About
First-Gen Social Club Celebrates First-Generation Students
Group helps first-generation students familiarize with campus life
By Stefan Yablonski
SUNY Oswego is an above-average public college located in Oswego Town. It’s a midsize institution with an enrollment of 6,145 undergraduate students.
The SUNY Oswego acceptance rate is 83%. But a first-generation student may feel confused or stressed.
First-year students are required to take a first-year seminar about experiential learning. Learning by doing is a SUNY Oswego tradition that began with the college’s
founder, Edward Austin Sheldon.
Experiential Learning in College is an eight-week course that gives students space to explore the campus, make connections, gain academic skills and plan for the future.
Students who’ve completed the course say it helped them to transition from high school to college and helped to make SUNY Oswego feel like “home.”
With around 30% of SUNY Oswego students the first in their families to attend college, SUNY Oswego offers a
number of initiatives to support them.
Last year, 2023, Luke Kapczak (a sophomore at the time) initiated the First-Gen Social Club.
“It’s essentially a place for first-year students — the ones who are the first in their families to attend college — to get together. It’s hard sometimes; you’re the first person in your family to attend college and you don’t know really what to do. Especially dealing with student loans, it gets very confusing,” he said. “So the club is a safe space for these students to come and help each other,
network with each other and other people who can help them navigate the college experience.”
First-time students see people who are already friends from other schools and they might feel left out, he added.
“This club helps with getting friends, opportunities and learning what to do; essentially getting everyone on the same page,” Kapczak explained.
It was started by Kapczak, his roommate and their adviser. They sat down and talked about forming a first gener-
ation club with the focus on helping students.
The FirstLEAP committee helped with the creation and support of the First Generation Club to provide resources and a sense of community.
The committee is comprised of many faculty and staff who were first-generation students.
The effort includes letting first-generation students know that just because they don’t know certain aspects about college, that shouldn’t prevent them from surviving and thriving at SUNY Oswego.
“Having a club allows them to enjoy being together and meet an adviser or two and get to know about the college,” he said. “It may be hard for new students to get together with an adviser or know what to do about situations that might arise during the first part of the year.”
They missed the deadline to form clubs. When they got people all together, it was already past the cutoff date last semester.
“Now we are up and running, a fully recognized club on campus,” Kapczak said. “The only thing we’re looking for right now is to get some more members, getting some funding and getting some projects started up for the fall semester.”
They only had one meeting last semester. That’s all they had time for, Kapczak said.
“We had around 12 people. So for a first meeting that’s pretty good — especially during finals week,” he added. Currently, they are still looking for a room on campus to hold meetings.
“We don’t have a website, we do have an Instagram,” Kapczak said. “We’re on the Laker Life site that students use. We have our own page where people can request to join. Or they can email me — lkapczak@oswego.edu.”
For more information, check out the link to First Generation Club on ww1. oswego.edu/student-engagement-leadership/.
Luke Kapczak, a sophomore in 2023, initiated the First-Gen Social Club. “It’s essentially a place for first-year students — the one who are the first in their families to attend college — to get together.
5 Success Tips to Freshmen from Current Students
Provided by the Laker Leaders (orientation guides)
1. Connect, make a bond with professors
As incoming freshmen, building a strong relationship with all of your professors is crucial.
You should start by engaging actively in class, listening closely and answering questions. If not, do not hesitate to ask questions.
Attending every lecture and staying ahead of the material is a must. Maintain open communication with the professors during and after class for their academic support and guidance. Each professor has office hours that you can either schedule or just drop in on to ask questions or just to get to know the subject you’re learning more. It cannot be stressed enough how important it is to attend office hours. They sometimes can be even more useful than lectures because you get that one-on-one interaction with your professor, which you may not get during lectures.
Another great connection to make is with your adviser. Your first-year adviser can be found in the Advisement Center in the Marano Campus
Center. They can advise on the best classes to take to have a good start at Oswego.
2. Get involved, try new things
The college experience is a lot about finding who you are growing to become.
It is a large step from a teen to a young adult. One way to help you along this road is to try new things by getting involved in the community around you.
SUNY Oswego offers many opportunities with like-minded people, from clubs with your general interests to a new job that you hadn’t even thought to apply to before. There are more than 150 student-run clubs and organizations for you to choose from. Some can be clubs related to your major, but it is never a requirement to have a certain major to join a club.
Campus Recreation is here if you want to get active. They provide intramural sports leagues as well as recreational means of playing sports.
Although studies are a top
priority toward earning your degree, finding friends as well as extracurricular opportunities you like can contribute to a happy and successful life moving forward.
3.
Take advantage of college campus resources
Your college tuition also pays for the plethora of free resources available to students.
The Financial Aid department is there to help with any financial questions. Other resources can come in various ways such as academic tutoring and library resources to strengthen study skills. The Penfield tutoring center offers free help for those who need it as it can be a powerful tool for difficult classes.
Another option is student discounts on online programs. Some online programs offer students discounts on programs such as office packages and editing resources such as Adobe that you can access for free in Penfield library.
Even streaming services such as Paramount Plus, Hulu, Netflix and Spotify offer
student discounts with your Oswego email. Taking advantage of all of the resources that come with college can help financially and educationally.
4. Stay organized
Staying organized and managing your time effectively is crucial for a successful college experience.
Balancing academic, social and personal commitments requires good time management and finding the right balance early on is beneficial. Use a planner or digital calendar to keep track of important dates, deadlines and activities, ensuring you never miss an important event. Plan your study schedule and assignments well in advance to avoid the stress of last-minute cramming. By keeping track of assignment deadlines and managing your time wisely, you can maintain a steady workflow and stay on top of your responsibilities. There is nothing better than having peace of mind.
5. If you need help, reach out.
It is known that college can be a huge challenge. No matter who you are, sometimes you just need a little support. Do not be afraid to ask for help from your support system. This support system can be anyone from your advisers
and professors to even your peers for a class. They can help you with advice on hard classes and questions about becoming an adult.
The Counseling Services in our Mary Walker Health Center will provide you with the help you need or if you just need someone to talk to. This is a great option to help relieve stress and anxiety that can build up during a semester. College can be a new yet scary experience but the most important thing to remember is you are not alone. When you need help, reach out because there is a support system out there that is happy to help you.
Other tips to get started at college
• Familiarize yourself with the expectations and assignments for each class and get due dates on your calendar so you can plan your time.
• Speak up in class (and outside of it, too). You have important things to say. Other students will learn from what you share.
• Talk with the librarians. They’ll help you with your research, including finding and using the best sources for your papers and assignments.
• Use the Writing Center. They can help you understand writing assignments, get started on papers, revise drafts and correct your citations.
Historic Inauguration Set For Sept. 27
Ahistoric inauguration ceremony in September will formally celebrate Peter O. Nwosu’s installation as the 11th president in the 163-year legacy of the institution now known as SUNY Oswego.
The official inauguration will take place from 1 to 3 p.m. on Sept. 27 in the Deborah F. Stanley Arena and Convocation Hall — named for the president immediately preceding Nwosu. For those unable to attend, the event will stream live on the university’s YouTube channel, youtube. com/sunyoswegovideo.
The inauguration will be the centerpiece for a week of activities that celebrate the strengths of the campus — including Founder’s Weekend, Green and Gold Day, the Dr. Lewis B. O’Donnell Media Summit, the Return to Oz Reunion of Color — as well as launching a new tradition in an annual Sheldon Lecture on Leadership and Service. Watch for more information on the oswego.edu/ inauguration website.
Officially beginning his tenure on Aug. 15, 2023, Nwosu is both the first president of color and the first immigrant to take the helm of the institution founded by Edward Austin Sheldon in 1861, which became the vanguard of a revolutionary Oswego Method of interactive education.
While classes are not canceled for this event, faculty members are encouraged to bring their students to this historic event, organizers said
About President Peter O. Nwosu
A passionate advocate for access to high-quality education for the nation’s increasingly diverse student body and a strong believer in the power of collaboration and shared governance, Nwosu announced a bold and inspiring vision for the university in September 2023, to increase upward mobility and support regional economic development.
Titled “Vision 4040: Expanding SUNY Oswego’s Promise,” the plan aspires for a more educated region, leverages SUNY Oswego’s strengths and opportunities in Central New York, and commits to doubling the number of credentials from the university from 20,000 to 40,000 by the year 2040.
Coming to the U.S. from
Nigeria, President Nwosu is an ardent advocate for student success and, in honor of his inauguration, the Transforming Lives Scholarship was created to provide resources to attract and retain more SUNY Oswego students to benefit from the transformative power of education. Alumni and other members of the campus community can support this initiative by donating at alumni.oswego. edu/transforminglives.
An American Council on Education fellow, Fulbright scholar, professor of communication studies and author of more than 100 scholarly writings, including three books, President Nwosu joined SUNY Oswego from the City University of New York Herbert H. Lehman College in the Bronx, where he was provost and senior vice president for academic affairs and student success.
Previously, he served as provost and vice president for academic affairs at Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta; associate vice president for academic programs at California State University, Fullerton; and special assistant to the president and associate vice president for academic affairs, planning and assessment at Tennessee State University, Nashville.
A graduate of the Harvard Institutes for Higher Education, President Nwosu earned his Ph.D. in communication studies from Howard University, in Washington, D.C.
President Nwosu serves on a number of local, regional and national organizations and boards, including as chairman of the Oswego County Micron Strategy Steering Committee; a member of the board for CenterState CEO, Central New York’s premier business leadership and economic development organization; and as chair of the board of directors for the Institute for Higher Education Policy, based in Washington, D.C.
Top Majors at SUNY Oswego
Business
administration leads the
way as the most popular major on campus
By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
So what’s popular to study at Oswego? What you elect to study isn’t based upon a popularity contest of course, but it’s interesting
to see what’s hot as it could indicate where other students see the future heading.
Tim Nekritz, director of communications, offered a list of the top undergraduate majors:
Major Number of Students
■ Business administration and finance are general degrees that could be applied to any industry and provide a good foundation for further specialization within an industry. Whether you want to become a C-suite executive or start your own business, business administration or finance could be the right move.
■ Psychology is a growing field. As the pandemic
highlighted the need for mental healthcare and helped reduce stigma for seeking mental healthcare, it’s clear that psychologists are in high demand.
■ Criminal justice will always need new workers as law enforcement and other criminal justice field roles need filling.
■ Broadcasting, cinema and screen studies and marketing are all degrees relating
to communication. People will always want to be enlightened and entertained. Plus, these degrees may transfer to other communication fields readily. It’s nice having a bit of fluidity built into a course of study.
■ Wellness management is a relatively new field. But as it’s in healthcare, it’s hot. Wellness management, like psychology, received a well-deserved boost in popularity during the pandemic.
■ Zoology involves caring for animals and managing their care. Animal care is more complex than many people could imagine. So a degree in zoology could be just the specialty you need to work in this dynamic field. Careers could include managing wildlife, caring for large or small domestic animals and teaching about animals. Like the communication-related degrees above, zoology provides an easy segue into a variety of roles.
■ Computer science is also an area of study that prepares students for a wide array of roles. There’s also no end in sight for the need for people with the skills and abilities imparted by studying computer science. It’s also a degree path that is wide-open for specialization with additional coursework.
What you choose to study can make a big difference in your future. But keeping your options open and learning more about what’s in demand and what can help you prepare for your future will help ensure it’s a bright one.
“The EES BS is the first environmental science-focused degree offered by SUNY Oswego and joins a short list of EES BS degrees offered statewide,” Valentino said.
By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
Interested in changing majors at Oswego? Or perhaps you’re yet undecided. A few new choices are available this year at Oswego, including:
• Master’s in health promotion and behavioral wellness
• Master’s in higher education leadership
• Major in interaction design
• Major in statistics
• Major in environmental earth science
Statistics and environmental earth science are hot majors as they both can lead to a variety of types of employment and are both in high demand.
Environmental earth science was previously a concentration within the geoscience degree. The BS environmental earth science degree builds upon the track within geoscience, which the coordinator of environmental earth science, David Valentino, said “aided in refining the program over a decade of positive outcomes that resulted in the approval of an independent EES BS degree.”
Oswego has offered the environmental earth sciences track since 2013. The new degree allows graduates to have more opportunities than ever in the applied environmental and geological science field.
The course of study includes many fields of natural science in addition to gaining geographic and geophysical computational experience. The fields include geosciences, geographic information systems, chemistry, biology and subsurface/surface analysis, all important to this type of work. The course also covers how humans influence the earth and how to solve problems of this kind through policy implementation.
“The focus in environmental earth science enables our graduates to pursue broader employment opportunities than the traditional environmental science degree,” Valentino said.
The EES graduates work in all fields of environmental science including private industry, government regulation and remediation. Valentino added that many have
moved on to graduate studies in environmental sciences.
The program also prepares students for graduate studies in environmental science work, government employment such as with the Environmental Protection Agency, Bureau of Land Management or US Geological Survey or working for consulting firms.
Students gain a broader insight into land use planning, business, policy, law or management.
Mathematics department’s
Mark Baker coordinates the new statistics major.
“In a data-driven age of information, understanding how to accurately analyze and interpret data is imperative,” Baker said. “With such a growth in data collection comes the increased need for individuals who have the skills and knowledge to effectively use that data.
“This in turn causes a demand for those with knowl-
edge of statistical science.”
He added that the statistics degree provides students with skills pertaining to the collection, summarization, presentation and analysis of data. They can grow their problem-solving skills so they can make accurate decisions based upon data, which is “increasingly valuable in a professional setting, as well as in everyday life. This new program also provides an important opportunity for students, as SUNY Oswego is one of only a few comprehensive SUNY schools to offer a degree in statistics.”
The types of jobs resulting from this education can include working in business, economics, health care, medicine, technology, manufacturing, environmental science, social science, finance, marketing and sports. Specific examples of careers available to those with a statistics degree include financial analysis, clinical biostatistics, the actuarial field, sports analysis, statistical consultancy and market research analysis.
How SUNY Oswego Recruits Its Students
Recruitment efforts are statewide and global, says vice president for enrollment management at the university.
By Stefan Yablonski
SUNY Oswego recruits from throughout every county of New York state as well as out of state and internationally.
“We have four regional recruiters in addition to the recruiters we have based in Oswego,” said Cory Bezek, vice president for enrollment management at SUNY Oswego. “The regional recruiters cover the Hudson Valley, New York City, Long Island and New Jersey.”
The university’s student body is composed of students from all 62 counties of New York, 37 other states and 35 countries are represented.
“As part of our outreach efforts, we travel to college fairs and high school visits almost year-round to recruit students. These efforts are for our Oswego campus, as well as our Syracuse campus and for our online program,” Bezek explained. “Many of our majors attract students from quite far away as they are not common at other schools in
The SUNY Oswego’s student body is composed of students from all 62 counties of New York; 37 other states and 35 countries are represented.
students to attend many of these events.”
Students are often attracted to SUNY Oswego because of the dedication to hands-on learning, a concept that has been at Oswego’s core since its founding by Edward Austin Sheldon, he added.
design, broadcasting and mass communication, etc.
New York state, e.g. meteorology, zoology, electrical and computer engineering, technology education, interaction
“We find that if we are able to get a student to visit campus, we have a much better chance of having them choose SUNY Oswego. We host students through information programs with a tour, open houses, admitted student days; these are chances for prospective students to see what campus has to offer as well as our beautiful campus and lakeside location. We offer busing for downstate
Students also comment that as part of the SUNY system Oswego is a more affordable option than many of the private universities.
SUNY Oswego also hosts admitted student receptions throughout New York state, specifically in Buffalo, Albany, Westchester, New York City and Long Island. These programs bring the members of admissions, financial aid and academic deans to meet with students and their families and to make their transition to Oswego easier.
New students moving in during the fall of 2022.
Cory Bezek, vice president for enrollment management at SUNY Oswego.
Where to Go for an Espresso Fix
Good coffee is perking – on and off campus
By Stefan Yablonski
SUNY Oswego students have a multitude of choices when it comes to finding just the right cup of coffee — espresso, latte, tea and more.
Here are five places you need to check
■ The Coffee Connection moved to 156 W. Second St., in the building that was formerly La Parrilla.
It is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays. They have a wide variety of beverages and snacks and you can get your coffee in a real mug.
Our take: Prices are reasonable and the service is friendly.
They also have shirts, jams, mugs and more for sale.
Seating is available in front and back as well as outside.
■ Khepera Coffee, located at 193 W. First St., inside the Canal Commons, is a dog-friendly coffeehouse.
They are open: Tuesday - Friday: 7 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Saturday: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Closed on Sunday and Monday.
Guests can enjoy coffee and espresso drinks, hot teas, chai lattes, frozen and regular
hot chocolate and pastries all at reasonable prices.
Our take: They offer friendly service in wide open spaces. The view, however, is limited to the barbers across the hall cutting hair.
■ Riverwalk Coffee, 161 W. First St., is a locally owned coffee shop, located in the heart of downtown Oswego. They are open Monday - Wednesday 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Thursday closed; and Friday - Sunday 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Riverwalk roasts their own coffee beans.
■ Prohibition Coffee House, 22 W. Mohawk St. Suite 1, is a new business. It bills itself as “The best underground coffee house and jazz lounge in Oswego — a stylish cafe’ with a flourish from 1920s.”
cial rooms for a game of chess or studying.
On Campus
And students don’t have to go downtown for a great cup of coffee. There are actually three popular locations right on campus, but, hey, you need to support local off-campus businesses, right?
■ The student-run Rich N’ Pour cafe in Rich Hall
■ The Lake Effect Cafe in Penfield Library
■ The Fusion Cafe in Shineman
Our take: The service is friendly and you can get coffee, teas, espresso and assorted cold drinks and some pastries as well. They also have a variety of merchandise available.
They opened May 1. The casual atmosphere has unique decor with a full suit of armor.
They are open Tuesday - Saturday 7 a.m. - 4 p.m. and closed Sunday and Monday.
— Our take: The friendly service is enhanced by Ellie, a well-mannered canine, who works there greeting people as they arrive.
They offer a large selection of coffees and teas
Additionally, they offer a selection of quick bites and desserts.
They also have so-
The Lake Effect Cafe is located on the first floor of Penfield Library. It serves Starbucks coffee and cafe menu, pastries, cold drinks, sandwiches, salads and entrees to go.
Located in the Nucleus of the Richard S. Shineman Center, Fusion Cafe features freshly made grab and go salads, baked goods and other grab and go items. It serves Pepsi beverages and Seattle’s Best Coffee.
Rich N’ Pour Cafe is a student-led, student-run cafe. It is the brainchild of students in a SUNY Oswego business class.
The cafe is staffed by more than 20 student baristas serving up Finger Lakes Coffee Roasters-infused beverages and baked goods.
Khepera Coffee: Menu offers all sorts of beverages and pastries all at reasonable prices.
The casual atmosphere at Prohibition Coffee House has unique décor, including a full suit of armor.
SUNY Oswego Adopts New Fire Safety Protocols
SUNY Oswego has developed new protocols aimed at bolstering the safety and secu rity of its campus community while reducing the number of calls to the town and city fire de partments.
Developed through an extensive campus-wide action plan and in collaboration with local fire response partners, these measures took effect on Aug. 1.
“I am very pleased that all parties were able to come together in a spirit of collegi ality to find a solution that will keep our campus community and our neighbors safe,” said SUNY Oswego President Peter O. Nwosu.
After an initial meeting with town officials and fire fighters on Jan. 23, Nwosu committed to work toward a solution that would safely reduce the number of calls to the fire departments from the campus.
“We worked through some very tough issues, guid ed by mutual respect and a commitment to doing right by everyone,” he said.
single fire alarm activation on campus. In instances where
In the intervening period, senior staff consulted with other SUNY campuses, as well as the New York State Office of Fire Prevention and Control and Johnson Controls, Inc., the university’s fire safety con sultant. These consultations resulted in the development of an action plan that have been reviewed and discussed with representatives from the town and city fire depart ments.
The action plan pertains to three areas: internal re sponse to fire alarms; student education, awareness and enforcement; and establishment of a campus fire safety task force.
Initial response to alarms
To enhance internal response efficiency, University Police will now take a more active role in response to a
lished a dedicated Campus Fire Safety Task Force. This task force, co-chaired by senior leaders from Residential Life, Facilities Services and University Police, will focus on student education, staff training and risk reduction in residence halls.
Submitted by SUNY Oswego’s Office of Communications and Marketing.
Internship Impact Fund Supports Student Opportunities Via Paid Internships
By Stefan Yablonski
Through the EXCEL office, the Internship Impact Fund provides wage stipends to SUNY Oswego students each year.
Eligible student interns can earn up to $1,800 for approved three-credit internships that are completed in fall, winter, spring or summer terms.
Funding from SUNY — as well as the ongoing efforts of the EXCEL (Experiential Courses and Engaged Learning) office — result in funding 155 internships per year, according to Mallory Bower, director of EXCEL.
It also supported dozens of internships this past summer for qualifying applicants with existing placements, via the Internship Impact Fund, she added.
The funding is part of SUNY Chancellor John King Jr.’s system-wide goal for all SUNY students to complete at least one internship or other applied learning experience before graduation.
“Many of our students are experiencing significant financial need,” Bower said. “The Impact Fund stipends will directly benefit students who would have settled for unpaid internships out of necessity — and students who would have opted out completely because of the financial burden. The funding was a very welcomed surprise. It fits beautifully with the campus’ Vision 4040 plan. It’ll support students’ retention, graduation and upward mobility.”
SUNY allocated some funds to each of the campuses, she explained.
“We got an allocation and we had to submit a proposal about how we would spend the money,” she said. “The intention of the program is to really create more paid internship opportunities for our students.”
They had to create a proposal and outline plans for the funds — most of which included making unpaid internships into paid internships.
“It is our view, in our office here, that unpaid internships are not affordable for students. We are working to make more paid opportunities available for students,” she said. “It’s hard to have to take an internship while also working to help pay for college.”
“The way we worked ours on campus — we identified on-campus sites and some off-campus partners that we were converting unpaid internships into paid internships,” she explained. “The on-campus criterion is that they were peer-to-peer positions, students helping other students and we took those existing programs and converted them into paid internship programs.
“The SHOP (Students Helping Oz Peers) store, our Title IX intern, our interns through the counseling services center — they were some of the groups that were funded through this program and were typically unpaid opportunities.”
“Because what we see a lot is a lot of business internships and internships in the sciences are paid; but then students who want to work in human, public service, they are forced a lot of times to do unpaid internships. So a lot of our internships that were converted were in those industry areas,” she continued.
They do have to meet on-campus qualification –junior status, a 2.5 GPA — but that is in place for any student who wants to do an internship.
Last year, SUNY gave Oswego $348,200.
“Then they gave us $133,000 more to create more paid opportunities. We really focused on on-campus internships last year,” she said. “So students, especially students who have transportation issues, would have opportunities to do internships right here on campus.
“We also wanted to support our local community. So off-campus internships that we made paid were really
in Oswego and Onondaga counties.”
In 2023-24, SUNY didn’t release funding until February.
EXCEL was able to award $185,665 to 135 student interns from February-June 2024 in the form of hourly wages and tuition scholarships, Bower said.
“We had to try to spend a whole year’s worth of allocation in one semester. Actually, I think we did a pretty good job,” she added. “We wanted to fund 155 internships. We ended up funding 135.”
The goal for the entire year is to get up to 162. They have built in a request to support some sophomore experiences, also.
How was the response; did they get overwhelmed?
“Oh, a little bit — but in a good way!” she laughed. “People were very curious, very interested in how they could participate. The unfortunate thing is we couldn’t say yes to everyone. But we were able to help a lot of local nonprofits who have been supporting our students for years. So being able to make these paid internships is a big help to them to sustain these programs. It’s a huge help for our campus departments who have been hosting internships for years and to keep our operations going to train students to do some of this great work, too.
“When we put in our proposal for next year, we re-examined what we were doing. We’d like to focus some of these new funds on our education majors who do student teaching. Our student teachers are not paid for that experience. We hope to use some of that new funding for stipends for those students for transportation or supplies or whatever they might need it for.”
According to a 2022 study from the National Association of Colleges and Employers, college students who engage in paid internships receive
more job offers and have higher starting salaries.
The EXCEL Office has been working with internship site partners to offer more paid internship opportunities for students. For small nonprofit organizations, this can be challenging. SUNY Oswego students pursuing majors in public and human services fields are 20% more likely to participate in unpaid internships. These majors often require an internship for degree completion.
The number of students completing paid internships in 2023-24 increased by 27% from the previous academic year.
This includes a 91% increase in paid positions for students with a required internship and a 14% increase in underrepresented minority students completing paid internships, she explained.
“It’s really cool to see how this is going to help students,” she said. “We are just getting started and our team is excited to see these numbers grow even more in 2024-25.”
Mallory
is the director of EXCEL, a program at SUNY Oswego that gives eligible student interns up to $1,800 for approved threecredit internships that are completed in fall, winter, spring or summer terms.
The EXCEL Office provides additional financial support for internships via scholarships and pre-established funds. Students interested in pursuing internships or project-based learning opportunities should contact EXCEL, via excel@oswego.edu
Other Funding Opportunities
• EXCEL also coordinates the Feinberg Family Fund, created by Robert Feinberg ’78 and his wife, Robbi, that supports a range of professional academic-related development opportunities.
“Students who participate in an internship or co-op can apply for up to $500 to support expenses including tuition, mileage, transportation or technology necessary for their studies,” said Mallory Bower, director of EXCEL. They also can apply for up to $250 to support conferences or professional development related to their field or to pay for required exams or certifications to enter the field.”
• The Jake Berg ‘04 ALA-
NA Internship Scholarship, which provides support for undergraduate students with demonstrated financial need — who are involved in ALANA (African, Latino, Asian and Native American) organizations — and are participating in a credit-bearing internship
• The James F. Rogers ‘76 School of Business Internship Fund, which sponsors an internship experience for current students who have shown their dedication to their studies and to working in a business career
• The Steve Levy ‘87 Broadcasting Summer Internship Fund, supporting broadcasting students interested in taking internships to gain professional experience
Bower
Emotional Support Animals Earning Good Grades
SUNY Oswego students may have emotional support dogs, cats or other animals on campus upon approval from university officials
By Stefan Yablonski
Adog is man’s best friend. However, a cat can be a purrfect companion, too.
Giant snakes?
That’s debatable.
For some SUNY Oswego students, cats provide companionship — and emotional support.
An emotional support animal doesn’t assist a person with a disability with activities of daily living. Its role is to live with a student and alleviate the symptoms of a disability.
“The Fair Housing Act says a person residing in a location who has a need for an emotional support animal that can mitigate their circumstances and their symptoms should be allowed to have it within reason. Of course we’re not going to have a horse in the house. Additional documentation may be required if the animal isn’t one that’s commonly kept in the household,” said Anne Jannarone, interim director of the Office of Accessibility Resources, SUNY Oswego. “We recently had a request for a python — we’ll see what housing thinks about that.”
Support animals aren’t pets, Jannarone stressed.
“We have about 30 or so taking part now. Emotional support animals aren’t all cats. They’re small dogs, gerbils; small animals in general like hamsters. We have rats — that are very well trained. The python … we’re still talking about that one.”
Students need to have something in writing to the college before they bring the animal.
“We also take into consideration how the animal will react to being in this environment. I always ask
animal-friendly kind of questions,” she said. “I want to make sure the student has really thought about — is this something the animal will be OK with?
“I think for some students this works,” she added. “I think the measure of success is personal. (The students) tell me how successful it is.”
What students say
Emily Struempfler is from Marathon.
“It’s a small, cute town. My major is public accounting (five-year program). Upon graduation, I’ll obtain a Bachelor of Science in public accounting degree and a Master of Business Administration degree,” she said.
She’s a senior “by credit” — “this is my third year at SUNY Oswego. I’m about to begin the master’s portion of my degree,” she explained.
Her cat, Maki, helps her cope with the stress of college life.
“I got Maki from my sister. She unexpectedly got pregnant. She decided a baby and a kitten was too much for her,” she said. “I said I’d take Maki. He was such a cute, small cat (He definitely isn’t anymore. He weighs 15 pounds).”
Struempfler has struggled with anxiety, “but since attending college it got worse.”
“I was used to the small town scene. There’re so many more people here at college. When I was home I always relaxed when I was with Maki. I knew I wanted to bring him to college,” she said.
However, getting an ESA letter was no small feat. It was frustrating on her part; but eventually, she got it.
“After that, the registration process here at SUNY
Oswego was super simple, which I’m grateful for. Ever since then, I’ve had my cat with my five roommates,” she said. “Not only does he help me, but I’ve also seen how much having an animal in the house has helped my roommates as well.
“College is tough; just having a cat to give you affection and make you laugh; it lifts some of the pressure and stress off your shoulders.”
She said ever since having Maki with her “I personally have noticed a lot of improvements in my life. I love having someone to come home to, especially after a busy day with class and my internship.”
Say “Cheese”
Gabrielle O’Buckey, a second semester sophomore from Queens is a marketing major and graphic design minor.
“I got my ESA[cat] this past winter,” she said. “I adopted him from a shelter. He’s about 2. My partner and I call him beautiful all the time (because he is!).”
She named him Cheese “because I absolutely love cheese, it’s my favorite food. But the ironic part is I’m lactose intolerant.”
“Cheese might not look like he does a lot; he loves to just lie down and eat food. But I truly believe he’s the reason I’m able to keep pushing through life —especially school,” she added.
A big thing Cheese helps with is grounding her during mental health episodes.
“I have a single because of these episodes. Before I got Cheese I was absolutely miserable — felt like I was suffering alone. The lack of a support system in Oswego, be-
yell; which is grand, it keeps me from bedrotting so much,” she says.
cause
I’m far from my family and friends made focusing on school and managing work extremely difficult. I contemplated dropping out,” she said.
After adopting Cheese she “noticed the significant decline in breakdowns and episodes.”
“Having an ESA improved my productivity; helped me create a more consistent schedule, forces me to hold myself accountable with tasks,” she added. “My overall motivation towards school and work has skyrocketed.”
Even her personal life has seen improvements.
“I found myself becoming more social this year. I joined a club. Sometimes I run into fellow cat parents people, which has helped build my conversation skills!” she said. “I also take care of my health more now that I have Cheese. I am conscious about how I take care of him and make sure he’s always healthy — I figured I should probably start making sure I was healthy, too.
“I altogether find more joy in life, especially in the little things, because of my ESA. I love coming back to my room after classes to just snuggle with my cat. I love playing with all his cat toys; filling up my camera with thousands of cat pictures. The list could go on. I think the real question would be what doesn’t Cheese do for me?”
Fred
Lethe Redfield, from Oxford, is a second-semester sophomore, majoring in anthropology.
“My ESA is Fred. I’ve had her since she was a kitten — none of my family can agree on how old she is. We assume from 1517,” she said.
“When I was first coming to college I’d never really been alone for extended periods of time, especially not without an animal present,” she explained. “I didn’t want to leave her at home.”
She has a medical single and “it’s very unnerving and a bit lonely to just be in a room by yourself all the time. So her being there helps a lot.”
Fred is also “sort of like a tether” to Redfield’s life at home and life itself, in the way of reality checks.
“She keeps me in check as well. If I stay in my bed too long, she’ll walk all over me and yell; which is grand, it keeps me from bedrotting so much,” she said.
Fred has also made Redfield “a good few friends on campus!”
“My friends adore her and visit me more often so they can see her,” she said. “A few have taken to buying her little sweaters and outfits as well.”
“When I first came here, I was yet to be diagnosed with anything and had to privately get her registered. Now I have proper diagnosis which definitely makes it easier to keep her on campus,” she explained. “It was simple enough to deal with accessibility services to keep her in the dorms. Not too annoying a process at all.”
Editor’s Note: This article was written in the spring semester.
Lethe Redfield, from Oxford, is majoring in anthropology. “My emotional support animal is Fred... “She keeps me in check as well. If I stay in my bed too long, she’ll walk all over me and
What Do They Say…
Oswego alumni talk about their education and experience on campus and how the college shaped their lives
SUNY Oswego has produced thousands of successful graduates. From prominent media personalities like weatherman Al Roker and ESPN’s Steve Levy to Robin Curtis who made her big screen debut in a Star Trek movie — the college on the shore of Lake Ontario has launched scores of flourishing careers. Even Jerry Seinfeld did pretty well following his
short time at SUNY Oswego.
Here are just a few others who look back fondly on their time at SUNY Oswego and recall how it helped prepare them to start their own businesses, continue their education and become professors, TV news producers, state senators and more.
By Stefan Yablonski, Class of 1977
NYS Senator John W. Mannion, 1998 50th Senate District
I have lived in Central New York my entire life. It was my SUNY Oswego professors and long study sessions with classmates that prepared me for my nearly three-decade career as a public school chemistry and biology teacher, which included eight years as a union president.
I now have the honor to represent the campus and the Oswego community in Albany as a twice-elected State Senator for the 50th Senate District. I am currently campaigning as a candidate for Congress in NY-22.
Christina Galvin, 2018
Reporter, executive producer (dayside) and special projects producer, WSYR NewsChannel 9
SUNY Oswego has helped prepare me as a person and a professional.
I credit Oswego for allowing me to work with faculty who were passionate about their fields of study and remain connected to them to this day.
I developed strong connections with others in the broadcasting and communications fields at the university.
Through the award-winning college TV station, WTOP I had opportunities to grow into the field I went on pursuing, leading me to my position as executive producer at NewsChannel 9 in Syracuse.
I also made personal connections, meeting some of the greatest friends I could ask for. Not to mention, I met the love of my life at SUNY Oswego, reconnecting after a decade since we first met on the beautiful campus.
My time at school was some of the best four years of my life; a time I won’t ever take for granted or forget.
Steve Sheffield, Ph.D., 1978
Professor of biology at the University of Maryland
I thank my professors at SUNY Oswego every day.
I’m a proud alumnus of SUNY Oswego and fortunate enough to had excellent professors in the department of zoology who really went the extra mile for me to provide the very best in learning, advising, mentoring and field experiences. I specifically recognize and thank doctors Lackey, Nelson, Maxwell, Brunson and Martin, all of whom were tremendous teachers who cared for their students. I came to Oswego already possessing a strong interest in animals (and nature in general), but these professors were able to cultivate and grow this interest into a serious passion, which led me to graduate school and eventually into the internationally recognized, professional scientist that I am today.
In addition, I was fortunate to be able to have spent parts of my junior and senior years at Rice Creek Biological Station working on various research and museum projects, including the preservation of small avian specimens and cleaning mammal skulls for the museum (for Lackey) and analyzing ring-billed gull research data from Oneida Lake (for Maxwell). As a student with no real academic direction in my first two years at Oswego (as a biology, then undeclared, major), it was my first zoology course and experience at Rice Creek Biological Station which fortunately provided the spark I needed to find my passion and switch my major to zoology and every zoology course subsequent to that locked it in place; most notably my last course — the summer-long six credit hour field zoology course taught by Lackey.
Tracy Chamberlain Higginbotham, 1986
Founder and president, Women TIES, LLC (Together Inspiring Entrepreneurial Success) -Promoting, supporting and uniting woman-owned businesses across New York state.
From the moment I stepped on the beautiful SUNY Oswego campus, I felt at home. This was partially due to the fact I grew up on a lake in Rome — so Lake Ontario was a perfect place to begin my college career. I asked specifically for a lakeside dorm with a lake view and got it landing in room 333 Waterbury Hall. Although I never became a resident assistant, I got to know the dorm director and quickly became involved in planning dorm parties, another one of my talents from high school. Every time I took advantage of opportunities to do more than study, I enhanced my resume.
Ironically my initials are T.E.C.H. now, but then as a new computer science major, using punch cards which produced large printouts on huge machines, didn’t make sense to me. I switched to accounting for one year which I wasn’t a good match for either. So, I decided to switch to general business staying one summer to take four classes and utilizing general electives to keep me on track to graduate in four years. I always appreciated the guidance and flexibility Oswego State offered. I especially liked my business law teacher Dr. Deborah Stanley, who later in my entrepreneurial career became one of my mentors and the college’s president.
Additionally, I worked all four years at Lakeside Dining Hall and with Catering Services one summer to pay my way through college. My junior year, I joined the Undergraduate Alumni Association and got involved in event planning. By the time I graduated in May 1986, my education, experience and references landed me a job in Philadelphia working at an investment banking firm as an assistant to the vice president where I utilized my business education while planning events for our office. This all happened because of my involvement and education at SUNY Oswego.
Sheppard D. Narkier, 1976
Chief enterprise architect and founder at Candlewall LLC Former vice president at Wells Fargo
SUNY Oswego allowed me to take chances — which when you think about it, is a fundamental principle of going to college.
I explored an active community life that was not possible in my high school of 5,000 students. I became a resident assistant in the spring of my freshman year and stayed one at various dorms for 10 straight semesters.
I did all that while getting two distinct BAs (math and anthropology). I changed my major five times.
Oswego let me heal physically to the point where I ran 10 miles per jog, three times a week. Oswego helped me learn firsthand about leadership. It let me see a different kind of culture, as I was exposed to a variety of sub-cultures from Upstate New York.
It was Oswego that helped me appreciate the importance of landscape photography. It deeply influenced how I see landscapes and capture them.
I was used to taking a stand in Brooklyn, it was important. Oswego allowed me to take a stand and mentor at the same time.
My anthropology courses were more relevant to me in my first 18 years on Wall Street than my math degree and I was a programmer, systems engineer.
Integrating empathy into all my work experiences was part of what I discovered in Oswego.
Mary Buske Suits, 2020
An academic and professional career advisor at Syracuse University. Also a life coach and owner of Suits You Coaching.
SUNY Oswego was the place where I grew as an individual and learned about myself.
Through campus experiences I became confident in my career interests which led to me eventually starting my own small business to help members of my community find support in their career journeys.
SUNY Oswego is also the place that I befriended the man who is now my husband!
Barry Thompson, 1977
Managing Partner, Thompson Consulting Group, LLC
Attending college often allows individuals to focus on a specific career path while also gaining exposure to various other fields.
At SUNY Oswego, we learned how to adapt to changing career paths, regardless of the industry we enter.
We had an opportunity to focus on a specific career path — while also gaining exposure to various other fields.
It’s common for people to change careers multiple times throughout their working lives. In my own career, I’ve worked in three different fields and discovered that success is achievable in each one by applying the knowledge and skills I’ve acquired.
SUNY Oswego prepared me to face challenging situations by carefully evaluating options rather than making snap decisions.
Ricardo Nazario y Colón (second from left) -- a well-respected Nuyorican poet who also is senior vice chancellor for diversity, equity and inclusion and the chief diversity officer for SUNY -- is among those coming to campus under the Library of America’s “Latino Poetry: Places We Call Home” project grant to SUNY
Oswego. English and creative writing faculty member Roberta Hurtado (at left), who co-coordinates the grant with Penfield Library’s Michelle Bishop, previously hosted him on campus, where he met with students including Meenal Shojian, Kelsey Pérez and Ephrain Brown.
Students from Nepal, Myanmar Among International Students on Campus
By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
Many students from outside the US call Oswego their alma mater. We recently spoke with two international students to learn about their experience.
Ayusha Bhandari
• Degree pursued: “I am currently pursuing a five-year integrated bachelor’s and master’s degree in psychology and human-computer interaction, with the goal of completing it within three years.”
• Reason for studying this program: “I am deeply interested in understanding human
behavior and applying this knowledge to design technology that enhances user experiences. This program uniquely combines psychological insights with technical skills, aligning perfectly with my career goals.”
• Country of origin: Nepal.
• What drew you to Oswego: “I was drawn to Oswego due to its strong support for interna-
tional students, the accessibility and expertise of its faculty and its affordability compared to other institutions. The availability of various scholarships also played a significant role in my decision.”
• Challenges with language and culture: “Although the language was not a challenge due to my background in an English-medium school, adapting to the new culture was initially a bit of a shock. However, I have gradually adjusted and embraced the experience.”
• What do you enjoy most about studying at Oswego: “I appreciate the small class sizes, which facilitate more direct interaction with instructors. Additionally, the curriculum’s focus on projects and research is highly beneficial and effectively prepares me for the professional world.”
264 students from 32 different countries enrolled at Oswego in the fall 2023 semester, according to SUNY Oswego’s Office of International Education and Programs.
Su Shoon Lei
Khaing
• Degree pursued: “I am pursuing a computer science BS as I am passionate about coding and programming.”
• Country of origin: Myanmar.
• What drew you to Oswego: “I got acceptance from other colleges, but I chose SUNY Oswego because of its scenic lakeside campus, diverse academic programs and vibrant campus life. The university offers hands-on learning opportunities, state-of-the-art facilities and a supportive community, making it an attractive choice for many.”
• Challenges with language and culture: “As SUNY Oswego is an international student-welcoming university, the language barrier is not a challenge to me. Because of their cultural events, I got involved in the new environment so quickly. My favorite part of our campus is Lake Ontario. Here at SUNY Oswego, the professors are very helpful; the organizations are always ready to help.”
• What do you enjoy most about studying at Oswego: “As an international student, SUNY Oswego is a perfect place to pursue a degree. The ISSS office also guides international students in every step they need to know. So there is no difficulty even if I do not have so much knowledge before. Some volunteers help me even on the first day.”
Su Shoon Lei Khaing hails from Myanmar in Southeast Asia. The country borders China, Thailand and Bangladesh. She is pursuing a computer science degree at Oswego.
Ayusha Bhandari is from Nepal. She is pursuing a degree in psychology and human-computer interaction.
Meet Jed Locquiao
First-year professor at School of Education: ‘I never thought I’d have the opportunity to live life in such a beautiful and fascinating part of the world’
By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
Recently completing his first-year teaching in Oswego’s School of Education, Jed Locquiao can call several places home — or, more accurately, his former home.
Now he hangs his hat in Oswego and has found he enjoys the lakeside city.
Recently, he lived in Fargo, North Dakota, working as an assistant professor at Minnesota State University Moorhead across the Red River. He grew up in places as diverse as Reno and Honolulu.
These experiences have provided a broad view of people and environment.
“I never thought I’d have
the opportunity to live life in such a beautiful and fascinating part of the world,” Locquiao said of Oswego. “What struck me most about SUNY Oswego was how interactions with folks around campus conveyed a clear commitment to social justice and equity.”
He said that he likes focusing on the special education field because its existence and practice homes in on regular people “making good on a moral claim that all folks deserve an appropriate, meaningful and rigorous public education.”
It’s not predicated on some physical law, economic interest — it’s not about chasing money, he said.
Locquiao feels fulfilled
How to Get Good Credit
By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
A good credit rating can help you obtain loans and mortgages in the future. Gaining a bad credit rating now can dramatically reduce your chances.
“Establishing and maintaining good credit is crucial for financial health and it can significantly impact your ability to secure loans, obtain favorable interest rates and even rent an apartment,” said Yadi Aranda Burgos, the senior financial aid adviser and financial literacy coordinator
at SUNY Oswego. “Students often have questions about how to build and maintain credit.”
Burgos’ first tip is to secure a credit card. Typically, a small retail card is the easiest way to go. Choose a store where you frequently buy things. You could also sign up for a general credit card with a low available credit. Use it for everyday purchases and pay off the balance a few days lat er. Or at least by the due date so you don’t rack up interest. Only spend what you can easi
in the classroom when a concept he’s teaching clicks with students and their concept of an idea shifts irreversibly. He also likes when a student redoes or rehearses an assignment or task to improve himself and not just to snag a better grade. That demonstrates that the student really wants to learn and not simply receive high grades.
“I’m a new first-time homeowner who just so happens to be starting their sec-
ly cover. Even if the minimum payment is very low, don’t give in to the temptation to spend more or you’ll find yourself quickly buried in insurmountable credit card debt. The minimum monthly payment is typically set very low so that cardholders will charge more. That’s a bad idea.
“Be sure to use credit cards responsibly so that you can start building your credit history,” Burgos said.
Paying bills on time is always important to build a solid credit score. Burgos also recommends setting up automatic payments or
ond year as a tenure track faculty member,” Locquiao said. “I expect that this second year will present challenges to task triage as obligations ramp up on- and off-campus. In any case, I plan to meet the challenges with self-kindness and humor.”
He hopes that his students end their time with him possessing more tools for teaching and an improved commitment to special education — along with some mem-
scores of cards at a time will hurt your credit rating. A “hard inquiry” can lower your rating if they’re done within a short period of time.
“It can signal to lenders that you are a higher risk, so space out your credit applications,” Burgos said. A long credit history helps you build a credit score. There’s no shortcut to this tip. However, consistently paying your bills and loans on time will give an im pression of a reli able person who pays bills. It shows you’re
ories of vigorous discussions in his classroom.
Locquiao likes to lean back in his chair as far as he can.
“At the very moment where it feels like I would lose control and the chair would crash over, I straighten my legs so the chair falls forward,” he said. “What a rush!” So it may be a good idea not to sit in the front row of his classes.
improve and maintain credit. But by starting with these steps, you can establish a strong credit foundation and maintain a healthy credit score over time,” Burgos said. “Good credit opens doors to better financial opportunities and provides a safety net for your financial future.”
Until recently, professor Jed Locquiao taught at Minnesota State University Moorhead. He grew up in places as diverse as Reno and Honolulu.
Stargazer to Winemaker: Fumie Thorpe, ’91 Alumna
By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
The meteorology program at SUNY Oswego drew Fumie Thorpe to the U.S. However, the winemaking business keeps her here.
Thorpe graduated from Oswego in 1991. By then she and her then-husband had been operating Thorpe Vineyard in Wolcott for a few years.
“The winery business I
didn’t want to do,” the Japanese native said with a laugh.
“I was still in college at that time; I wanted to finish college and finish grad school. It’s not possible with farming.”
Even a three-acre farm
Japanese native Fumie Thorpe came to the U.S., specifically to Oswego, to pursue a degree in meteorology. She is still in the area and nowadays operates a winery in Wolcott, Cayuga County.
takes time and that was a commodity in short supply to Thorpe. But graduate she did and she continues to both make wine and to use her meteorology degree in surprising ways.
Farming always relies on weather. And winemaking requires a lot of chemistry, math and physics.
Mentor and former winery owner Bob Strobing taught the Thorpes how to make wine and helped them as they took over the operation. Fumie has since grown the business to become a successful agritourism site, hosting “Starry, Starry Night” and other on-farm events and producing 500-1,000 cases of wine annually.
“Oswego is not big, but not tiny,” Thorpe said. “I’m not a very social person, but you can get to know your classmates and you can get to know everyone on your floor. Really big schools are not quite that way.”
She had considered studying meteorology in Tokyo. However, only one school at the time offered the degree and entrance was “very, very competitive,” Thorpe said. “I’m reasonably smart, but you have to be younger than 21 and you have two years’ chance to get in. You also had to be male.”
A few of those factors have changed in the meantime, but Thorpe feels content with her decision and her life along Lake Ontario, first at Oswego and now in Wolcott. She encourages students coming to Oswego from other countries to “talk with American kids. They have a lot to learn from them, what they think, what they do, what they like. Usually, American students are interested in foreign students, too.”
She likes that Oswego offers many things to do and lakeshore. As she came from an archipelago, close proximity to water appeals to her.
“I encourage students that I’m always thinking that to get your degree you have to go through many requirements, things you don’t want to study,” Thorpe said. “Go to class. See what they’re talking about. Someday, you may need it. It’s a good thing. Don’t just think, ‘I don’t like this subject.’”
Planetarium Director Receives
Stellar Opportunity with NASA’s Popular Astronomy Site
For SUNY Oswego physics and astronomy faculty member and Shineman planetarium director Natalia Lewandowska, an editorial appointment to NASA’s “Astronomy Picture of the Day” website is an opportunity to come full circle.
“I started reading ‘Astronomy Picture of the Day’ when I was still in high school in the 1990s,” Lewandowska re-
called. “It was so cool. I love it because it helped me understand science and astronomy back then, and it has been an influence on my life.”
Thus the appointment earlier this year as the first assistant editor of the project filled Lewandowska with great excitement and an opportunity to contribute toward the education and sense of wonder for the site’s large readership.
Last year, during an
American Astronomical Society conference, a colleague offered to connect Lewandowska with Robert J. Nemiroff, who co-created the site in 1995. “He said that I could write a guest post of a picture of my choosing,” Lewandowska said.
Beyond selecting an image, the task is challenging because contributors have a tight word count to explain a photo or phenomenon for an audience ranging from the
State College? Not Anymore. Call it State University, Please
Change took effect last year but not
everyone is aware
By Stefan Yablonski
SUNY Oswego is officially a university. The New York Board of Regents officially approved the change in January 2023.
The university continues to be known as SUNY Oswego. However, its official state education title was changed from “State University of New York College at Oswego” to “State University of New York at Oswego.”
A university offers more robust graduate programs that can help expand its research opportunities.
Colleges and universities primarily differ in the programs and degree types they offer. “University” typically refers to a larger institution offering both undergradu -
ate and graduate programs. “College” generally refers to a community college, technical school or liberal arts college.
The legal name change, effective Jan. 1, 2023, was approved by Interim SUNY Chancellor Deborah F. Stanley — who was the 10th president of SUNY Oswego (1995 - 2021).
This designation follows New York State Board of Regents’ guidelines for what constitutes a university that require institutions of higher education institution to “offer a range of registered undergraduate and graduate curricula in the liberal arts and sciences, including graduate programs registered in at least three of the following discipline areas: agriculture, biological sciences, business, education, engineering, fine
world’s top astrophysicists to everyday enthusiasts with less of a scientific background, with appropriate links for more information.
The resulting first post of “A Message from the Gravitational Universe,” using an image from the NANOGrav Physics Frontier Center (of which Lewandowska is a full member) of gravitational waves, ran on June 29, 2023. Lewandowska earned additional opportunities for
contributing, most recently “The Lion Nebula” on June 10 of this year.
Based on the success of her contributions, “Robert suggested that I could become an assistant editor, not just a guest editor,” Lewandowska said.
The arrangement became an institutional collaboration, with Lewandowska able to contribute up to two posts per month. Lewandowska’s work is supported by a $10,000 subaward from Michigan Technological University, funded by NASA.
It also means furthering her exploration and knowledge base about the cosmos.
“I love learning about things I don’t yet know about,” Lewandowska said. “The nerdy part of me tells me that if I’m not learning something every day, I won’t be happy.” And helping others learn more about the universe makes her even happier.
“It’s great to be part of a project that is about providing access to everybody,” Lewandowska said. “My belief as a scientist is that we should always be trying to make knowledge of the universe as accessible as possible.”
Submitted by SUNY Oswego’s Office of Communications and Marketing.
arts, health professions, humanities, physical sciences and social sciences.”
‘Mark of quality’
“The mark of quality that comes from university status means a lot to our partners across the globe as well as local businesses and corporations,” President Peter O. Nwosu said. “Our Vision 4040 plan calls for increasing the number of international students who bring so much talent and vibrancy to our campus and community. Being established as a university
provides context around the world and reflects our status as a premiere institution that provides hands-on opportunities and transformative experiences within the operations of a top-tier academic institution.”
Announced by Nwosu in the inaugural State of the University in fall 2023, the Vision 4040 plan aims to double the number of graduates annually to meet the needs of the Central New York region. Vision 4040: Expanding Oswego’s Promise creates a pathway for SUNY Oswego to award 4,000 degrees per year —or 40,000 per decade — by the year 2040.
Oswego isn’t the first Central New York College to make this change. Utica College became Utica University in February of 2022.
In January 2023, then-officer in charge Mary C. Toale, said, “Recognized officially as a university reinforces our institutional priorities; spotlights our high-quality, high-impact practices inside and outside the classroom; and underpins our mission to sustain our university and build a better world for future generations.”
Writer Stefan Yablonski graduated from SUNY Oswego in 1977.
“A Triply Glowing Night Sky over Iceland,” with credit and copyright to Wioleta Gorecka, is among the placements for SUNY Oswego planetarium director Natalia Lewandowska in her role as first assistant editor of NASA’s popular Astronomy Picture of the Day website.
What You’ll REALLY Need in Your College Dorm
By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
Of course you know you’ll need sheets, blankets, a pillow and that kind of thing. But what gear will really help you through the school year?
Res Life offered a list of some things that will help you get ready to learn this year.
Cool gadgets
• Bluetooth Tracker (e.g., Tile, AirTag). Attach this to your keys, bags or other items you might misplace.
• Mini Projector: Watch movies or presentations with friends.
• Laptop Stand: This improves ergonomics for long study sessions.
• Reusable Water Bottle: You’ve got to stay hydrated.
• Fitness Tracker/Smartwatch: This helps you keep track of your physical activity, sleep and notifications.
• External Hard Drive/SSD: Back up important files and additional storage.
• USB Hub: Expand the number of USB ports available for your devices, which
is very handy if you have multiple peripherals.
• Portable Charger/Power Bank: To keep your devices charged on the go, rely on this tech, especially during long days on campus.
• Bedside Caddy: Keeps your phone, books and other essentials within reach while you’re in bed.
• Batteries
• Desk Organizer: Keep your study space tidy and organized with compartments for pens, notebooks and other supplies.
The “regular” stuff you’ll need includes:
• Area Rug
• Bed Sheets (twin extra long)
• Blankets
• Boot Tray
• Camera
• Cell Phone/Charger
• Cleaning Supplies, Gallon Garbage Bags
• Clothes Hangers
• Clothes for all Seasons
• Coffee Maker/Keurig/ Electric Tea Kettle
• Comforter/Bedspread
• Compact Refrigerator (6 cubic feet or less)
• Computer (laptop/charger)
• Crates and/or Storage Bins (28 inches height for under bed if at the default setting)
• Dishes, Bowls, Cups, Silverware, etc.
• Desk Lamp
• Fan
• Flashlight/Batteries
• Headphones/Ear Buds
• Laundry Basket
• Laundry Detergent/Supplies
• Medications
• Organizers/Planners/ Calendar
• Pictures from Home
• Pillows
• Rain Jacket/Umbrella
• Recreational Equipment
• Robe
• School Supplies
• Shower Caddy
• Shower Sandals
• Small First Aid Kit
• Streaming Services or Devices
• Sunblock
• Surge Protected Power Strip
• Swimsuit
• Toiletries
• Towels (hand and shower)
List of things to discuss with your roommate:
• Additional Seating i.e. Bean Bag/Folding Chair
• Broom/Dustpan
• Carpet/Area Rug
• Compact Refrigera-
tor (personal or micro-fridge rental)
• DVD/DVD Player/Game Consoles
• Electronic Equipment
• Posters/Wall Decorations (see Resident Student Handbook)
• Snacks/Food Items
• TV
What You Can’t Have in Your Room
• Air Conditioners
SUNY Oswego prohibits a few items, including: Engines
• Air Fryers
• Bed Risers/Cinder blocks
• Candles
• Crockpots/Instant Pots
• Curtains
• Extension Cords
• Explosives
• Flags/Tapestries
• Flammable Liquids
• Firearms and Weapons
• Firecrackers and Flares
• Grilling Machines
• Halogen Lamps
• Harmful Chemicals
• Headboards
• Hot Plates
• Hoverboards/E-Scooters/E-Bikes
• Incense
• Internal Combustion
• Lava Lamps
• Microwaves
• Multiple Outlet Adapters
• Oil-Burning Lamps
• Rice Cookers
• Sandwich Makers
• Space Heaters
• Sterno
• Toaster Ovens
• Torchiere or “tree-style” lamps
• Wallpaper
• Wax Burners
• All electrical appliances that aren’t UL/ETL approved
If you’re in doubt, contact Oswego to make sure what you want to have in your room is approved.
Oswego Noted for Embracing, Nurturing Veterans
By Stefan Yablonski
SUNY Oswego continues to rank among the most mili-
tary-friendly and supportive universities.
It was cited last year by the Military Times “Best for Vets: Colleges ranking.”
“We serve around 105 students who identify as veteran, active duty, reserve and National Guard — as well as 300 students who identify as being a military dependent or spouse,” said Kenneth Cisson, veteran and military services coordinator for SUNY Oswego.
“As a former student veteran and graduate of SUNY Oswego who served in Iraq, I understand firsthand the critical importance of supporting student veterans on campus,” he said. “Transitioning from military service to academic life is a significant shift and having experienced it myself, I know the challenges and unique needs that come with it.”
and earning the GI Bill in full.
“SUNY Oswego provided a simple transition from Cayuga Community College and kept all the promises of a seamless SUNY transition for credits and scheduling. The classes are quite diverse and differ from a two-year school, but having great professors and making new connections with students has been rewarding,” Coe said.
In his role, Cisson is committed to making this transition smoother and more supportive.
“It’s about creating an environment where veterans feel understood and valued, offering specialized academic advising, mental health services, career services and an on- and off-campus community where they can connect with others who share similar experiences,” he said. “This is why Military Friendly has designated SUNY Oswego as
Gold status.”
The university’s Battle Buddy Lounge, in 313 Sheldon Hall, is a NYSID-designated center used exclusively by military students that promotes a strong sense of community and supports academic and personal success for veterans.
The center, which serves as an information and socializing area, is the first of its kind for higher education institutions in Central New York.
It plays a significant role with the success of veterans’ transition as well, according to Cisson.
“It offers vital support by providing a dedicated space where student veterans can connect, access resources and
find a sense of community they may feel they have lost. This lounge honors their service and supports their success by creating a welcoming environment for studying, relaxation and peer interaction,” he explained. “Our veteran alumni donors have assisted in this mission, which allows for entertainment, computers and printers, snacks and refreshments and more for the lounge. These amenities with this dedicated space help bring back a strong sense of comradery that the military service provides.”
It’s personal
“This work is deeply per-
sonal. I’ve walked in their shoes and know the power of a supportive system. Seeing student veterans thrive academically and personally is incredibly rewarding,” he said. “They’ve given so much for our country and it’s our duty to ensure they have every opportunity to succeed. Supporting our military students isn’t just a professional obligation — it’s a personal mission to honor their service and empower their future.”
Adam Coe, an operations management major, came to SUNY Oswego after eight years in the Navy as an aircraft mechanic. This included two tours of the Persian Gulf before an honorable discharge
“I connected with Ken Cisson before attending SUNY Oswego and his constant communication, support and guidance have provided a successful path for me since day one. We also have an amazing Battle Buddy Lounge that makes us feel comfortable and adds a layer of support from my fellow veterans. It’s a space where I can decompress, grab snacks and refreshments and hang out with people who are like minded and understand me,” he added. “The Navy taught me a great deal of invaluable life lessons and helped me succeed as a student. I’m from the Oswego area and coming home to go to the school that once felt unattainable was rewarding, to say the least.”
For more information on SUNY Oswego’s Veterans and Military Services office and opportunities, visit oswego. edu/veterans.
You can also check out https://ww1.oswego.edu/ extended-learning/veteran-and-military-services
From left: Kenneth Cisson, veteran and military services coordinator for SUNY Oswego; city of Oswego Mayor Rob Corradino; Jill Pippin, dean of extended learning; and student veteran Adam Coe.
Theatre Department Announces 202425 Production Season
SUNY Oswego’s Theatre Department announced a 202425 season that will explore poignant and compelling themes while providing students opportunities to shine on and off stage.
This season offers a diverse range of productions, including “The Laramie Project,” “John Proctor is the Villain” and the musical “Tuck Everlasting.”
■ “The Laramie Project” runs Oct. 16 to 20. It’s directed by professor Steven Mazzoccone, tells the powerful and poignant true story about a community grappling with the circumstances around one of the most notable hate crimes to occur in the U.S. This landmark work, created by Moisés Kaufman and members of the Tectonic Theater Project, is a compelling piece of documentary theater that uses direct personal narra-
tives, real news events and innovative storytelling to weave together what Variety magazine called “a riveting theatrical experience.”
■ “John Proctor is the Villain” runs Nov. 13 to 17. The department will bring in Liz Dahmen, the founding artistic director of the Hudson Valley Performing Arts Laboratory, to direct this crackling contemporary play that offers a fresh perspective on how a group of high school students
Student Success Makes SUNY Oswego Top NY Public University in BEA Ranking
Stutional Excellence in Media, placing at the top of four SUNY schools and in the top five of all New York universities, both public and private, that made the list. The recognition, released
annually since 2022, ranks higher-education institutions based on the past five years of student success in BEA competitions. According to its website, nearly 7,000 student projects from over 300
stage. With a captivating score and enchanting story, audiences of all ages can explore themes of life, death and the pursuit of eternal happiness.
Ghost Tour
In addition to these productions, SUNY Oswego theatre will continue its tradition of collaboration with the Oswego Town Historical Association to host the annual History and Storytelling Ghost Tour in Oswego Town Rural Cemetery, now in its ninth year. This fun, family-friendly community event will take place on Oct. 26, just in time for SUNY Oswego’s Family and Friends Weekend.
This year, the site-specific performance will focus even more closely on Oswego Town’s own renowned Dr. Mary Walker. Guided by students in Langenfeld’s “Storytelling” course, participants will explore the rich history of Oswego.
struggle to understand the world around them when that world is changing so fast. Produced in the intimate Lab Theatre space, this production aims to connect with anyone who has ever wanted to question authority or find their own authenticity.
■ “Tuck Everlasting” runs April 22 to 27, 2025. It’s directed by professor Jonel Langenfeld and brings the popular and beloved children’s novel to life on the Waterman Theatre
member institutions globally were submitted in the last five years.
Oswego ranked highest among public schools in New York on the strength of student success, with six students earning BEA recognition in the past year. Clarissa Karki ‘24 won “Best in Show” for her documentary “Operetta: Lost, Found, Now on Stage” about a local operetta showcasing the history of local Fort Ontario, and the “Award of Excellence” in the Radio News category for her piece “Nuclear Power: Is it Clean Energy?” which was produced as part of “Energizing CNY,” a one-hour special that aired on WRVO.
Zac Nusimow ‘23, Cletus Tepas ‘23 and Melinda Brancato ‘25 were also recognized with the “Award of Excellence” in the Film and Video Narrative category for their piece “I Gave Al Roker an Al Roker Sub in Front of the Al Roker Studio.”
Most recently, Samantha Keaney ‘24 and Jaime Hunter ‘24 earned first place in the “Student Audio - Multimedia Sound Design” category for
“We are proud to present a season that not only showcases the incredible talents of our students but also addresses important social issues and provides numerous opportunities for interdisciplinary connection between our department and many other academic and service departments on campus,” said Krystal Kennel, chairwoman of the SUNY Oswego Theatre Department.
Submitted by SUNY Oswego’s Office of Communications and Marketing.
their complete audio replacement of a scene in the animated film “Rango.”
“We certainly are not surprised to make the list, but it is validating to get national recognition,” said Jennifer Knapp, dean of the School of Communication, Media and the Arts (SCMA). “To quote one of my SCMA colleagues, SUNY Oswego is the place where excellence meets opportunity. I will put our best students against any other university’s best students every day of the week.”
This recognition from the BEA comes ahead of the complete renovation of Hewitt Hall, an $80 million project to turn the former Hewitt Union into a state-of-the-art SCMA building. The reconstruction will place SUNY Oswego and SCMA at the forefront of all institutions in the northeast with similar programs. Hewitt is expected to be completed by fall 2025.
Submitted by SUNY Oswego’s Office of Communications and Marketing.
SUNY Oswego broadcasting student Clarissa Karki, sitting at the news desk at CNN headquarters in Atlanta during a summer internship, won multiple Broadcast Education Association awards to contribute toward a recent high ranking from the organization.
Campus Food: Not Bad at All. Actually it’s Pretty Good
Food served on campus ranks first in the region, according to website
When college search site Niche. com looked for the best campus food across America, they found the top college eating experience in Central New York at SUNY
Oswego.
SUNY Oswego ranked first in the region and No. 13 in the state in Niche’s Best College Food in America guide.
Niche.com places the college at No. 228 nationally, with A- rating, out of nearly 1,400 schools.
“The Best College Food
ranking is based on meal plan costs and student reviews,” Niche’s website explained. “Top-ranked colleges offer outstanding on-campus dining—students can easily access healthy, quality food across a wide range of cuisines and dietary preferences.”
Good Night, Sleep Tight
By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
Did you know that a good night’s sleep can help you learn better, maintain a better mood and reduce your risk for illness and disease?
Sleeping well is important for both physical and mental health. Why you’re not sleep -
ing well can be attributed to many reasons, according to Shelly Sloan, SUNY Oswego’s assistant dean of students for student wellbeing.
“For new students, adapting to a new environment can be challenging — there are sometimes new and different noises, a new bed to get used to and new friends to make, which means that socializing
can sometimes take priority over sleep. Also, alcohol and caffeine use, screen time, feeling of anxiety, depression and stress can all play a role in lack of sleep.”
To improve your sleep, you need to improve sleep hygiene. That doesn’t mean showering before bed (although remaining comfortable is important), but it means maintaining an environment that promotes sleep.
Sloan encourages students to stick with a consistent sleep-wake time, even on weekends. Talking with roommates about the room schedule for quiet times can help encourage this.
A relaxing bedtime routine also improves your chances of solid sleep. Read something relaxing, drink chamomile tea or other non-caffeinated beverage and meditate on the good things that happened that day. If something troubling happened, write down a few
action steps to take tomorrow and let it go. A sleeping space should be dark, quiet, comfortable and cool, Sloan advised. You may need to hang a curtain around your sleeping space, wear noise-blocking devices sleep mask or use a fan or personal heater. Sound machines can help blot out roommate noises. Look for “white noise” recordings on YouTube. Wear comfortable sleepwear and use bedding you like. Some people benefit from a mattress topper, body pillow or knee pillow. Skip alcohol, caffeine and screen time close to bed. These are all stimulants. Some people may find sugar stimulating right before bed. Greasy, heavy foods can also cause indigestion, another disruptor of sleep. Try aromatherapy. Scents like lavender help induce a peaceful state of mind.
Don’t do stressful things in bed, like pay bills or study. Use separate seating to perform these tasks so your body associates the bed with sleep.
“If you can’t fall asleep after a while, get up and do something, like reading or cleaning and try again later,” Sloan said. “Naps can be good. Just don’t allow them to be too long or it can disrupt your evening sleep.”
Did You Know…
Stuff you probably didn’t know about SUNY Oswego
By Stefan Yablonski
eventually issued a ban, prohibiting the event.
■ Popular majors include business, radio and television, psychology and education.
■ There is an old car buried somewhere near the Route 104 entrance to the college.
On the celebration of the first Earth Day in April of 1970, a Dodge Desoto was filled with garbage and buried. It was the students’ way of protesting the excessive pollution of the auto industry at the time.
■ According to popular legend, the wind was, at one point, so fierce that ropes were built from building to building so students would not fall over and be blown away.
However, the only place on campus there were ever ropes like this was on the bridge between Seneca and Tyler halls in the early 1970s. The ropes were there as a precaution for construction work being done at the time.
■ Actor Al Lewis claimed that he attended the school from 1927 to 1931. Most of Lewis’s claims about his early life are widely considered to be untrue.
■ In the early 20th century, President William Howard Taft had a massive bathtub in the White House — and in Oswego as well.
An Oswego businessman was a friend of President Taft and had an extra large bathtub for his husky friend built in his Port City home, in case the president came for a visit.
After the businessman’s
Mug showing that at one time there was a tavern on the Hewitt Hall, which was formerly known as Hewitt Union. At one time, it housed most of the student organizations until the campus center opened. Hewitt is currently undergoing an $80 million renovation.
of the insane.
death, his wife donated the house and all of its contents to the college.
Around this time (the late 1960s), the college unexpectedly gained status few institutions achieve — repository for a presidential library.
(Former college president James) Perdue recalled he and Charles McCool Snyder, then chairman of the history department, had been in contact with the widow who owned the Shepard House about bestowing the property and its possessions to the college.
Word was the house contained papers from a former U.S. president and her late husband was an affluent businessman who often hosted President William Howard Taft in his house. So often that Purdue “had been shown the huge bathtub which had been installed especially for the president.”
When the widow died and left the house, its contents and other buildings on some 100 acres to the college, Perdue and Snyder found themselves digging for presidential papers in the basement.
To their surprise, they found a treasure trove of papers — not belonging to Taft but to Millard Fillmore, who had spent much of his life in Upstate New York.
Perdue and Snyder discovered “two trunk-like wooden boxes filled with carefully filed letters” with the president’s name painted atop. Inside were more than 10,000 letters, many “to a famous woman of the period, Dorothea Dix,” an author and activist for humane treatment
Perdue said Fillmore gave the papers to a lawyer in Buffalo with instructions to burn them after the president’s death. The lawyer couldn’t bring himself to destroy the papers and as Shepard was also a client and a man with an interest in history, donated the papers to him. They now reside in Penfield Library’s archives, making Oswego the home of a presidential library.
Other tidbits
■ The university’s social hub, known as the Marano Campus Center Complex, opened in the fall of 2007.
■ The Village, a townhouse village with apartment living was constructed south of Glimmerglass Lagoon. It opened in the fall 2010 semester.
■ In the fall of 2013 the outdated science and mathematics building, Snygg Hall, was closed. The new Richard S. Shineman Center for Science, Engineering and Innovation was opened to all STEM students: Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.
The building was built onto the older Piez Hall and offers views of the university’s lakeside community and Lake Ontario from the meteorology observation deck. The former Snygg is where the geothermal wells went in, followed by a parking lot.
■ The renovation of Hewitt Hall will provide 132,285 square feet of inno-
vative teaching spaces, studios and laboratories for programs within the School of Communication, Media and the Arts. Formerly known as Hewitt Union, it housed most of the student organizations until the campus center opened. Hewitt Union was home to many campus clubs, but also had a tavern and a Rec Center (with bowling) in the lower level. Hewitt is currently undergoing an $80 million renovation. It was opened in 1967 and named in honor of Jesse Merle Hewitt, Oswego’s first student to die in World War I. He had worked in the industrial arts department at the college before he left to serve overseas.
In addition to instilling green and energy-efficient features, the project will include the creation of geothermal wells, which the college executed previously in the creation of the cutting-edge Shineman Center that opened in 2013. Geothermal wells harness the earth’s warmth to heat and cool buildings. The Shineman project is among the largest of its kind in the region.
■ The Bridge Street Run is a pub crawl that takes place at the end of the spring semester. Students wear white T-shirts, start at the east side of town and make their way west on Bridge Street. They stop at all participating bars along the way on or within a block of Bridge Street to have their shirts signed, drinking at each establishment. The event has been a “tradition” at SUNY Oswego for decades. It isn’t sanctioned by the college and the city strongly discourages it. The city council voted to ban it in 2014 following a student’s death caused by a heroin overdose on campus. The following year, the college set up OzFest, a campus festival, to deter partiers from participating in the Bridge Street Run. However, some students still continue the tradition each spring.
■ On March 18, 2007, the Oswego State men’s ice hockey team won the 2006–07 NCAA Division III ice hockey National Championship, the first NCAA championship ever for the school.
■ SUNY Oswego currently has more than 80,000 living alumni.
Meet the Presidents
Edward Austin Sheldon (1st), 1861–1897
Isaac B. Poucher (2nd), 1897–1913
James C. Riggs (3rd), 1913–1933
Ralph Waldo Swetman (4th), 1933–1947
Harvey M. Rice (5th), 1947–1952
Foster S. Brown (6th), 1952–1963
James E. Perdue (7th), 1965–1977
Virginia Radley (8th), 1977–1988
Stephen L. Weber (9th), 1988–1995
Deborah F. Stanley (10th) 1995–2021
Mary C. Toale, Officer in Charge (interim), 2022–2023
Peter O. Nwosu (11th), 2023–present
Bridge Street Run circa 2016. The event was very popular among SUNY Oswego students until recently, when several violent incidents took place. The city
According to popular legend, the wind was, at one point, so fierce that ropes were built from building to building so students would not fall over and be blown away. True or false
Writer Stefan Yablonski graduated from SUNY Oswego in 1977.
See more of Tyler’s time in Japan on the @oswegoabroad Instagram page:
Escape the Ordinary: Embrace the path Less Traveled
SUNY Oswego senior Tyler Krompier, who studied abroad at iCLA at Yamanashi Gakuin, in Kofu, Japan, on why he embraced the path less traveled:
“I wanted to experience a place that is completely different from the United States, to travel, and to see a different part of the world.”
Oswego Abroad ranks in SUNY’s top 5 in students sent abroad each year by offering 80+ programs in 20+ countries, with programs open to all SUNY students: Faculty-led (1-3 weeks); summer, semester and academic year; internships for every passion; courses for every major; and financial aid that can assist on your journey.
Contact Oswego Abroad today and find out how you, too, can escape the ordinary!
Office of International Education and Programs
100 Sheldon Hall, Oswego, N.Y. 315.312.2118 | intled@oswego.edu oswego.edu/international