SUNY Oneonta

Eighteen SUNY Oneonta students spent a little over two weeks (from May 13 to May 26) completing service projects and working with impoverished youth and families in Quito and Mindo, Ecuador as part of an upper-division Human Development and Family Studies course. The students were involved in three service work projects - building a greenhouse for an elder-care facility; working with a preschool program developing activities and refurbishing a room into an activity room for future use; and working with the mayor in Mindo on a beautification project in a high-poverty district. As part of their cultural immersion, students took 20 hours of Spanish lessons and lived with an Ecuadorian family. In their free time, they were able to visit museums, tour communities, visit historical and ecological attractions, attend programs learning about food and the arts, and visit with indigenous populations (primarily Quichua). This service learning program was designed for students interested in learning about sustainable solutions to poverty in developing countries. It offered exciting hands-on work opportunities and meaningful cultural immersion, while encouraging an awareness of the risk factors of impoverishment.

It's one thing to read about water resource problems and environmental issues in the developing world. It's an entirely different experience to see these issues - and the people they affect - first-hand and work toward solutions. Twenty environmental sustainability students from SUNY Oneonta recently returned from a summer international field course where they did just that. The annual field course, called "Water and Environment of Guatemala," brought students to Guatemala for two weeks, where they took water samples and analyzed water quality data from Lake Atitlan and the surrounding drainage basin. The course is led by Associate Professor of Geography and Environmental Sciences Tracy Allen. Based on their observations, interactions with local residents, and data collection, students worked to identify sustainable solutions to the area's water resources problems. Students were also able to learn about agriculture while touring a coffee plantation and, later, take in the area's natural wonders, including the Pacaya volcano, which is active. The students went into a Guatemalan elementary school to teach children about the lake and water quality, and they also installed water filtration systems into some of the area homes. Students said these interactions were particularly meaningful and rewarding, and the trip was eye-opening.

Nine art students from SUNY Oneonta were in France from May 13 to 26 learning art history firsthand for an upper-level course on Impressionism. Led by their professor, Dr. Pearlie Rose S. Baluyut, the students learned through a combination of on-site lectures and discussions based on assigned readings and in front of original paintings in major museums and artist studios, including L'Orangerie, Musee d'Orsay, Musee du Louvre, and Musee Marmottan-Claude Monet, among others. The group explored parks, boulevards, apartment buildings, cafes, theaters, gardens and bridges in Paris, and visited historic sites and monuments such as the Eiffel Tower. They also made cultural excursions to Giverny, Cannes, Nice, and more. While deepening their understanding of art history's two greatest stylistic movements, students gained a global awareness and experience as a responsible citizen of the world.

A total of 196 SUNY Oneonta students earned Provost's List honors for the spring 2019 semester. To qualify for the Provost's List, a student must earn a perfect 4.0 grade-point average while carrying a course load of 12 hours or more.

A total of 1,553 SUNY Oneonta students earned Dean's List honors for the spring 2019 semester. To qualify for the Dean's List, a student must earn a grade-point average of 3.5 or higher while carrying a course load of 12 hours or more.

Five SUNY Oneonta students are having a direct, hands-on effect on the future of science education this summer by designing and creating their own instructional models for use in classrooms. The students are part of the Earth Science Model and Design Institute, which gives pre-service Earth Science teachers the chance to design and build their own models of particularly complex or abstract Earth processes and concepts. Project leaders are Dr. James Ebert of the Earth & Atmospheric Sciences Department and Dr. Paul Bischoff of the Secondary Education Department. Participating students, who were selected from a pool of applicants, will spend four weeks designing and building the models and will work throughout the year to tweak and perfect them. The models are made using everyday items such as plastic bottles, rulers, wooden dowels and index cards, so that they can be easily replicated. Bischoff said the experience gives students a more in-depth understanding of the research process and lets them see the creative components to teaching. The students receive a stipend, in addition to room and board.

Four students received awards at SUNY Oneonta's Lavender Graduation Recognition Ceremony on April 28 in the Hunt Union Ballroom. An annual event sponsored by the Gender and Sexuality Resource Center, the college's Lavender Graduation recognizes exceptional service, leadership and activism on behalf of the LGBTQIA community. Awards honor graduating seniors and faculty and staff members for their outstanding contributions to diversity and inclusion on the SUNY Oneonta campus. Participants are those graduating in May, August or December 2019 who receive a lavender cord to wear at their official graduation.

Congratulations to the 19 peer tutors who earned National Tutor Association Level 1 Certification this academic year through SUNY Oneonta's Student Learning Center. Tutors have completed the courses for which they are tutoring at SUNY Oneonta and have received a B+ or better in the course. All tutors complete a 2-hour training workshop before working with tutees, and they complete additional training throughout the time they work at SLC. Effective Fall 2016, all newly hired tutors are working toward completing National Tutoring Association (NTA) basic level certification.

SUNY Oneonta recently recognized nearly 200 students who have attained leadership milestones through the college's LEAD (Leadership Education and Development) program. LEAD@Oneonta is a comprehensive leadership program based on current research and guidelines from the Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education. All students can choose to participate in the LEAD program, which aims to better prepare them for life after college by providing a comprehensive picture of leadership and the skills needed to be a good leader. Students can attain a silver, gold or platinum level. To attain each level, students must meet a mix of programmatic and experiential leadership requirements, including completion of online courses, attendance at educational events, and membership and leadership in one or more of SUNY Oneonta's 100+ student-run clubs and organizations. Completion of a leadership level is recognized on campus as a credential that can be used, for example, when running for office or applying for STEP (Student Travel for Excellence Program) funding. The program also provides students with a leadership record that can be submitted to potential employers.

A total of 43 SUNY Oneonta students received 2019 Senior Service Awards recognizing their commitment to volunteerism. Seniors who completed at least 350 hours of service through the college's Center for Social Responsibility and Community (CSRC) were recognized during a reception on May 10.

Thirteen exceptional SUNY Oneonta students were inducted into the college's chapter of Omicron Delta Epsilon on Friday, May 10. Omicron Delta Epsilon is one of the world's largest academic honor societies with 696 chapters located in the United States and 10 other countries worldwide. Juniors and seniors majoring or minoring in Economics, or any student in the School of Economics and Business completing a Finance concentration with an overall and Economics GPA of 3.0 and higher, are invited to become members.

Over 160 students were celebrated as part of the Kente Graduation Recognition Ceremony. Sponsored by the Department of Africana/Latino Studies, the Office of Equity and Inclusion and the Office of Student Diversity and Advocacy, the annual ceremony recognizes the achievements of SUNY Oneonta's diverse student population-African American, Latino, Asian and Native American (AALANA) students and non-AALANA students and allies.

A total of 27 SUNY Oneonta students studied abroad this spring through programs in 10 countries.

Twenty SUNY Oneonta students earned membership in SUNY Oneonta's chapter of Alpha Epsilon Delta, the National Health Preprofessional Honor Society, during the 2018-19 academic year.

To celebrate the Class of 2019, SUNY Oneonta's Office of Communication and Marketing produced a remake of the iconic intro to 90s television cult classic "Friends" with help from a few of our talented seniors. Because, after all, the friends you make at SUNY Oneonta will always be there for you.

Eighteen students earned membership in SUNY Oneonta's Beta Eta Chapter of the Chi Alpha Epsilon (XAE) national honor society during the 2018-19 academic year. To be inducted into XAE, students must earn a cumulative grade-point average of 3.0 or better for two consecutive, full-time semesters, and must have been admitted to college through an opportunity program (Access to College Excellence, College Assistance Migrant Program or Educational Opportunity Program).

SUNY Oneonta inducted 19 students into its Edward K. Griesmer chapter of National Residence Hall Honorary, a branch of the National Association of Colleges and University Residence Halls, in April.

Sixty one SUNY Oneonta students were recently inducted into the Tau Sigma National Honor Society, which is designed exclusively for transfer students. The mission of the organization is to recognize and promote the academic excellence and involvement of transfer students. The minimum academic average required for membership is either a 3.5 on a 4.0 scale (or the equivalent thereof) or an academic average that places the prospective candidate in the top 20 percent of all incoming transfer students during their incoming semester.

More than 700 students have been awarded scholarships at the annual scholarship dinner held on April 4. SUNY Oneonta's scholarship funds total over $60 million and are the result of contributions from donors, corporations and foundations. It is the largest endowment among SUNY comprehensive four-year colleges.

SUNY Oneonta recognized more than 50 outstanding students during an Academic Achievement Awards reception on May 1. One to three students were chosen from each of the college's academic departments and programs to receive the 2019 Academic Achievement Awards. Each student selected one faculty guest to accompany them to the recognition event. In addition to their excellent work in the classroom, students were honored for distinguishing themselves in many ways, including research, activism, mentoring, athletics, involvement in campus activities and volunteerism.

The SUNY Oneonta History Department faculty recognized 12 students for academic achievement and outstanding essay writing during an awards ceremony this spring.

Twenty-four new members were inducted into SUNY Oneonta's Alpha-Kappa-Iota chapter of Phi Alpha Theta, the National History Honor Society. The students were inducted during the History Department's Awards and Phi Alpha Theta Induction Ceremony last week in Le Cafe at Morris Conference Center. The special guest was Elizabeth Mosher, Daughters of the American Revolution State Chairperson and SUNY Oneonta alumna. Phi Alpha Theta is an American honor society for undergraduate students, graduate students, and professors of history, and is the second oldest such society in the United States. The society has over 350,000 members, with about 9,500 new members joining each year through 860 local chapters. Phi Alpha Theta was established on March 17, 1921 at the University of Arkansas by Professor Nels Cleven. In order to be inducted, undergraduate students must complete a minimum of 12 semester hours (four courses) in History, achieve a minimum GPA of 3.1 in History and a GPA of 3.0 or better overall. A maximum of 3 credit hours of online, transfer, or AP credits may be applied to the membership eligibility requirement. Membership is not limited to History majors.

Twenty-three students from SUNY Oneonta's School of Economics and Business were inducted into the college's Beta Gamma Sigma honor society chapter during a recognition ceremony on April 26. Only the best business students in the world, and the professionals who earned the distinction of "the Best in Business" during their academic careers, can claim membership in Beta Gamma Sigma. Students ranking in the top 10 percent of the baccalaureate and top 20 percent of graduate programs at schools accredited by AACSB International - The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business are eligible for this invitation. Beta Gamma Sigma has installed collegiate chapters and inducted students on six continents. SUNY Oneonta's School of Economics and Business offers majors in business economics, professional accounting and economics; concentrations in accounting, finance, international business and economics, and marketing; and cooperative programs in business administration, management science, and fashion merchandising management, advertising and marketing communications, manufacturing management, and textile development and marketing.

Seven SUNY Oneonta students presented their research during the fifth annual SUNY Undergraduate Research Conference (SURC) on April 26. SURC is a multidisciplinary spring semester event that brings together undergraduate students and faculty mentors from across the SUNY system for a full day of activities, including sessions devoted to student presentations (oral, performance, artistic displays, and poster), a luncheon and keynote speaker(s), a SUNY Graduate School and Career Fair, and professional development workshops. This year, SURC was held at three different SUNY schools - Adirondack Community College and Farmingdale State College on April 26, and Niagara County Community College on April 27. Students could choose which host campus they wanted to present at. SURC is supported by the Offices of the Chancellor, Provost, and Research Foundation, as well as SUNY student and faculty governance organizations.

More than 100 students presented projects at SUNY Oneonta's annual Student Research and Creative Activity Day event on April 18-19.

Four SUNY Oneonta students are among 210 State University of New York students chosen to receive the 2019 SUNY Chancellor's Award for Student Excellence. SUNY Chancellor Kristina M. Johnson presented the awards to the students during a reception in their honor today in Albany. "Today's award recipients emerged from their campuses this year as the top scholars, athletes, performers, and achievers, as well as a tremendous source of inspiration," said Chancellor Johnson. "The students being recognized today made the choice to become leaders on their campuses, prioritize their studies, and serve their communities. Congratulations to this year's awardees, and I applaud you for pursuing excellence in all that you do." The Chancellor's Award for Student Excellence is the highest honor that SUNY bestows upon students. It is presented annually to SUNY students who demonstrate academic excellence and integrate it with accomplishments in other areas, such as leadership, career achievement, campus involvement, athletics, community service, or creative and performing arts. Each year, SUNY campus presidents establish a selection committee, which reviews the accomplishments of exemplary students. Nominees are then forwarded to the Chancellor's Office for a second round of review. Finalists are then recommended to the Chancellor to become recipients of the award. Since the Chancellor's Award program was implemented, 92 SUNY Oneonta students have received the SUNY Chancellor's Award for Student Excellence. The four SUNY Oneonta students selected to receive the 2019 SUNY Chancellor's Award for Student Excellence are James Bethel, Madeline Frank, Rosario Rodriguez and Karly Schuhart.

Artwork by many student artists will be on display in SUNY Oneonta's Martin-Mullen Art Gallery for the "Annual Student Juried Art Exhibition 2019" in the Fine Arts Center from April 8 to May 11. Featured artworks were chosen from an open jury process and works entered by the art faculty. Painting, drawing, sculpture, digital print, digital video and an assortment of mixed media make up this year's offerings. All are invited to attend the exhibition.

A total of 196 students received the SUNY Oneonta 2018-2019 Susan Sutton Smith Award for academic excellence. To be eligible for the award, a student must be a freshman, sophomore or junior with a grade-point average of 3.9 or higher. Student award winners receive a certificate, a gift card to the campus bookstore, and an invitation to attend the annual Susan Sutton Smith Lecture and reception. Dr. Tracy Betsinger, associate professor of biological anthropology, will deliver this year's Susan Smith Lecture titled, "Babies Are Us: What Can We Learn from Fetuses and Infants from History and Prehistory," on Tuesday, April 9, 7 p.m. in the Otsego Grille, Morris Conference Center on campus.

On Thursday, March 28, and Friday, March 29, a group of 20 student members of WONY 90.9 FM, SUNY Oneonta's student-run radio station, took a Student Association-sponsored field trip to Boston to visit a few of the largest public media institutions in the United States. The students received private guided tours of WGBH and WBUR. They also visited the PRX Podcast Garage and WTBU, Boston University's student-run radio station. The group was accompanied by Dr. Andrew Bottomley, WONY faculty advisor and assistant professor of Media Studies in SUNY Oneonta's Communication & Media Department. It was a rare chance for students to get a behind-the-scenes peek at professional broadcasting studios, interact with experienced journalists and top industry executives, and learn about internship and career opportunities.

More than 300 graduates were recognized at SUNY Oneonta's Winter Commencement on December 2, 2018. Students who completed the requirements for bachelor's degrees, master's degrees and certificates of advanced study in the Dewar Arena of the Alumni Field House.