Cleaning Up Your Social Media for Graduation

January 22, 2019March 17, 2016 by SUNYUlster

Person holding cell phone with two hands, sitting between two other people

According to the Pew Research Internet Project, approximately 74% of those with access to the internet use social media. Included in that 74% are recruiters, headhunters, and hiring managers looking to get a better view of who you are as a person. Companies are becoming more interested in the whole life of their employees, either to help create company culture fits or to weed out those that may not fit from the start.

The reality is that some of those Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram posts can land you in serious hot water. Let’s remember the young woman who was fired before her first day at a pizza place because she decided to complain about it on her Twitter account. It’s your choice to share, but keep in mind you could be risking your chances of getting a new job or even keeping the position you already have.

Your social pages are basically your personal advertisements. You’re building a brand here, people!

Be outgoing.
Be yourself.
But be conscious.

What’s your end goal? Are you on these channels to network with desired industry insiders? Socialize? Either way, people are looking, from friends to the public. Don’t let your social media channels hold you back.

Pay close attention to these tips on what to leave off the web – for good:

Complaints About Your Current Job or Internship

This is one of the worst offenses someone can make. If you’ve had a bad day, week, or month, the last place to vent is online. Your current employer may never see your comments, but there’s always the chance a future employer will. Or worse – a fellow employee with a chip on his or her shoulder. Also, recruiters and hiring managers will look at how you present yourself online during an internship or work you currently and form an opinion about how you may act online in the future.

Also, the way you interact with your school, professors, and administration online will be watched as well. To sum it up, how you interact with people is important as it does reflect on your personality and ability to blend into community culture.

Takeaway: Save yourself the drama, and address the situation head-on in person but not online. Even if you and your manager don’t end up seeing eye-to-eye, you’ve earned their respect in the workplace.

Passive Aggressive Comments

There’s a lyric to go with every mood, person, and situation. That doesn’t mean you need to put those cryptic words on blast to your 700+ Facebook friends when someone at work crosses you. Nine times out of ten you’ll delete this post later, making it seem like you can’t handle your emotions.

Takeaway: Leave the salt for your food. Grudges can only last so long, but your social-savvy friends and coworkers will always remember the time you called them out – not so discreetly.

Inappropriate Photos and Videos

While you may have already deleted all your Facebook albums after starting to read this article, don’t forget to look at your tagged photos as well. These are often overlooked – but not by employers or recruiters. If you have public accounts, employers can use these images as a benchmark of how you’ll perform on the job. Private accounts are not as private as you think. Photos and videos can be shared, and screenshots can be made. Some very popular memes were created from private photos.

Takeaway: Snap your best foot forward. What if your Instagram was filled with such great food shots, your manager hires you to be the official ‘grammer’ of the company? Leave your options open. Keep it clean, folks!

In The End, Do You.

If you’re thinking, filters be damned – I’m posting whatever I want, whenever i want, then make your page private. Most social media platforms allow for customized privacy settings.

Our tip? Use social media, but use it wisely. Put the same efforts into your posts as you do in choosing the right Instagram filter. And if you currently have a job – don’t use social on your shift.

Sports Make a Difference

February 1, 2016 by Brinnah Leiching

College is scary. There are no ifs, ands, or buts about it. The teachers are intimidating and the students are scary and as you’re wandering around the campus looking at your schedule you’re wondering if it’s HAR for Hardenbergh Hall or if it was a mistype and had meant HAS for Hasbrouk Hall. For a two year college, it’s harder to meet people because there isn’t any housing on campus like four year colleges and the social life is mostly small circles of kids who already knew each other before entering college.

There is a way around that vicious cycle of “oh my gosh who are these people” and that is joining a sport. As said previously, SUNY Ulster is a two year college and since either you know some people or you know no one, the best bet to meet people and to be most comfortable in your four (or three, two, one) semesters here is to join one of the sports that are offered giving you a great opportunity.

In the fall there is the Men’s Soccer team, the Men’s and Women’s Cross Country team, and the Women’s Volleyball team who made the fourth spot on the Division III NJCAA standings. In the Winter Men’s Basketball is played and in the spring Baseball, Men’s Golf, Men’s Tennis, and Softball are all played. For each season, there is some way for girls and boys to get to know one another and for people to get connected with each other.

Your teammates are there to support you. College is a stressful and difficult time for anyone and to be able to socialize and have someone next to you to pat you on the back makes all the difference. Your teammates motivate you to do your best in your sport and in your studies and your team makes you want to be the best that you can be. It doesn’t matter if your team is one of the better ones in fact it doesn’t even matter if your team is one of the less successful ones. What matters is that the teammates and the athletes have the camaraderie that bind them together.

So, if you are feeling at a loss with this semester with meeting new people, the best idea that there is would be to join one of the four sports that are offered. You can get exercise and get motivated to have a fantastic semester here at SUNY Ulster.

Alumna Highlight: Leanna White, Graphic Design

April 10, 2019January 4, 2016 by SUNYUlster

Close up photo of Leanna White, SUNY Ulster Alumni

Leanna White is a SUNY Ulster Alum, Class of 2012 with an A.S. degree in Advertising Design and Graphic Technology. Her career since graduation has been the very definition of “Start Here. Go Far.” Leanna has taken her classroom knowledge into the real world to excel in her chosen career as a professional Graphic Designer.

The SUNY Ulster Graphic Design program is not only instructional, it also prepares students to work with clients. While in the program, students work on professional projects to prepare them for a career in graphic design immediately after graduation.

Among other projects, Leanna worked on the design of the Ulster County Sheriff Patrol cars.

Recently, we sat down with Leanna to discuss her accomplishments since graduating from SUNY Ulster.

What have you accomplished since graduating from SUNY Ulster?

Since graduating in 2012, I have had nothing short of a colorful career. Shortly after graduating, I was offered a job at Pictoura (start-up travel company) where I retouched over 30,000 beautiful images from locations around the world.

Later that year, I was offered an in-house position as a graphic designer for Naturtint, an international leader in natural hair dye. The advertisements I designed could be found around the U.S. and Canada in top publications like Women’s Health, Dr. Oz and The Good Life.

After parting ways with Pictoura in 2013, and Naturtint in 2014, I was offered a position as creative director for We Are Triumphant (Records) in Fall 2014. My job was to manage all of the company’s creative material including artwork for individual artists and bands on the label. Plus I had the great opportunity to work directly with Victory Records to have my work produced for their online store.

While I still work on-and-off with We Are Triumphant, most of my time is currently occupied with design work for Yankee Trails World Travel. Some of my many tasks include designing travel catalogs, printed advertisements, e-mail campaigns and more. All the while, I have maintained a bustling freelance career where I work with awesome people from around the world.

You can see Leanna’s portfolio online at: www.leannawhite.com

How has the SUNY Ulster graphic design program assisted you in your career?

Even though I did some design work before attending SUNY Ulster, The ‘Real World Classroom’ with its controlled setting really helped prepare me for what to expect in the design world. The field is extremely competitive and this gave me a head start. With the help of the program’s real-world projects and competitive student atmosphere, I quickly adopted a work ethic that has helped me produce some of my best work yet.

Do you have any advice for current Design students?

Always have a contract.

One thing that I think needs some serious mentioning is design contracts. If you are a freelance designer dealing with money of any kind, you must ALWAYS have a written agreement between both parties. I cannot stress this enough. More often than not, people will try to take advantage of you if a contract is not set in place. If you cannot afford a lawyer to write a contract for you, do your research and alter an existing contract to suit your needs.

Be competitive.

To survive in the design world, you absolutely have to be driven and committed. Never stop learning, never stop improving. Keep up to date with current design trends and constantly perfect your skill and technique. Most clients are looking for a one-stop-shop, which means you need to be a multi-disciplined and multi-faceted individual with a lot to offer. If you’re not giving it your all, expect that someone else will. This career is not for the light of heart.

Take a break.

As with most creative professions, your brain needs a break from creative thinking. Working long hours on a project will leave you feeling blind and without direction. That is never a good feeling, especially when someone is relying on you to make something great. Know when to close down Adobe for the night and try not to stress about your creative block – tomorrow’s fresh eyes are exactly what your design needs.

Interested in more information about the SUNY Ulster, Graphic Design Program?

Check out: https://www.sunyulster.edu/academics/credit_programs/advertising_design/

SUNY Ulster President Dr. Alan Roberts

December 22, 2015December 22, 2015 by SUNYUlster

President Alan Roberts standing with Nick Carchidi

Occupation: SUNY Ulster President
Community College Attended: North Country Community College
First Generation Student

What made you decide to start at a Community College?
Convenience, Affordability, and Accessibility.

When did you figure out your career major?
I began as an accounting major in community college but once I furthered my education I found that I had a passion for more of the marketing and other fields involved with business.

What is the difference between Community College then vs. Community College now?
Technology, I just read that 70% of students need technology to study and 30% can’t leave their phone alone for 10 minutes. Now, with the Technology Revolution though, I can’t leave my phone alone either.

Describe your journey from Student to President.
I began studying Accounting at North Country Community College. Then I worked in the business field for years but wanted a more fulfilling job. I then started working as an Accounting professor at Indian River State College, moving up to a department head, a Dean and now as the President of SUNY Ulster.

What is your favorite thing about SUNY Ulster?
The Instructors: They are exactly what I was hoping faculty would be at every community college. They care about the students. The success of their students is number one in their mind and they go about & beyond in that they spend more time with students, they help, they mentor, they guide, and they love being here.

What are your Favorite Places on Campus?
I love the Music and Art Departments since I’m a musician.
The STEM Department interests me because of all the cool technology in the classrooms. And, of course, the Cafeteria because that’s where the students are and I love to interact with them.

What tips do you have for Students?
Start on day one: Get class scheduling, financial aid, book purchasing out of the way before the first day of class. Focus on your studies. Learn how to be a student: Figure out how to be independent and how the college system works while at community college.

Giving Thanks

November 19, 2018December 4, 2015 by Jennifer Smith-Jamieson

Apple on open book in front of blackboard with math equation

Apply on textbook — Now that we are towards the end of the semester, there’s time take a look at your grades, your efforts and your teachers. I looked and realized that there was one adjunct professor that I really felt grateful to. I decided that it would be nice to give her a professional recommendation for her personal file. If there’s a teacher who you feel has gone above and beyond, you may do the same. Don’t worry about whether it’s geeky or not. Yes, being grateful may not look cool to your friends but it’s good karma and you can use all of that you can get, especially when you’re the one looking for a job later.

Here’s my letter, and yes, you may use the format or any style ideas from it to thank the professors who are making a difference for you.

To Whom It May Concern:

I am writing this letter of recommendation for Heidi L. Ferry because I truly believe she needs some credit for being a terrific math teacher. She is currently teaching Basic Algebra 091 and is the only math teacher that I’ve ever had that could explain to me the “why’s” of the math operations clearly. She has a lot of patience and checks with us to make sure we are getting the concepts right. Before tests, she gives us reviews and for the first time in my life, I don’t feel like a hopeless dunce in math. I have an A average; me, the girl who in first grade was told nicely by my math/reading teacher that “It’s okay, not everybody’s a math person.” I thought she was being kind pointing out that it was just the way nature made me. My non-mathematic-English-artsy brain just couldn’t deal with all those number thingies.

Thirty some-odd years later, I’m happy to say she was wrong. It is with the help of Professor Ferry that I have this confidence. Most of my class and I wish she could stay our teacher throughout our college experience but know this cannot be the case. I hope my next algebra teachers will be as thorough and patient as her and I wish her all the best in her career.

A Very Thankful Student,

Jennifer Smith-Jamieson
SUNY-Ulster Community College

Thanks to Professor Heidi L. Ferry.

SUNY Ulster in the News! Article about SUNY Ulster Theater Production

April 10, 2019November 18, 2015 by Dina Pearlman

Screenshot of Spoon River at SUNY Ulster Almanac article

Masters remastered: Spoon River Anthology on stage at SUNY-Ulster

Posted by Debra Bresnan on November 12, 2015 in Stage for The Almanac Weekly

Edgar Lee Masters based his epic collection of poems, Spoon River Anthology, upon the lives of real people he knew, heard about or represented in his legal practice as a public defender. Many of Masters’ characters bore a striking resemblance to his former townspeople in Lewistown and Petersburg, Illinois, and when the collection was published in 1915, it created enormous community unrest and embarrassment.

In 1963, actor and playwright Charles Aidman chose 75 of Masters’ original Spoon River Anthology epitaphs and conceived and directed them, accompanied by musical interludes. The New York Times described this Broadway production as “a glowing theater experience…A brooding and loving American folk poem brought to life on a stage” and the New York Post called it “an evening of astonishingly stirring emotional satisfaction.”

Now celebrating its 100th anniversary, Spoon River Anthology will open at SUNY-Ulster’s Quimby Theater on Thursday, November 19. The play is directed by Richard Cattabiani, adjunct professor in the English Department under the Dean of Faculty Office at SUNY-Ulster.

READ THE WHOLE ARTICLE HERE

“Bees Shouldn’t Be Able to Fly”

October 23, 2015 by Jennifer Smith-Jamieson

My grandfather brought this to my attention when he was in his nineties. He had just read an article in a magazine (most likely waiting for a doctor) in which physicists had determined that, due to their body weight versus wing-size, it was a mystery as to why the honeybee could fly at all. It should be impossible for it to get off the ground. The article had many platitudes about this being an inspirational metaphor for humans “doing the impossible”. What my grandfather wished to impress on me was that he had lived ninety some-odd years not knowing this, “There’s a great-big world out there and something new to be found out every day of your life if you look hard enough.” in thick Alabaman.

He was right. He was born in 1908, in Alabama, to a farming family. His father died when he was 13 and he left school in 3^rd grade to help out on the farm. He married in his 20’s and got a job at a mental hospital as an attendant. He quit there when one of the patients, during one gardening session (Yes, in the 1930’s mental-hospital patients grew their own food. What could go wrong?) a patient started running after him with a hoe. Just like any good horror movie, Grandpa tripped, closed his eyes, and prepared to meet his maker. Unlike every horror movie, the patient raised the hoe above his head, brought it down gently, tapped him and said, “Tag, you’re it!” Then gleefully put the hoe down and ran, giggling, presumably expecting grandpa to tag him back, which, if you knew my no-nonsense grandpa proves this man was not living in reality. My grandfather joined the military the next day.

In the military, he served in WWII then went on to become a Sargent and head of the mess hall during the Berlin Airlift. When my mother graduated high school, my grandfather had been taking night classes and graduated the same year. After my father died, my mother went back to college and got her Paralegal degree. She graduated with her class, even though, for the first year she was undergoing chemotherapy and had a mastectomy. That was no small feat in the days before online classes. Years later, Grandpa would happily boast to anyone in earshot that three of his four children graduated college. As for his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, it’s a mixed bag of college, careers, entrepreneurs, military, and parent-hood scattered across the globe; we’ve lived from Afghanistan, Germany, Puerto Rico, to Switzerland.

This is Walter B. Smith’s legacy and it’s what keeps me going forward here. When things don’t go right, I adjust and do something about it. Half the time it may be a wrong move, but at least I’m moving and learning from my mistakes. If grandpa just stayed put at the mental hospital, shook off the feeling that there’s a better life elsewhere, I might be an Alabaman facing the lack of opportunities that Grandpa faced.

Field Work on Vacation

October 15, 2015 by Rachel Weiner

The Carnival Pride ship from the Lagoon in the water

During the week of September 13th my boyfriend Mark and I went on a cruise to Grand Turk and the Bahamas. Upon my departure I was asked by Professor Jessica Moore, who teaches Planet Earth, if I would mind taking sand samples from the different islands (and as many photos as I could). While I wasn’t able to bring back sand samples from all three islands, I was able to bring back a few other treasures instead.

These are different rocks that I found on the beach in Grand Turk, as well as a Conch Shell (that I found) and a real sponge (that I purchased. It is illegal to harvest them unlicensed).

Half Moon Cay is an island in the Bahamas that is owned by Carnival. It was leased to the for 99 years at a little over six million dollars. — Half Moon Cay is an island in the Bahamas that is owned by Carnival. It was leased to the U.S. for 99 years at a little over six million dollars.

A school of Yellow Snapper that were swimming around the Glass-bottom boat we were on.

Although, it is hard to tell this is Brain Coral. It was taken through Plexiglas, hence the blurriness of the photo.

A replication of an Arawak Village. The Arawak are the original natives of Half Moon Cay.

This is the sole opening in to the Atlantic Ocean from the Half Moon Cay Lagoon.

Looking Back and Moving Forward

October 9, 2015 by SUNYUlster

For the past year I have been yearning to go back to school. For financial reasons I was not able to return for the Fall 2014. I was determined to return for the Fall 2015 semester. Ever since I found out that I was eligible for Financial Aid I have been over the moon. I had missed being in school. I missed being at SUNY Ulster. Most of all I want to finish my degree. I want to finish what I had started. My educational life has always been a difficult one. I suffer from Dyslexia and ADHD and was never really given the tools to deal with these disorders. My father, who also had Dyslexia, felt there was nothing in this world more valuable than knowledge. This belief extended way past the classroom. My Dad felt that every day brought a new lesson to learn. My grades may never have reflected my love for learning, but make no mistake I love learning.

The Gift of Learning . . . Priceless

Three years ago my dad passed away after a long battle with Alzheimer’s; a disease that robbed him of the mind he valued so much. My brother and I grew up admiring a man who worked so hard every day of his life so that we would have the opportunities he had to work so hard to obtain. He starting working in a Steel Mill in Baltimore during his teens and worked as a waiter and lifeguard all through college, graduating from both University of Maryland and Johns Hopkins. And went on to be a prominent Eminent Domain Lawyer for the Justice Department and the City of Miami Beach. He loved every minute of it. This was all he wanted for us; find something you love and don’t ever let anything or anyone get in your way of achieving your dream. I know that my life would be different if my dad had not gotten sick when I was so young. I also know that I cannot change what has already happened. I do know that despite how long it may take I will never give up on (his and) my dream of continuing my education and getting that degree.

Day One

So that is what I am doing. I am going back to school, whatever it takes. I will finish my Associates. On Monday, August 24th 2015, I made a promise to myself that this time I will not let anything stop me and I will not crack when things get hard. The days leading up to Monday were definitely nerve-wracking. Like I said I hadn’t been in school in over a year and this time I would be doing it with three jobs at the same time. Being nerves and excited is a common feeling for the first day of school, but once I made it on campus I felt invincible. Every time I walk in to a new class on Monday and Tuesday I felt more comfortable and confident that I could really do this; I could make my dad and myself proud. I have been told that I should reconsider taking five classes, start slow, but with every passing day I feel more empowered and overjoyed to be back that I don’t want to drop a class or two. I don’t want to do less; I want to do more. I want to make up for every opportunity I have ever let pass by me.

Support and Dedication

Going to college is expensive, time consuming and requires dedication. Dedication from the student to be present, attentive, prepared and most importantly read to learn. It takes the dedication of the faculty and staff to help the students succeed. Dedication of friends and family to be supportive and understand. Although it has taken me longer than most to fully commit to school and finishing my degree, this time I’m ready. College does require money, time and dedication, but without a great support system: parents, professors, boyfriend or girlfriend, and friends in general. “No man is an island.” This is especially true for the college student.

We are so fortunate to go to a school where support is everywhere you turn: Trio, Time Square, the learning center, just to name a few. We also have the support of the staff and faculty to go over and beyond to see that we succeed, even when we are ready to call it quits.

Looking Forward

I could have tried to go back to school somewhere else. I decided to come back to SUNY Ulster. The week isn’t over yet, but I can feel the difference already. I am prepared for what is to come and am more confident than ever that this is the right time to go back to school; as well as the right place. I am so fortunate to have the support system I do. I know that this isn’t true for everybody, but find someone, anyone to tell you, “It is okay. You will get through this”. The campus is filled with people who want to help, want to support you in any way they can. I leave you with this never underestimate yourself. Never let anyone underestimate you. Most importantly don’t do it for anybody else, but yourself. That being said I am dedicating this academic year to my dad, a part of my support system that isn’t here anymore), a man who gave me the greatest gift of all curiosity and a love of knowledge.

I wish everybody a great semester and good luck on the coming Academic Year!

Excel with the Honors Program

September 16, 2015 by SUNYUlster

SUNY Ulster Honors Program: Make the Most of Your College Experience

Honors Program Students Jump Ahead of the Pack

SUNY Ulster’s Honors Program provides highly motivated students the opportunity to work closely with professors and other motivated students in advanced level classes that promote critical thinking, analysis, research, writing, communication, and more.

Experience a Different Kind of Learning

Forget about traditional classroom lectures and prepare yourself for active learning. In the Honors Program’s intimate, seminar-style classes, you’ll be asked to share your ideas, present your arguments and engage in lively and probing discussions of both enduring questions and contemporary issues. In Honors, you learn how to learn and think. Instead of textbooks, primary sources and genuine scholarship are used to study the world’s greatest writers, thinkers, scientists, and critics.

group of students connecting with leadership about honor program — Professor Jennifer Kaufman and Vice President Ann Marrott connecting with current Honors Program students about their experience at SUNY Ulster.

Study with Our Honors Professors

Like our students, our faculty consider participation in the Honors Program to be a privilege. These instructors are committed to sharing their knowledge and intellectual passion with you in both your Honors courses and in personal, informal exchanges outside the classroom. Their fields of expertise span a wealth of disciplines and approaches, from medieval history and ancient languages to astrophysics and contemporary politics.

“The Honors Program at SUNY Ulster has pushed me to pursue my studies at a deeper level.” –Richard Ayers, Current SGO Vice-President and Honors Program student.

More Personal, More Tailored

The program is more personal – you get more one-on-one time and small group time in class, plus professors give a lot of direct feedback throughout your course.

With this more personal approach, students are encouraged to connect directly with each other. That deeper connection has helped create friendships as students discuss coursework among each other.

It is a good, personal experience overall. It connects students who may not, outside of class, have anything in common. They can connect and grow through Honors Program studies.

Create Lasting Relationships of Value

“One of the best features about participating in the Honors Program is the relationships built between students. We aren’t distracted by a large numbers of students in one room and can really get to know each other on a more personal and academic level. The students are a lot more focused. This has really helped us all feel comfortable with each other.” says Second Semester Honors Program student, Richard Ayers, Liberal Arts Major at SUNY Ulster.”

He adds, “We spend a lot of time in class talking about what we’re studying, plus outside of class we’ve created constant communication methods to gain insights from each other. We also stay connected about things going on in our life outside of the classroom. Even over the summer, we all kept in contact via Facebook and checked in with each other consistently.

The relationships I’ve created with other students will last far past graduation. I’ll be transferring to SUNY New Paltz for creative writing, and as we become alumni and go further into our degree paths and careers, I’m certain our connections will last.”

A Cooperative Learning Experience

“Through group discussions and our Facebook group, we’ve developed the communication skills to learn from each other. Instead of the professors talking at us, we get together and discuss the topics and course work. We get to see perspective’ from others experiences that play into what we are studying. Also you’ll find that question you have, other students may have too. One students will ask the professor and share the answer with everyone, this speeds up the learning time in the class so we can stay focused on going forward in our studies.” – Mairead Briggs

Get Involved in the SUNY Ulster Honors Program

Honors Studies are open to students in all programs who meet the criteria for admission. Students who successfully complete 18 credits of Honors-level courses, fulfill the requirements of their academic programs and earn an overall GPA of 3.5 receive the Honors designation at graduation.

You can find out more at: http://www.sunyulster.edu/docs/admissions/honors_flyer.pdf

You can also reach Jennifer Kaufman at kaufmanj@sunyulster.edu.