SUNY Oneonta

It may be summer break, but learning at SUNY Oneonta is certainly not on pause, with six students having recently returned from a short-term study abroad opportunity in China. From May 23 to June 5, students in the course "Experiencing Cities and Architecture: China" explored the Guangzhou and Hong Kong regions with Dr. Matthew Hendley and Dr. HoHon Leung to study the cities and architecture in the context of the history of urbanization and modernization in modern China. Students could choose either a history or sociology focus. The goal of the trip was to understand and analyze the relationship between the nature and development of cities and the functionalities, meanings and symbolic power of architecture from a cross-disciplinary approach. Key themes included the integration of Guangzhou/Hong Kong into the Greater Bay area (which includes Shenzhen), the impact of tourism and trade on the region, and the balanced development between the built- and natural-environment there. The group traveled to Kowloon Tsim Sha Tsui tourism shopping district, Wailing Ding Island, Shamian Island, Weiyuan Ancient Fort, Chen Clan Ancestral Hall and Temple of Six Banyan Trees, Liurong Buddhist Temple, and more! They were able to meet with Guangdong University and Huangpu Military Academy students, and even learned how to make dumplings with the Huangpu students. Lasting anywhere from 1 to 4 weeks, faculty-led programs (or FLPs) incorporate coursework, cultural experiences and often service-learning opportunities. The trips give students the opportunity to learn and earn credit in a completely new setting, often covering unique subject matters not regularly taught on campus. "Faculty-led programs are wonderful because they allow our students a 'mini study abroad', if you will," said Office of Global Education Director Michelle Lopez. "We're incredibly happy to be able to offer these life-changing opportunities. Faculty-led trips mean invaluable experiential learning for students, something we prioritize at SUNY Oneonta!"

SUNY Oneonta students were recognized for attaining gold-level leadership milestones in the spring 2024 semester through the university's Leadership Education and Development (LEAD) 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 earning their degree 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 reach 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. Completing 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.

It may be summer break, but learning at SUNY Oneonta is certainly not on pause, with 11 students having recently returned from a short-term study abroad opportunity in Greece and Turkey. From May 23 until June 10, students in the course "PHIL 3500: Ancient Philosophical Thought: Rediscovering the Art of Living Well" explored Greece and Turkey, the birthplace of Western philosophy, led by Dr. Daniel Patrone. Participants immersed themselves in the history and culture of the region, from "balancing their humours" in geothermal waters a la Hippocrates to performing Sophocles' "Antigone" in an Athenian amphitheater to continuing philosophical discussions late into the night, under the stars on the beach. Lasting anywhere from 1 to 4 weeks, SUNY Oneonta's faculty-led programs (or FLPs) incorporate coursework, cultural experiences and often service-learning opportunities. The trips give students the opportunity to learn and earn credit in a completely new setting, often covering unique subject matters not regularly taught on campus. "Faculty-led programs are wonderful because they allow our students a 'mini study abroad', if you will," said Office of Global Education Director Michelle Lopez. "We're incredibly happy to be able to offer these life-changing opportunities. Faculty-led trips mean invaluable experiential learning for students, something we prioritize at SUNY Oneonta!"

It may be summer break, but learning at SUNY Oneonta is certainly not on pause, with numerous students participating in faculty-led programs abroad. Assistant Professor of Photography Wesley Bernard and 10 of his students spent from from May 20 to May 31 taking photos and touring Madrid for the course "Documentary Photography." With cameras in hand, students used photography to witness and document the rapidly changing Spanish culture regarding cattle and beef production, sustainable food practices, global warming's effects and cultural celebrations. Students visited museums and the Royal Palace of Madrid and saw a flamenco show, enjoyed delicious tapas, paella and gelato, visited a ranch, and witnessed firsthand what goes into the tradition of Spanish bullfighting, even getting to attend a live event. Short-term, faculty-led programs incorporate coursework, cultural experiences and, many times, elements of service learning. The trips give students the opportunity to learn and earn credit in a completely new setting, often covering unique subject matters not regularly taught on campus. "Faculty-led programs are wonderful because they allow our students a 'mini study abroad', if you will," said Office of Global Education Director Michelle Lopez. "We're incredibly happy to be able to offer these life-changing opportunities. Faculty-led trips mean invaluable experiential learning for students, something we prioritize at SUNY Oneonta!"

It may be summer break, but learning at SUNY Oneonta is certainly not on pause, with numerous students participating in faculty-led programs abroad. Each year since 2013, Dr. Tracy Allen has taken students to Guatemala for the interdisciplinary course, "Water and the Environment of Guatemala." The course touches on the geography, geology and environmental science of the region and prepares students to find solutions to contemporary water resources issues in the developing world. From May 22 to June 4, students took water samples and analyzed water quality data from Lake Atitlan and the surrounding watershed in order to share the results with the community. They also toured solid waste and wastewater treatment plants, visited Mayan homes to install water filters, sampled city and school wells, and taught school children about water quality. In their free time, they enjoyed boat rides, toured Mayan ruins and a coffee plantation, hiked volcanos and even visited a butterfly conservatory. Short-term, faculty-led programs incorporate coursework, cultural experiences and, many times, elements of service learning. The trips give students the opportunity to learn and earn credit in a completely new setting, often covering unique subject matters not regularly taught on campus. Allen said FLPs "open students' eyes to cross-cultural understanding and change lives. For students to be successful, they must be globally aware." "Faculty-led programs are wonderful because they allow our students a 'mini study abroad', if you will," said Office of Global Education Director Michelle Lopez. "We're incredibly happy to be able to offer these life-changing opportunities. Faculty-led trips mean invaluable experiential learning for students, something we prioritize at SUNY Oneonta!"

It may be summer break, but learning at SUNY Oneonta is certainly not on pause, with numerous students participating in faculty-led programs abroad. Dr. Ann Fradkin-Hayslip and 10 of her students spent from May 19 until May 28 studying Finland's educational system, consistently ranked the best in the world, for the field course "Cross Cultural Comparisons of Educational Systems." The group visited schools in Finland, from pre-K through high school, observing in classrooms and meeting with administrators, teachers and students. They discovered a completely different educational system, one where teachers "are highly revered and respected, on par with doctors" and have "tremendous autonomy," Fradkin-Hayslip said. In Finland, standardized testing, homework and school buses do not exist, and shoes are not worn inside the school. Instead, students are encouraged to play, walk to school or ride their bike. In addition to their academic courses, students take cooking and carpentry classes that let them learn important life skills. Short-term, faculty-led programs incorporate coursework, cultural experiences and, many times, elements of service learning. The trips give students the opportunity to learn and earn credit in a completely new setting, often covering unique subject matters not regularly taught on campus. "Faculty-led programs are wonderful because they allow our students a 'mini study abroad', if you will," said Office of Global Education Director Michelle Lopez. "We're incredibly happy to be able to offer these life-changing opportunities. Faculty-led trips mean invaluable experiential learning for students, something we prioritize at SUNY Oneonta!"

Five SUNY Oneonta students were inducted into the Triota, Delta Beta Chapter, Honor Society during an induction ceremony on May 3. Triota (Iota Iota Iota) is a national honor society dedicated to recognizing and encouraging academic excellence in Women's and Gender Studies. With more than 50 chapters nationwide, the Triota Honor Society strives to maintain the feminist values central to Women's and Gender Studies by encouraging diversity, egalitarianism and a supportive academic environment for all students. SUNY Oneonta students must complete six credit hours in Women's and Gender Studies courses and have a minimum grade point average of 3.0 to be inducted into the Triota Honor Society.

Twenty-seven SUNY Oneonta students and recent graduates are presenting work created in their upper-level Studio and Digital Art Capstone courses during the spring 2024 semester. "The Capstone: 2024" is the inaugural exhibition of the best work created by SUNY Oneonta students across multiple disciplines in the arts, and will become a staple end-of-year showcase for future upper-level students. "The Capstone: 2024" exhibition is located in the Martin-Mullen Gallery on campus and opened to the public during SUNY Oneonta's Commencement. The exhibition will be open to all without an appointment from June 7-9 for Alumni Weekend from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. It is open by appointment only from May 22 to June 6. Admission to the gallery is free, and visitors can receive parking passes through the University Police Department. Gallery hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. For more information, contact Gallery Director Sarah Simpson at Sarah.Simpson@oneonta.edu or 607-436-2445.

Twenty-four SUNY Oneonta student volunteers and Sport and Exercise Sciences faculty partnered with EDD Adaptive Sports to host the first Adaptive Field Day on campus this spring. Over the past few years, SUNY Oneonta's Sport and Exercise Sciences department has developed a relationship with EDD Adaptive Sports, a non-profit organization that offers adaptive sports programs to children and adults with any disability. EDD Adaptive Sports' programs allow people of all ages to participate in a variety of free athletic and sport-related activities, including basketball, biking, kayaking, soccer, swimming, pickleball, rowing and yoga. The field day took place May 4 in the Alumni Field House and Red Dragon Field. The event allowed area residents who have varying intellectual and adaptive disabilities, including people from local organizations Springbrook and Pathfinder Village, to participate in a variety of athletic activities. "It's been a really great partnership so far," said Gretchen Owens, executive director at EDD Adaptive Sports. "I appreciate the ideas the Sport and Exercise Sciences department brought to us for things to do and ways to expand what we offer. By building this partnership with SUNY Oneonta, we're building what we can offer our athletes and getting them more engaged in the community and everything SUNY Oneonta and the greater community has to offer." Among the student volunteers were Exercise Science seniors Graham Wooden and Sarah Faulisi, who provided training to the other student volunteers on how to interact and work with the EDD participants. Faulisi and Wooden received a Student Research and Creative Activity (SRCA) grant funded by the SUNY Oneonta Foundation and SUNY Oneonta Alumni Association for their project to develop a national online training program on educating volunteers working with athletes with disabilities. Faulisi and Wooden provided training for volunteers from the SUNY Oneonta basketball, soccer, club rugby, swim and softball teams, students from the Terpsichorean dance club and students from Dr. Katherine Griffes's Ethical Considerations in Exercise Science course. The day's activities included ladder toss, Spikeball, yoga, cornhole, soccer, wiffle ball and golf. "I hope that they can take away recognizing the value of just the intrinsic joy of being an athlete, of playing a sport, and can see the importance that they play in the world around them," said Dr. Griffes of the student volunteers. "I hope they feel a sense of empowerment, that they can do something, that they can make a difference in the world and that their ideas matter." The Adaptive Field Day concluded with EDD Adaptive Sports Board Director Barbara Mackey and Executive Director Owens announcing the awards each athlete won. The event's award ceremony finished with athletes running through a tunnel of encouraging arms created by the student volunteers, reaching Wooden and Faulisi at the end for a fist-bump, hive-five or hug.

More than 50 SUNY Oneonta students received an Academic Achievement Award on May 8, 2024, during the 36th annual recognition reception on campus. Each academic department chooses one to three students who stand out from the rest of their peers in their major to receive this award. Undergraduate Academic Achievement Awards recognize exceptional seniors after reviewing their scholarly accomplishments. To be eligible for an Academic Achievement Award, seniors need a 3.5 GPA in their major. Faculty nominate students in their department at SUNY Oneonta based on further academic or professional pursuits and a demonstration of leadership on- and off-campus. Graduate Academic Achievement Awards recognize academic performance, leadership and excellence in scholarship. Awards are made to post-baccalaureate students at SUNY Oneonta, whether they do most of their work on campus or through a distance-learning format. Awardees may excel in various areas, including exemplary work on a thesis or other capstone project, leadership and involvement in department, campus or community activities, or exceptional academic or professional performance in the classroom and beyond.

One hundred twenty-five SUNY Oneonta students participated in the 2024 Student Research and Creative Activity (SRCA) showcase from April 24-25 in the Morris Conference Center. The annual SRCA showcase allows students to participate in academic conference-style presentation sessions on campus where the community can learn about students' creative projects. The two-day event featured 85 presentations held in the Morris Conference Center on campus. Students presented research for completed and ongoing projects on topics representing a wide variety of academic disciplines such as science, history and art. Projects were completed under the mentorship of 54 faculty sponsors. Twenty-eight of the 85 projects received grants through the Student Grant Program for Research and Creative Activity, funded by the University Foundation and the SUNY Oneonta Alumni Association. "This has been a great celebration of the research and creative activities that our students have been engaged in," said Associate Director of Scholarly Activities Audrey Porsche, who coordinated this year's SRCA showcase. "It's made possible through charitable gifts to the University Foundation and Alumni Association and the showcase provides a great opportunity for our students to share what they have accomplished alongside their faculty sponsors. These students are getting research and creative experiences that will help them post-graduation, whether they are going on to graduate school, internships or careers. It's all great experiential learning in action!"

Four SUNY Oneonta students were inducted into the Omicron Delta Epsilon honor society on Friday, May 3, during an induction ceremony held in Morris Hall on campus. Omicron Delta Epsilon is an international economics honor society with 717 chapters located in 11 countries. It is one of the world's largest academic honor societies. To become a member of Omicron Delta Epsilon, SUNY Oneonta undergraduate students must complete 12 credit hours of economics courses, have a GPA of at least 3.0 overall and in economics courses and have a B in an economics honors program (if the chapter's college or university offers it). Graduate students must complete one semester of full-time work with a major or minor in economics and have a 3.0 GPA.

Eight SUNY Oneonta students are among the first to complete an innovative new program at SUNY Oneonta that aims to prepare students for life outside the classroom and after college by focusing on professional and social maturity and growth. Noticing that many seniors lacked professional awareness, communication skills and confidence, history professor E. Howard Ashford had an idea and a goal: to create a program rooted in mentoring that would help students become the best version of themselves by focusing on these skills. With this vision, the "Kings of Excellence" initiative was born. When it started in fall 2022, there were just a handful of male student participants, as one goal was to address the barriers that hinder recruitment and retention of male students from underrepresented populations. Now, there are about 25 students involved, including women and students of all backgrounds. Following one semester as a "King-in-Waiting," students are inducted as Kings during a special ceremony. After fulfilling their "10 Missions"-requirements that include maintaining at least a 3.0 GPA, completing community service and professional development, creating a job portfolio, and actively participating in student organizations and events-Kings graduate from the academy. This semester, eight students have graduated from the program.

Fourteen SUNY Oneonta students were inducted into the Beta Gamma Sigma honor society on Friday, May 3, during an induction ceremony held in Otsego Grille on campus. Beta Gamma Sigma is an international business honor society with over 830,000 members and 600 chapters throughout more than 190 countries worldwide. This is the highest recognition a student anywhere in the world can receive in an undergraduate program at a school accredited by AACSB-The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. Students in the top 10% of baccalaureate programs and the top 20% of graduate programs are eligible for this invitation.

Twelve SUNY Oneonta students were recently honored for their dedication to sustainability efforts on campus thanks to the Green Dragon Recognition Program. The Green Dragon Recognition Program (organized by the Office of Sustainability) seeks to celebrate and recognize students who have shown commitment to sustainability during their time at SUNY Oneonta. Honorees were recognized during an invitation-only reception on Friday, May 1, on campus. To earn an invitation to the 2024 recognition, students had to earn a B or above in a sustainability-focused or two sustainability-related courses, attend six sustainability-themed events and participate in at least one sustainability leadership activity by May 1. Awards were presented, appetizers were served, and students, faculty and staff networked with one another. The reception was one of the culminating events of SUNY Oneonta's annual Green Dragon Week, which showcases the campus's commitment to sustainability through various events and activities and celebrates Earth Day. Sustainability is a core value at SUNY Oneonta, and it is infused into all aspects of campus life, from academics to operations and engagement. Evidence of the university's commitment to sustainability can be seen in the student-run Red Closet Thrift Shop, courses with sustainability designations in more than half of the academic departments, an active University Advisory Council made up of faculty, staff and students, and an overall commitment to supporting a community that is socially just, environmentally healthy and economically stable.

Three SUNY Oneonta students were named Milne Library Scholars for the 2023-24 academic year and were honored at a banquet dinner on campus on April 17. The Milne Library Scholar program supports student scholarship at SUNY Oneonta by offering resources and opportunities specifically tailored to undergraduate and graduate researchers. Only four Milne Library Scholars are named at any time, three undergraduate students and one graduate student, and students from any discipline are encouraged to apply. To become a Milne Library Scholar, students must submit an application that indicates their research project meets specific criteria such as evidence that the project can be completed within the academic year with enough initial work already being completed at the time of the application, the research project must align with the mission of the Milne Library, whether or not their project will make use of library resources, demonstrates clear and focused research agenda and communication skills. Milne Library Scholars receive access to private furnished study spaces in the library, regular consultation from librarian experts on scholarly research and publication, an invitation to a banquet honoring them, eligibility for selection as Milne Library Scholar of the Year and special opportunities to showcase their scholarship to the campus community. Students are expected to produce a completed research project to show the campus community at the end of their time as Milne Library Scholars.

Jessica Davis, of Oceanside, NY, was one of four students attending a NY university to receive an Association of Mathematics Teachers of New York State (AMTNYS) scholarship in the 2023-24 academic year. The AMTNYS awards are presented to outstanding undergraduates enrolled in a Teacher Education Program in New York state and who have completed at least 18 credit hours of Mathematics. The cumulative GPA must be at least 3.25 and applicants can be in their senior year. AMTNYS began the scholarship program in 1987, and the money is primarily raised by donations given by members and friends to the AMTNYS Scholarship Fund. Davis, who is studying Adolescence Education: Mathematics and Mathematics, is a member of the class of 2026, is one of seven SUNY Oneonta students to receive the AMTNYS scholarship since 1988. Awards are based on a committee evaluation of each student's academic achievement, and their involvement and contributions to their school and the mathematics community. Davis was encouraged to apply by Professor of Mathematics Dr. Toke Knudsen, who also wrote a letter of support for her application.

Nineteen SUNY Oneonta students volunteered at the annual Adaptive Basketball Clinic on campus, created through a partnership between the Sport and Exercise Sciences department and EDD Adaptive Sports. The event, held in the Chase Gym on April 14, from 12 to 1:30 p.m., allowed area residents who have varying intellectual and adaptive disabilities to hone their skills in basketball through different technical and shooting drills. Over the past few years, SUNY Oneonta's Sport and Exercise Sciences department has developed a relationship with EDD Adaptive Sports, a non-profit organization that offers adaptive sports programs to children and adults with any disability. EDD Adaptive Sports' programs allow people of all ages to participate in a variety of free athletic and sport-related activities, including basketball, biking, kayaking, soccer, swimming, pickleball, rowing and yoga. This was the second year that SUNY Oneonta and EDD Adaptive Sports worked together to make the basketball clinic a successful day for everyone involved.

Haley Fogarty, of Center Moriches, NY, was recognized for attaining gold-level leadership milestones in the spring 2024 semester through the university's Leadership Education and Development (LEAD) program. Fogarty is studying Psychology at SUNY Oneonta and is a member of the class of 2024. 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 earning their degree 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 reach 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. Completing 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.

Three SUNY Oneonta students were inducted into the Alpha Kappa Delta honor society on Friday, April 26, during an induction ceremony held in Otsego Grille on campus. Membership in Alpha Kappa Delta, the International Sociology Honor Society, is for students majoring in Sociology and Criminal Justice who have maintained a record of high academic achievement. Requirements include having junior standing and an overall GPA of 3.3.

One hundred seventeen students were recognized with awards as part of the 2024 Kente Graduation Recognition Ceremony at SUNY Oneonta. The ceremony took place on campus in the Alumni Field House on April 26. Sponsored by the Department of Africana and Latinx Studies and the Center for Racial Justice and Inclusive Excellence (CRJIE), the annual ceremony recognizes the achievements of SUNY Oneonta's diverse student population of African-American, Latinx, Asian and Native American (AALANA) students and non-AALANA students and allies.

Congratulations to the seventeen peer tutors who earned National Tutor Association Level 1 Certification and the seven peer tutors who completed National Tutor Association Level 2 Certification this academic year through SUNY Oneonta's Student Learning Center (SLC). Tutors have completed the courses they are tutoring at SUNY Oneonta and receive a B+ or better. All tutors complete a mandatory three-hour training workshop before working with tutees and complete additional training throughout their work at SLC. The tutors who have completed one or two levels of certification demonstrate exceptional dedication to their tutees and their position as peer tutors.

More than 50 SUNY Oneonta students and the Theatre Department produced "Cabaret," a Tony Award-winning musical and showcase production of the 2023-2024 academic year. Created by American playwright Joe Masteroff, "Cabaret" follows Cliff Bradshaw, an American writer, as he navigates Berlin in the early 1930s, befriending other residents of his low-rent boarding house including relation-interest Sally Bowles, a dancer and singer at the Kit Kat Club. Music and lyrics for the original production were created by John Kander and Fed Ebb. The performance was directed by Andrew Kahl, professor of acting and directing, and will run four times from April 24 to 27 with help from the Mask and Hammer student theatre club. "Cabaret speaks to contemporary conflicts between free expression and authoritarianism," said Kahl. "It is a musical with dramatic teeth, richly drawn characters, and a wonderful score. The show was also a good match for our current student population and offered challenges - on stage and off - for our students, faculty and staff." "Cabaret" was performed in the Goodrich Theater at SUNY Oneonta from Wednesday to Friday, April 24-26, at 7:30 p.m., and on Saturday, April 27, at 2 p.m. Tickets for upcoming productions can be purchased online at https://oneonta.universitytickets.com/, in person at the Hunt Union Information Desk from Monday to Saturday between 1 and 10 p.m. and in person at the box office in the Fine Arts Center one hour before each scheduled performance. View ticket pricing and more information online at https://suny.oneonta.edu/theatre-department/season-shows.

Twenty students in SUNY Oneonta's Marketing Club, OnMark, traveled to New Orleans to attend the 2024 American Marketing Association's Annual International Collegiate Conference, where they ranked among the Top 15 Collegiate Chapters of the Year. OnMark was ranked No. 11 out of more than 350 competing colleges and universities. Schools are judged based on their accomplishments, with each chapter submitting an annual report detailing their fundraiser events, membership drives, community service, career development workshops, and other AMA competitions in which the club participated throughout the year.

Twenty SUNY Oneonta students were inducted into the Tau Sigma National Honor Society for the 2023-24 academic year on April 14, 2024. Tau Sigma 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.

The Personal Finance Achievement Award is given to students through the SUNY Oneonta financial wellness program, Making Cent$. Making Cent$ staff, interns and volunteers put together numerous events and activities that help students improve their proficiency with financial literacy. Students participating in Making Cent$ earn credit for Making InCENTive$, which leads them to the Personal Finance Achievement Award. This award recognizes a student's dedication to improving financial literacy by completing core activities in six personal finance categories and continually participating in the program. After finishing the Making InCENTive$ path, students complete an exit interview during their final semester to help improve the Making Cent$ program, earn their Personal Finance Achievement Award in receive a Making Cent$ graduation cord.

Twenty-one SUNY Oneonta students were inducted into the Sigma Tau Delta honor society on Saturday, April 13, at College Camp. Sigma Tau Delta is the International English Honor Society. A member of the Association of College Honor Societies, it was founded in 1924 at Dakota Wesleyan University. To be inducted into Sigman Tau Delta, students must have a 3.5 GPA in the English major, a 3.0 GPA overall and at least be a sophomore. The honor society strives to confer distinction for high achievement in English language and literature in undergraduate, graduate and professional studies; provide, through its local chapters, cultural stimulation on college campuses and promote interest in literature and the English language in surrounding communities; foster all aspects of the discipline of English, including literature, language and writing; promote exemplary character and good fellowship among its members; exhibit high standards of academic excellence; and serve society by fostering literacy. Sigma Tau Delta is the proud sponsor of The National English Honor Society (NEHS). NEHS serves students and faculty in high schools throughout the country and provides outreach to thousands of students and faculty who share a commitment to excellence in English language arts. The honor society is a member of the Association of College Honor Societies (ACHS), the nation's only certifying agency for college and university honor societies. With more than 750 active chapters located in Europe, the Caribbean and the United States, there are more than 1,000 faculty sponsors, and approximately 8,500 members inducted annually.

Forty-five SUNY Oneonta student-athletes were inducted into the Chi Alpha Sigma honor society during a luncheon ceremony on Wednesday, April 3, in the Otsego Grille on campus. Chi Alpha Sigma is a nonprofit honor society established to recognize college student-athletes who earn a varsity letter in at least one sport while maintaining a 3.4 or higher cumulative GPA throughout their junior and senior years. Students must be on an athletic roster for three seasons beginning their first year or sophomore year, except for transfer student-athletes, who must be on their athletic roster at SUNY Oneonta for two years. Student-athletes must also be of good moral character, someone the coaching staff would endorse.

Eleven SUNY Oneonta students were inducted into the Beta Beta Beta honor society during a ceremony held on Friday, March 22, in the Human Ecology Building on campus. Beta Beta Beta is a society for students, particularly undergraduates, dedicated to improving the understanding and appreciation of biological study and extending boundaries of human knowledge through scientific research. Since its founding in 1922, more than 200,000 persons have been accepted into lifetime membership, and more than 520 chapters have been established throughout the United States and Puerto Rico. To qualify for Beta Beta Beta membership at SUNY Oneonta, students must be majoring in Biology or a biological science, and have completed at least one term of the second year of a four-year curriculum or three semesters in college. They also must complete at least four semester courses in biology, of which at least one is not an introductory course, two are taken at SUNY Oneonta, and all are completed with an average grade of 3.15 in the courses. Students must also have a 3.0 average in all courses and be in good academic standing. TriBeta was founded in 1922 at Oklahoma City University--the Alpha Chapter--by Dr. Frank G. Brooks and a group of his students. The idea of an honor and professional society for biology students spread rapidly and by 1925, the society was a national organization. Biennial national conventions of student and faculty members began in that year and in 1930 the society journal, BIOS, began publication of student research, articles of interest to biologists and society news. As the society grew, it was divided into regional and district groups, each of which holds a convention annually. At the heart of every district and national meeting are student research papers presented in the style of graduate meetings. Awards are given for outstanding individual and chapter accomplishments.

Fifteen SUNY Oneonta students were inducted into the Phi Alpha Theta honor society during a ceremony held on Wednesday, April 17, in the Morris Conference Center on campus. Undergraduate students must complete a minimum of 12 semester hours in History to achieve a minimum GPA of 3.1 in History and a GPA of 3.0 or better overall. Students enrolled in an online program are not eligible, and membership is not limited to History majors. All members of the honor society are inducted through the local Phi Alpha Theta chapter at their respective college or university. Phi Alpha Theta is an American honor society for undergraduate and graduate students and professors of history. 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. Cleven had become convinced in his time at the university that a fraternity of scholars (which would accept men or women) was important for the study of history. He invited students to a meeting to form the society (then called the "University Historical Society") on March 14, and the society was officially recognized on March 17. In April, the decision was made for the society to be known by the Greek letters Phi Alpha Theta.