10 Tips for Scholarship Success

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Woman at the 2016 SUNY Ulster scholarship ceremony holding her award and smiling
It’s now time to apply for scholarships here at SUNY Ulster! The Ulster Community College Foundation General Application is open for students to fill out, and doing so enters them into a pool where they can possibly be matched with one or more scholarships. Both on campus and off, there are many types of scholarships: academic scholarships, need-based (financial) scholarships, sports scholarships, club or member-based scholarships, and more. Here’s some tips for increasing your odds of getting one!

#1: Start ASAP and Apply Early

Many scholarships have early application deadlines, so don’t miss out on these opportunities. You can even apply for college scholarships before you’ve started college! SUNY Ulster has an application period every year in the winter for returning and graduating students and every summer for incoming freshmen.

#2: Search Locally

Don’t stop at just Ulster; look in your community, too! Local banks, grocery stores, clubs, businesses, organizations, and churches are all potential sources for community scholarships. Also check state-funded scholarships. States have lots of money to disperse when it comes to providing education.

#3: Read the Requirements

If you apply to a specific scholarship, make sure you are eligible right from the start, so you’re not wasting your time. Also, never pay to apply for a scholarship, since these are usually scams.

#4: Follow Instructions Carefully

Errors can quickly get your scholarship application denied. Proofread it. Have someone else proofread it as well. Double check your answers to make sure you completely and accurately responded to all questions.

#5: Neatly Presented, Neatly Packaged

If your scholarship application must be mailed, use certified mail or better yet, FedEx, making your application look as professional as possible.

#6: Communicate

Make sure the application is complete and correct. If you are not sure about something in the scholarship application, don’t hesitate to ask someone at the Foundation or whoever is in charge of scholarships where you are applying for one.

#7: Check for School Specific Scholarships

If you’re graduating, check with the college you would like to attend. Usually, there are many school-specific scholarships available. Some scholarships offered through the Ulster Community College Foundation specify a preferred transfer school, so be sure to include your plans in the application to better your chances of getting matched up with these scholarships. Earning scholarships based on a transfer college can also help you make your school choice when the time comes for your final decision.

#8: Be Active, Stay Active

Being in a sports team, club, or doing some type of community service will always better your chances of receiving a college scholarship. Numerous scholarships offered through the Foundation stress community involvement as a requirement.

#9: Maintain your GPA

Keep your grades up. A higher GPA will increase your eligibility for most scholarships, on top of increasing your chances of receiving funds through Financial Aid.

#10: Ask a Foundation Employee for Help

Visiting a Foundation employee in the Clinton 203 suite can help you learn more about traditional scholarships that might be available to you, as well as any aid or special scholarships that fall outside of those covered by the General Application, like Lights for Learning.

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Even if you don’t think your chances of getting a scholarship are likely, at least fill out the Ulster Community College Foundation General Scholarship Application; there is one for current students and prospective students. If you have any other questions about Ulster’s scholarships, contact the Foundation by emailing dvoraksg@sunyulster.edu, by phone at 845-687-5293, or stop by the offices in the Clinton 203 suite on campus.

SUNY Ulster/SUNY Empire R.N. to B.S. Partnership

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SUNY Ulster Nursing Student Graduates

SUNY Ulster is excited to announce the partnership with SUNY Empire that now offers Hudson Valley RNs the opportunity to get a bachelor’s degree in nursing while staying right here at home!

As many nursing students already know, there was no opportunity to get a bachelor’s in nursing at a college campus anywhere within a 100-mile radius of Ulster. Since many practicing and student nurses have commitments close to home, traveling the distance to the nearest college on a daily basis to pursue a bachelor’s was nearly impossible. The SUNY Empire partnership hopes to change that by offering local nurses the opportunity to combine on-campus and online classes to achieve their bachelor’s.

Instead of having to finish their schooling after receiving their RN in two years, students taking part in this new opportunity will get an additional year of face to face classes right here at SUNY Ulster with the faculty and location they’ve come to know already. During senior year, students enrolled in the program take online courses through SUNY Empire to get their final credits.

The program not only allows local nurses the ability to work at a higher salary with additional schooling, but gives them a greater opportunity to get jobs, as local hospitals are in need of nurses with bachelor’s degrees. SUNY Ulster intends to work with many of these local hospitals, including HealthQuest’s Vassar Brothers Medical Center.

For entry into the program, students must have an A.S. degree in nursing, an active, unencumbered New York State nursing license, and complete an Empire State College admissions application with essay. Credits earned by SUNY Ulster nursing students for their associate’s will all be transferable to the SUNY Empire program.

Find out more about this exciting opportunity and check out the course listing on our R.N. to B.S. Program page!

The SUNY Ulster Community Remembers Dino Rende

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Dino Rende walking at graduation

On November 13, 2017, ’16 Ulster graduate and current student Demetrio “Dino” Rende passed away. As an art major almost finished with his second degree, the loss of the 63-year-old Marlboro resident was particularly felt among members of the art department, but students and faculty throughout the Ulster community knew and cared for him. Since his passing, many faculty members, staff, and students have shared their stories and remembered the various ways he impacted their lives. Here are just a handful.

Dino looking at a statue at the Met

From Professor Iain Machell, Fine Art Program Coordinator: “The semester the Fine Art majors took a bus trip to the Met, everyone was free to roam the museum with assignments and recommendations. I asked Dino where he was interested in going and he said, ‘I just wanna hang with the Professor.’ So he and I toured the galleries, ending up in the European galleries (interrupted only by a burger at a vintage soda fountain on Lexington Ave.) and discussed the technical skills of the sculpture, the importance of the human figure throughout history, and the primacy of drawing. All the while Dino was like that famous little kid looking in the candy store window, amazed by everything and energized at the human creative spirit and the need to express ourselves. I could not have had a better museum companion.”

 

Dino's name with a cartoon

From a student: “He was headstrong and stubborn, but that was only part of his charm, and it will be sorely missed. Dino had a way of brightening up my day when I needed it most, and would endlessly compliment and encourage me in my own work. If I was feeling down on my art, he would lift my  spirits back up. May Dino rest in peace, and I hope now more than ever that the space whale murals remain a part of Ulster for many years to come.”

 

Dino posing with a hat and his classmates

From a student: “He’s part of the reason I applied to SAIC, and I’ll never forget how he boasted about me and my work to that School of Visual Arts portfolio reviewer; that was incredible. He watched our graduation in the spring, too, specifically to cheer for us when we walked. He was more supportive than most of my family and friends.”

 

Dino painting in an art class

From Professor Dolores Quiles: “I always enjoyed his Italian flirtations. We were two of the many college community who played a role in Spoon River Anthology. He was always positive and silly. I will miss his energy.”

 

Selection of Dino's artwork in Vanderlyn

From Jane Kithcart, Director of Academic Support Services/Learning Center: “Dino will truly be missed in the Learning Center, but he will be with us forever because he created a work of art that we have on display. Rest in peace my friend.”

 

Please share your own Dino stories in the comments below as we celebrate the life of this amazing student!

 

Utilizing The SUNY Ulster Macdonald Dewitt Library.

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Group of students doing homework together in the library

As final exam pressure begin to mount you may find yourself looking for a place to host a group study group, or rehearse a group presentation without disturbing your peers that may be seeking quiet. Did you know that right here on our SUNY Ulster campus there are rooms you can reserve as a student?

The Macdonald Dewitt LibraryMedia Room (DEW 017) has approximately 24 chairs, a computer, LCD projector, DVD, and VCR player. The projector image is large scale predicted to be “-around 8ft by 10 ft.” by Kari Mack the Director of Library Service. This room is the perfect place to practice any presentations, or group presentations that you and your peers may have.  

At The Macdonald Dewitt Library There are 3 student group study rooms available to be booked: DEW101A – main level next to Circulation Desk, DEW012 – lower level near back exit, Mt View Room – second level adjacent to Catskill Mountain View Room. The Student Group Study Rooms have tables that comfortably seats about 6 people. 

Reservations must be made at least 1 hour in advance. There is a 2 hour time limit for each reservation. Only one reservation may be made per day. When the room is not booked, it will be available on a first-come first-served basis. Dry erase markers and eraser available for checkout at the Circulation Desk.

Step-By-Step-Guide on How to Book a Library Room.

One you have logged on to your SUNY Ulster Portal you will first CLICK Library Resources.

Scroll Down to the sectioned titled Contact the Library and CLICK Book a Room in The Library. From here you can select either the Media Room or Student Study Group Room and CLICK your option.

From here you will be presented with a page that enables you to select the desired date on the calendar. Separate days require separate bookings. 3. Click ‘Continue’ and fill in the required fields. Select ‘Submit My Booking’. To cancel a reservation, use the link provided in your confirmation email.

For more information you can contact the Macdonald DeWitt Library.
Reference Desk: 845-687-5208
Circulation Desk: 845-687-5213
Fax: 845-687-5220
askref@sunyulster.edu
http://www.sunyulster.edu/library/contact.php

The 5th Anniversary of the Start Here, Go Far Boutique

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Professional women's business attire at the Start Here, Go Far Boutique
For the last 5 years, students have had the opportunity to receive clothing for free through the generous donations of others in the community at the Start Here, Go Far Boutique. The model is simple: community members and students who have clothing and accessories such as belts, ties, scarves, jewelry, and handbags that they don’t need or use can donate to the Boutique, and students in need of that attire for interviews, jobs, or just everyday life can get what they need for free from the Boutique. The Boutique is a resource available to all students, no questions asked.

History

The idea for the Start Here, Go Far Boutique began when several students expressed concern because they didn’t feel well dressed when attending the Ulster Community College Foundation’s Scholarship Luncheon. With financial support from Darlene Pfeiffer, a Foundation board member and scholarship benefactor, the Boutique was established through Ulster’s Reaching Independence though Supportive Education (RISE) program.

In the beginning, the Boutique was supposed to assist graduates who needed business attire for job interviews, but after Hurricane Irene, the focus expanded to include basic clothing items as well when many students lost their possessions. The boutique is currently being managed by student aides and Meg Sheeley, the Interim Coordinator of Campus Life.

Where Can I Find It?

 The Start Here, Go Far Boutique is located in VAN 154 across the hall from the Food Pantry.
 
FALL 2017 Hours:
Tuesdays 11:00 a.m.- 1:00 p.m.
Wednesdays 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

 

Hours will be updated and advertised for the Spring Semester. To make a donation, contact Meg Sheeley at sheeleym@sunyulster.edu.

Several rolled up, professional ties for men at the Start Here, Go Far Boutique.

4 Ways to Find An Internship.

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Woman writing in notebook and looking at laptop

As the winter recess approaches you may find yourself thinking that this is the perfect time to consider getting involved with an internship. Here at SUNY Ulster you can earn college credit while participating in the Student Internship Program. To get involved in the Student Internship Program you must have at least a 2.0 GPA and 30 college credits completed, or by permission of the fieldwork coordinator. For further information, contact Linda Farina, Office of Fieldwork and Internships, farinal@sunyulster.edu

You can also check out our Internships page Here:  http://www.sunyulster.edu/student_handbook/internships.php

An internship is not only a beneficial addition to your resume but can also be a fulfilling personal experience as well. Gaining knowledge, building your skills profile, and expanding your network field are all crucial elements in creating the best opportunities for yourself as you continue your success after SUNY Ulster.  

*Important Tip* When reaching out to potential internships put together a resume and a short pitch/ cover letter can help you to appear direct, and respond to your potential internship. Be prepared to have to communicate with people as to why you are deserving of this opportunity.

3 Additional Ways to Find An Internship.

Talk to People You Know.

When it comes to looking for an internship you may find yourself thinking “Where do I even start?”  The answer may be right in front of you in your sphere of influence. Start by asking your professors if they are aware of any opportunities that are available.

Another way to reach out to people you already know is sharing with your friends on social media (Like Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin) that you are looking for this new venture. You may be surprised by what leads and resources your friends and family have to offer.

Online Websites.

Online job sites like Indeed.com, Monster.com, https://regionalhelpwanted.com are not only for looking jobs! With the websites listed above, you can either use the “Internship” tag or search “Internships” in the website’s search engine. Here all active opportunities are filtered and listed as specific, or unspecific as you would like!

Create Opportunities For Yourself.

Make a list of 5 to 15+ potential places that you can see yourself working in your local area. Research the best contact information for all of these places- and do what is known as a “Cold Contact”. Be professional and friendly while letting them your objective, when you can start, and all the important information they need to know when considering you as a potential intern.

You are capable of manifesting your own opportunities that could in turn into an employment position for you.

Mentor Moment with Instructor Angela Kunz.

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Angela Kunz surrounded by a fashion class

     On a warm and sunny autumn afternoon, I had a candid conversation with Fashion Design Adjunct Instructor Angela Kunz (or Mrs. K as she prefers to be called by students) on SUNY Ulster’s beautiful campus. We discussed what advice she has for students entering the field of fashion merchandising, design, and the evolving work force as a whole.

Follow SUNY Ulsters Fashion Department on Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/SUNYUlsterFashionDesign/
Follow SUNY Ulster Fashion Club on  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FDCSUNYUlster/

“What led you to a career in fashion instruction?”

“After studying fashion at Pratt Institute in Lower Manhattan I began working in the fashion industry in the 1990’s.”

After living in New York City and achieving what she thought was her ‘dream’- the success of celebrities and the members of popular television shows wearing her designs, Mrs. K felt herself dealing more with the business side of the industry and less with the creativity side that she loved. “I began feeling completely drained and unfulfilled – that’s when I moved up to the Hudson Valley and began to ask myself “How can I keep fashion in my life without being directly involved in it?””

A few years after moving to and working in the Hudson Valley an adjunct position in the Marist College Fashion Department opened up and as Mrs. K put it  “-it was a manifestation of working adjacent to the fashion industry and with students!”

“Would you change anything about how you got to where you are?”

Mrs. K quickly responded “No!-everything happened in a perfect transition right where I wanted to live and work-It’s all about finding the balance.”  

 “What would be your top advice to someone thinking of entering the fashion industry?”

  “Be willing to fail, and do not settle! Look at your options and find a way to keep your truest dreams alive, and always aspire to reach your full potential.”  

 “4 words you would use to describe a leader in your field?”

 Mrs. K paused and after a moment she said “Innovative, passionate, and simultaneously endlessly motivated about the field, and finally someone who is dedicated.”   

Mentor Moments highlights the mentors that help to make our college great!
Have a mentor you want to feature? Email Terriann at (smitht36@my.sunyulster.edu)

12 Tips for Organizing Your College Life

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Focused woman doing homework in the library

With finals approaching, there’s no better time than the present to get organized. Whether you’re new to college or a returning student, here are some great tips to help you succeed. Try them and find what works best for you!

  1. Be motivated. When the going gets tough, it’s easy to lose track of why you’re putting so much time and effort into college. Keep a list of long-term goals to help you stay focused on what’s important. Tack it up somewhere where you will see it every day.To do list written on paper with blue pen
  2. Keep a planner and/or a planner app. During the school year, using a planner to track classes, assignments, work, and social plans is extremely important. Planners are cheap and are available almost everywhere you can find calendars. If you’re more digitally inclined, there are many free apps and websites you can use that are a Google search away. 
  3. Save all your syllabi and keep them available. If your professor gives you a guide to what your entire semester is going to look like, don’t lose it. You can mark your syllabus with everything you need to remember. Gather all your syllabi together and enter important dates into your planner or calendar app.
  4. Set a schedule and stick to it. Keep to-do lists updated every day. Try to keep the same wake-up and bedtimes every day of the week, even on the weekends and holidays, when there are no classes. This will help you stay on schedule consistently. Also, try to figure out what time of the day you are most productive, and optimize that time for productivity.
  5. Be prepared for the day, before the day happens. When you’re ready for the day even before you wake up, the day tends to run much smoother. You’re less likely to forget important items you need for the day. Having your backpack stocked ahead of time with everything you need is a big time saver. stuffed-pack
  6. Tidy your living and work spaces. Think of the time you spend looking for something in the morning while getting ready to leave the house for the day. Having a clean desk is an excellent start. At the end of each day, get rid of clutter and put things where they belong. This simple nightly routine makes getting ready in the morning much less stressful.
  7. Develop good note organization habits.  Use a color code system, and give each class a color. Match all your binders and notebooks for that class to their color, so that they are easier to find and grab when you are on the go.  Keep separate binders, folders, and/or notebooks for each of your classes. apps-for-keeping-organized-in-college
  8. Set work sessions and use a timer. This step will keep you from wandering into other tasks not coursework related.
  9. Study and hang out in different areas. Work at a desk or in a library, and reserve your room or bed for hanging out and sleeping. Try not to study on the couch in front of the TV, as it’s easy to get distracted by your newest favorite Netflix show.College Study Area SUNY Ulster
  10. Spend time away from the screens in your life. Disconnect from the internet for a few hours a day. Unplugging is a healthy way to curb stress and keep yourself from wasting time. Consider limiting your social media use or cut the habit out altogether, as a quick scroll through your Instagram feed can quickly turn into a hour-long browse.
  11. Remember college is only one piece of your life. If possible, try the 8/8/8 method for balancing your life. It’s a way to divide your time to be responsible and still relax. Try to sleep for eight hours a day, spend eight working, and eight hours for the rest of your life – time with friends, eating, etc.
  12. Go easy on yourself. No one is perfect, and it can be incredibly difficult to stay on top of all your responsibilities. Do your best, but remember, everyone make mistakes. SUNY Ulster has lots of support services to help. And always remember the goal – graduation!

 

How to Master the Class Registration Process

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Register Now - Ask your Advisor About Online Registration

Every spring and fall, current returning students must register for the next semester’s classes here at SUNY Ulster. It’s not hard to do once you’ve got the hang of it! Here are some key tips to keep in mind as you prepare to register, and how to prepare for the upcoming semesters class load.

 First Things First: Make an Appointment with Your Advisor.

  • You can find your Advisor by visiting My.SunyUlster.edu
  • Next click Student Resource Tab.  

  • Scroll down the page until you get to Registration Tools and CLICK

Still Need Help?

Get registration assistance by phone at 845-687-5075.

Email: reginfo@sunyulster.edu

Your academic Advisor may let you know where or how they prefer for you to sign up for your registration appointment. For example some Advisors will provide an appointment signup sheet with their various available time slots, others will have you sign up via an online appointment calendar.

Before Your Appointment: Make a Plan!

There are a few things that you can do in preparation for your upcoming meeting to make sure it goes as smoothly as possible, and has limited confusion.

  • Check to see what is required for the upcoming semester and compare this what classes you still  need against the upcoming academic class schedule! http://apps.sunyulster.edu/courses/ 
  • It is also helpful to make a mock schedule (or even 2) to bring to your upcoming appointment!

After Your Appointment: Set reminders for yourself!

  • In your planner, or calendar in your phone mark the start date reminder of any online courses or accelerated courses you may be taking. (It can be easy to forget when you aren’t physically attending class about particular dates.)
  • Also set a reminder at a closer date for you to closely see what books are required for your upcoming classes!

Kevin Stoner: Dean of Academic Affairs, Master of the Mind, Whitesnake Fan

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Vice-President and Dean of Academic Affairs Kevin Stoner clapping at graduation ceremony

EXCLUSIVE: Stories recently got to have a chat with Ulster’s very own Dean, VP, and educator — the sterling Kevin Stoner. A man who moves in silence and thinks in volumes, a powerfully inquisitive mind, a monolith of philosophy; the Dean’s academic acumen is beyond measure. Sitting at his desk with his hands forming a triangle, peering above his glasses in signature style, Kevin Stoner tells us what it means — to be the Dean.

“Deans are a very different sort of creature that exist only in the academic realm, in that we are first among equals, in other words, we are all peers and colleagues in academe, and it’s my privilege to lead, through consensus, the group of my peers…It’s challenging, but the best part of the job is that no 2 days are really alike. I never intended to be a Dean, I was at a training at Harvard some years ago, and they dubbed everyone in the team, everyone got a nickname. Mine was the ‘accidental administrator’ — they did that because I never had that as a career goal, never saw myself doing that, never aspired to that. I moved into administration from a full time faculty position, reluctantly, and I did so because I’d been involved with Middle States accreditation, and so I knew the backside of academe. It’s very much like understanding how the kitchen works, once you understand how it does, it becomes very difficult to go back outside again. I realized that if I wanted to affect change, the best way to do it was through administration…The things I often say to first year students are that your first semester GPA is absolutely critical, it becomes very difficult to ever recover from a bad first semester. To the extent that one can, they should think of college as a job, it’s an obligation; not something that comes tenth or eleventh in life. I also realize that for some students, there are other things that must come first, and so my advice is to always nudge it as close to the top as you can…And also, take every single shred of experience that you can from college: pick your teacher’s brains, pick your peer’s brains, get involved, think — live this college life. My own mother told me when I was a child that I would look back on these college years and think it was the happiest and best time of my life. At the time, I was like ‘yeah-yeah-sure’, but, she was right. Enjoy this time, as it may be the last time, for many people, to pursue pure knowledge.”

 

FUN FACTS: As for the Dean’s musical tastes, he likes Gretchen Wilson, and expressed a particular affection for ‘80’s hair-metal group; Whitesnake.