nursing at DUT, and Nomashodo Mirriam Siluma, Professor of Child Welfare at DUT, visited from South Africa to meet SUNY Ulster’s Nursing and Human Services faculty, students, and alumni. Professor Makhathini met with nursing students, faculty, and alumni, as well as the Ulster County community of health practitioners, including doctors, nurses, and the chief administrator of Health Alliance Hospital in Kingston. Professor Siluma met with Human Services faculty and students at SUNY Ulster and the KCSU, attending a few of Vicky Burgh-Harris’ and Keri McArdle’s classes.

Hope Windle with South African Professors
COIL Coordinator Hope Windle welcomes Professor Siluma and Professor 
Makhathini to New York!
SUNY Ulster Nursing Professor Dr. Ellen Tangney and Professor Makhathini working together with Sage College professors.
Professor Mirriam Siluma visits a Human Services class.
Professor Makhathini takes a scenic walk in Rosendale with local healer Kate Anjahlia Loye and Hope Windle.
Professor Makhathini and Professor Siluma have dinner with a group of Hudson Valley healers and SUNY Ulster Nursing alumna Elizabeth Bourne.
Professor Makhathini learns about the SUNY Ulster Simulation Lab from Nursing Program Assistant Jackie McDowell.
Professor Makhathini and Professor Siluma visit the Kingston Center of SUNY Ulster, meeting nursing professors and students who will be traveling to South Africa in March 2019, as well as Human Services professors Vicky Burgh-Harris and Keri McArdle.
SUNY Ulster Nursing Alumni Jess Robie and Nurse/Reiki Healer Jeannette Duffau at the Health Alliance Kingston Hospital visit with Professor Makhathini about the healing arts incorporated at their hospital.
 Professor Makhathini also got to visit with Health Alliance CEO David Scarpino.

Close to Home Holiday Family Fun

by
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.

 

The Truth About Native American Trauma

by
Navajo children, June 19, 1929

Dawnland is a documentary that has recently exposed the narrative of indigenous child removal in the United States, particularly in Maine. The story depicts Native American children that were taken away from their families by authorities and placed in white households.

First there’s pain, then there’s healing.

The film follows non-Natives sent out by the first government-sanctioned truth and reconciliation commission to hear the traumatic tales of those directly affected.  Emotions run high as these people work together toward healing the pain and effects from loss of community and culture these people faced in their formative years.


This gut-wrenching film is “a history lesson that you’re ashamed to have never learned but whose truths you’ll likely never forget,” as stated by Crosscut news. This bold emotional journey is remarkable to many folks, from many walks of life. You name an interest you have and this film includes it; criminal justice, psychology, social science and more.

It’s kind of a big deal!

black background with a foreground of a microphoneThis screening is being talked about all over! Check out the NPR radio broadcast from yesterday featuring the Co-director Ben Pender-Cudlip being interviewed about his work on the project. He sheds some eye-opening information on the subject of his film. A great preview of the full feature that you’ll want to hear.

Or for a shorter read, take a look at the article about this screening in the Daily Freeman!

 

Your official golden ticket.

We invite you to behold the first-hand stories and emotions of the Natives that were displaced. This documentary is an inside view of a recent event that continues to have lasting effects in an area very close to home. Come and be a part of a historical investigation! By bearing witness to the moving accounts of adults that were devastated as children by the state’s poor child welfare decisions.

Georginia Sappier-Richardson sharing her story at a TRC community visit The screening (that you are more than welcome to attend no matter who you are) will take place on Wednesday, November

28, from 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. We will gather in the College Lounge, in Vanderlyn Hall on campus.

For a bit more info, visit our Facebook event page!

Take advantage of this unique opportunity!

production still of co director Ben holding a cameraLucky you, not only are you invited to attend this special screening that is being shown for the last time locally here at SUNY Ulster..

We also invite you to bring your notepad and an inquisitive mind along! Filmmaker Ben Pender-Cudlip will be in the house to introduce the documentary and have a discussion after the film. This event is free of charge and open to all members of the community. Experience for yourself the healing on the path toward reconciliation, truth, and the survival of indigenous culture.

 

Fashion Students Create Apparel Designs for Guatemalans in Need

by
Fashion students working on their apparel designs

SUNY Ulster fashion students are participating in a great service learning opportunity and gathering intercultural experiences this semester! Students in Professor Angela Kunz’s FAS 220: Apparel Design II class are working on a set of pattern designs that two Guatemalan women’s groups, one a shelter for survivors of domestic violence and the other part of a small rural community who recently lost all their crops, can use to create fashionable, export-friendly clothing to sell.

The project began when Angela took a trip with a SUNY New Paltz professor and students to Antigua, Guatemala to work with local women. While the group was there, they visited one of the three domestic shelters in the country, where Angela discovered that the shelters were given limited funding. After finding a local with a large warehouse of traditional Guatemalan shirts, she decided to bring a few back for a class project that would give her students a chance to help others in need.

The students have refashioned the Guatemalan shirts that Angela brought back into new, easy-to-sew attire that the Guatemalan women can easily recreate on a larger scale and export. When finished, the students will be able to use the sample they created in their professional portfolio. In December, Angela and one of her students will return to Guatemala to deliver the finished concepts and help teach the steps to the women so they can recreate the garments.

Angela hopes that this exciting new project will build longevity and financial security for these women. She hopes to return in the future with more students from SUNY Ulster and create an ongoing collaboration between the women of Guatemala, SUNY New Paltz students, and SUNY Ulster students.

Angela Kunz poses with several Guatemalans

 

Proud To Have Pridesgiving at SUNY Ulster

by
Text composition saying Pridesgiving Potluck

First impressions are quite important, which is why  SUNY Ulster wants to kick off our Pridesgiving holiday event with a bang. On campus this November 20th we are having a potluck feast to bring together people of our community that may not be otherwise looking forward to the holiday of Thanksgiving.scrabble tiles spelling out the word PRIDE

Unfortunately, it was brought to the attention of the LGBTQA Association that a few of our students, whom we are quite proud of and want nothing more than to support, didn’t have any prospective plans for the upcoming big food & football holiday. The association advisor Brandon Burnett quickly began setting up an all-inclusive event that everyone in our community, whether LGBTQ themselves or simply an ally, could attend comfortably and happily.

 Add to our Potluck!

So now that you know, are you just dying to share your grandma’s famous stuffing recipe with us? Well, then you’re in luck because this event is Potluck! Anyone and everyone that can come is invited to bring their favorite dish or even just pick up something to share, that is what the Thanksgiving spirit was founded on after all! Bring that stuffing that will make your grandma proud and tell everyone all about her, better yet, bring her along! Everyone from the community is welcome to join in and there is a quick and easy form you can fill out to bring decorations, desserts, drinks, supplies, or whatever kind of food you want to share.

The holidays can often mean displacement from home for many due to family issues or other circumstances beyond their control. In an effort to end the discomfort this brings for some of our student colleges, we would like to invite you to join us for some good food and great company this upcoming Tuesday, November 20th in the campus life dining hall from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Those who are able to make it are happily invited to stick around afterward if they want to keep the holiday banter going with newfound friends and allies.

We want to keep Pridesgiving going!

This is the first SUNY Ulster Pridesgiving holiday event and first impressions mean more than you know so your attendance could help us make this an annual event for the community to enjoy together.

Cartoon turkey holding a steaming pie.

This occasion is a chance for you to come and show your support to the members of our college community that you may see every week. There are lots of friends to be made and a lot to learn about lifestyles you may not encounter every day, so come on down and be a part of Pridesgiving with us.

Study Abroad with SUNY Ulster in 2019!

by
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.

Five Top Social Media Etiquette Tips

by
Two women smiling at electronic tablet

Social media has crept into everyone’s lives. From pre-teens to seniors, just about everyone has some type of social media profile! In today’s social climate, your virtual actions and interactions have the potential to make a major impact on your “real” world.

Here are our Five Top Social Media Etiquette Tips to help you put your best digital foot forward!

Listen To That Little Voice

If you are making a new post and happen to think, “Maybe I shouldn’t post this,” consider: What would your grandmother or a potential boss think about what you were about to post? This is a good rule of thumb to follow when curating your digital content.

Tag, You’re It!

Be aware of what photos you are tagged in across your various social media profiles. These photos can have as much of an impact on your personal and professional life as something you may have posted yourself! (This is also an awesome excuse to untag yourself from any unflattering photos!) 

Hands holding cell phone

Think About Your Legacy

Your social media profiles have the potential to be your own personal highlight reels. Do you want your reel to be filled with the best moments of your professional and personal life, or muddied up with content that does not reflect who you truly are?

Read the Room

Group of people sitting around computers and laughing

The virtual room that is your sense of humor may be great, but it may not be universal. When making posts try to consider how what you are saying may be perceived by other readers. Which leads us to our next tip:

Stop and Think

Taking the time to replace your instant “reaction” with “reflection” can save you from saying or doing something you may regret online. It can also help you formulate more appropriate responses to any potential feedback.

Keeping these social media tips in the back of your mind can help you stay free and clear of any negative repercussions in your personal and professional life! 

 

 

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

by
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!

https://giphy.com/gifs/garfield-cat-coffee-pzryvxGeykOxeC0fWb

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?!

https://giphy.com/gifs/spongebob-season-2-spongebob-squarepants-l3nF1OhBQ4szqrguk

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?

https://giphy.com/gifs/cheezburger-cute-eating-lhekVSXhExiYo

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!

https://giphy.com/gifs/oprah-bread-winfrey-3o7ZeFpK0qqSpsWNsA

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.

https://giphy.com/gifs/queue-willy-wonka-and-the-chocolate-factory-ZL2zbg8zs5x5e

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