College life spring16 final

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College Life

OswegoCollegeLife.com SPRING 2016

VALUABLE COUPONS INSIDE

Inside: 10 Reasons to Feel Hopeful About the Future

Ditch Your Smartphone Twelve situations in which you should lose your smartphone

5 Things Seniors Have to Do Right Away

New Faculty Successful PR professional Steve Chirello joins SUNY Oswego faculty

Many jobs right in our backyard. See who hires grads

Oswego Gets ‘Best for Vets’ Recognition

LOANS Students leaving college with a degree — and average $29,400 in loans

Campus Shooting

Also: New NYS program to help students who remain in the state

Are You Facebook Dependent?

Is Oswego The Digital Dirt Squad at Risk?

The Squad, located in the SUNY Oswego Compass, was created three years ago as a resource to help students perfect their social media presence and learn to create an online brand for themselves. Students like Shaquille Duberry and Dorothy Davis help clean up all digital dirt students may have.

My Experience at Cayuga Community New Degree at Oswego: Biomedical Informatics College 1 Spring 2016

Mass shootings on college campuses are becoming more commonplace in the United States. Can it happen here? We spoke with John Rossi, chief of New York State University Police at SUNY Oswego about it.

College Life

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New Degree at SUNY Oswego Biomedical Informatics

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ecognizing the growing need for health information technology (IT) professionals, SUNY Oswego has plans to expand course offerings and opportunities for its students in the health IT field.

As part of the new SUNY Labs to Jobs Consortium, SUNY Oswego will feature a new biomedical and health informatics research lab and a biomedical instrumentation teaching lab. The two labs will be created in 2016 and give students the opportunity to prepare for careers in the emerging and growing field of biomedical and health informatics.

The biomedical and health informatics research lab will either be located at the SUNY Oswego Metro Center in Syracuse or at SUNY Upstate Medical Center. A biomedical instrumentation teaching lab will also be developed in the Shineman Center for Science, Engineering and Innovation at the main branch of SUNY

U.S. Population: 322,762,018 People as of January

T

he United States population was projected to be 322,762,018 as of January, according to estimates by the U.S. Census Bureau. This represents an increase of 2,472,745, or 0.77 percent, from January 2015.

Since Census Day (April 1) 2010, the population has grown by 14,016,480, or 4.54 percent.

In 2016, the United States is expected to experience one birth every eight seconds and one death every 10 seconds.

Meanwhile, net international migration is expected to add one person to the U.S. population every 29 seconds. The combination of births, deaths and net international migration increases the U.S. population by one

person every 17 seconds.

The projected world population on Jan. 1 was 7,295,889,256, an increase of 77,918,825, or 1.08 percent, from New Year’s Day 2015. During January 2016, 4.3 births and 1.8 deaths are expected worldwide every second.

The Census Bureau’s U.S. and

proving healthcare outcomes, but at the same time, we want to make the process more efficient,” said Bichindaritz.

will feature 12 workstations where students can learn basic electrical engineering fundamentals and apply those skills to the operation, design and construction of biomedical instruments.

The new digs in Syracuse

By Melissa Stefanec Oswego campus.

“The labs will be made for research and education,” said Isabelle Bichindaritz, director of biomedical and health informatics at SUNY Oswego. “The goal of these programs is to train a workforce for jobs that are available. Biomedical informatics has been growing tremendously.”

The two new labs will simulate various workplaces and offer workforce training in fields such as medicine, engineering and business.

Biomedical informatics for dummies

The textbook definition of biomedical informatics is an interdisciplinary field that studies and uses biomedical data, information and knowledge to improve human health. According to Bichindaritz, it is an interdisciplinary field at the intersection between medicine and computer science that examines ways to aggregate and analyze data to provide insight into population health and individual

patients. Professionals in this field explore ways to aggregate data from multimedia records and apply them to human health.

As technology advances, healthcare institutions are looking for ways to make more data available electronically and automate those data and services.

“Some hospitals are moving toward being completely electronic,” said Bichindaritz.

Biomedical informatics professionals also explore ways to use genetic information to help people be more proactive about their health. They also explore ways to use at-home automated monitoring to get people home from hospitals faster. This field of medicine also explores smart homes and smart devices that alert people when something goes wrong with another person.

These sorts of devices could monitor a baby’s breathing or detect if an elderly person falls in his or her home.

“We are looking at im-

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This lab will feature workstations and servers for data. It will give students the high-tech tools they need to analyze and aggregate data, just like they would in their potential careers.

The lab comes with a price tag of $1.42 million. The lab will feature medical robots that will be able to monitor physiological characteristics such as heart rate, body temperature and blood pressure and explore ways to transmit those data to healthcare professionals.

Students could test a wearable sensor that would monitor conditions of a patient in a hospital. This sensor could wirelessly transmit data to sites that need these data. That sort of device would be very useful to hospitals and healthcare professionals, according to sources. It would allow data to be dispersed on- and offsite instantaneously.

The new digs in Oswego

The biomedical instrumentation teaching lab will also be developed in the Shineman Center. The lab will come with a price tag of $230,000. The new lab

World Population Clock simulates real-time growth of the U.S. and world populations at www.census.gov/ popclock.

New degree programs

In addition to these new digs, there also will likely be new degrees offered by SUNY Oswego.

The first will be a Master of Science in biomedical informatics. The second degree will be a professional science master’s in biomedical informatics, which will blend business skills with a science-based program. The goal is to have these new degree programs up and running by fall of 2016, with some classes available this semester.

The ideal candidates for the program will have a bachelor’s degree in information science or a bachelor’s degree in computer science.

Other people this program hopes to reach are those already working in the area of biomedical information.

The program also hopes to recruit healthcare professionals who want to specialize in this area. Students who have a bachelor’s in biology would also be considered for the program, if they took some preliminary computer science courses.

Spring 2016 2

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College Life

Shaquille Duberry and Dorothy Davis are student interns at SUNY Oswego’s Digital Dirt Squad. They help students use digital media to their advantage.

Cleaning Up Your Digital Dirt SUNY Oswego students have resources to tailor their online presence

By Hannah McNamara

I

n a digital age where an online presence is inevitable, more and more employers are turning to social media sites to screen potential candidates during the hiring process.

According to a recent survey by CareerBuilder, 43 percent of employers use social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn to research job candidates. The same study shows 51 percent of these employers admitted to finding social media content that caused them to not hire particular candidates.

At SUNY Oswego, Career Services acknowledges a student’s social media presence is just as important as their resume and created the Digital Dirt Squad.

The Digital Dirt Squad, located in the SUNY Oswego Compass, was created three years ago as a resource to help students perfect their social media presence and learn to create an online brand for themselves.

Gary Morris, director of Career Services, was first exposed to this program through SUNY Cortland. He recognized the importance of finding a way to help students present themselves in a more positive way online and decided to implement the program at SUNY Oswego.

The Digital Dirt Squad helps show students what their social media and online presence looks like through the eyes of a future employer or graduate school representative.

“Digital Dirt is a two-

3 Spring 2016

fold process. For one, it helps students recognize and identify things associated with their online presence that could potentially serve as an obstacle for them to become successful,” Morris said. “The other part of the program is teaching students how to leverage the power of social media for productive purposes.”

Since implementing the Digital Dirt Squad three years ago, Morris has selected interns to serve as navigators for the program.

“The interns have a different connection with their classmates than I do because they can relate to each other,” Morris said. “My interns are almost born with this information on social media and I’ve had to learn it.”

When students come in for appointments with the Digital Dirt Squad, interns navigate them through the process and help them break down their social media presence to find what content should be erased or buried

Eyes of the employer “We pretend to be the eyes of the ‘judgy’ employer because it’s hard to look at your own social media and be the judge,” said SUNY Oswego student and Digital Dirt Squad intern Dorothy Davis. “By serving as that third-party perspective, we are there to give advice to the students.”

The process is meant to be a helpful experience that students feel comfortable partaking in. Before walking

students through the process, they are informed that it’s not meant to make them feel uncomfortable; it’s meant to be a helpful tool to push them forward professionally.

“None of this is meant to embarrass the students or pull skeletons out of the closest,” Morris said.

The interns usually start with a Google search of a student’s name in order to show them what results an employer could find when screening them as a potential candidate. Then they focus on the sites that are most commonly used by employers, including Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. “We don’t just delete students’ pictures with red Solo cups. We also help them make social media accounts they might not have and show them how to make the accounts they do have even stronger,” Davis said. “It’s good to get your name, professionalism, and personality out there because I think employers value a well-rounded individual.”

“Different channels will expose different aspects of who you are,” Morris said.

“We tell students to look at it strategically and try to think of what type of presence they want people to find online because they can build that person online by disclosing different aspects of their persona.”

One online platform that has added an immense amount of transparency to the hiring process for employers is LinkedIn. Currently, LinkedIn is the No. 1 way recruiters use social media to connect with candidates, Morris noted.

“It is basically the Facebook of the professional world,” said SUNY Oswego student and current Digital Dirt Squad intern Shaquille Duberry. “With all the different features LinkedIn offers, students can tailor their LinkedIn profiles based on what they want professionals to see.”

Career Services also runs a “LinkedIn photo booth,” in association with the student chapter of the Society for Human Resources at SUNY Oswego, to provide students with professional pictures on LinkedIn as well.

After the Digital Dirt Squad was highlighted as a “model program” in the Amazon best seller “What Happens on Campus Stays on YouTube” last spring, the program has big shoes to fill in 2016.

“The bar is high but it also underscores where we keep the bar for our students,” Morris said. “We expect nothing short of excellence for our students and that’s exactly how we run this program.”

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hat drives you to Facebook? News?

Games? Feedback on your posts? The chance to meet new friends?

If any of these hit home, you might have a Facebook dependency.

But that's not necessarily a bad thing, says Amber Ferris, an assistant professor of communication at The University of Akron's Wayne College in a news release issued in December.

Ferris, who studies Facebook user trends, says the more people use Facebook to fulfill their goals, the more dependent on it they become.

She is quick to explain this dependency is not equivalent to an addiction. Rather, the reason people use Facebook determines the level of dependency they have on the social network. The study found those who use Facebook to meet new people were the most dependent on Facebook overall.

To identify dependency factors, Ferris and Erin Hollenbaugh, an associate professor of communication studies at Kent State University at Stark, studied 301 Facebook users between the ages of 18 and 68 who post on the site at least once a month. They found that people who perceive Facebook as helpful in gaining a better understanding of themselves go to the site to meet new people and to get attention from others. Also, people who use Facebook to gain a deeper understanding of themselves tend to have agreeable personalities, but lower self-esteem than others.

"They might post that they went to the gym.

Maybe they'll share a post expressing a certain political stance or personal challenge they're facing.

They rely on feedback from Facebook friends to better understand themselves," Ferris says.

Ferris explains that some users observe how others cope with problems and situations similar to their own "and get ideas on how to approach

others in important and difficult situations."

Ferris and Hollenbaugh presented "A Uses and Gratifications Approach to Exploring Antecedents to Facebook Dependency" at the National Communication Association conference in Las Vegas in

November.

They say other Facebook dependency signs point to users' needs for information or entertainment. In other words, a user knows about the local festival scheduled for this weekend thanks to Facebook.

In their previous studies, "Facebook Self-disclosure: Examining the Role of Traits, Social Cohesion, and

Motives" (2014) and "Predictors of Honesty, Intent, and Valence of Facebook Self-disclosure" (2015) published in the journal Computers in Human Behavior, Ferris and Hollenbaugh also uncovered personality traits common among specific types of Facebook users.

For example, people who use Facebook to establish new relationships tend to be extroverted. Extroverts are more open to sharing their personal information online, but are not always honest with their disclosures, Ferris says.

The most positive posts online come from those who have high self-esteem, according to Ferris.

"Those who post the most and are the most positive in posts do so to stay connected with people they already know and to gain others' attention," Ferris says.

"This makes a lot of sense if you are happy with your life, you are more likely to want to share that happiness with others on social media."

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College Life

Risk

Campus Shooting: Is Oswego at Risk?

Mass shootings on college campuses are becoming more commonplace in the United States. Can it happen here?

By Stacey Baran

A

midst recent campus shootings nationwide, SUNY Oswego takes the initiative to stay informed and protected.

What will we do if it happens here?

Mass shootings on college campuses are becoming more commonplace in the United States. As of last October, over 50 shootings either on campuses or in grade schools occurred in 2015 alone.

Subsequently, this increase in school violence has

unmistakably led to a rise in concern for both students and faculty. The possibility of a school shooting has now developed from an unlikely occurrence to a present danger.

One of the earliest school shootings to have a huge impact was the Columbine High School massacre.

On April 20, 1999, two teens went on a shooting spree at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colo., killing 13 people and wounding more than 20 others before turning their guns on themselves and committing suicide.

The worst college campus shooting occurred at Virginia Tech when 32 people were killed on the Blacksburg, Va., university campus in 2007.

The circumstances and aftermath of the tragedy left the country in mourning and sorrow, but also shock. An event so catastrophic seemed ultimately unfathomable,

5 Spring 2016

and the question of how it could have happened was most prevalent.

This sort of crisis is in no way foreign to anyone anymore, and the question looming over schools nationwide has changed: What should we do if it finds its way onto our campus?

Is there any way of preventing it?

SUNY Oswego is committed to ensuring the constant safety of its stu-

dents and staff, wherein University Police plays an important role in keeping everyone on campus well aware of the potential for a school shooting and how to respond appropriately to such a situation.

John Rossi, chief of New York State University Police at SUNY Oswego, said more people on campus have been asking for information regarding safety and response in the event of a school shooting.

“It’s important to make people aware of what could happen,” he said. “Since Columbine, people have been much more aware that they need to protect themselves.”

Website provides key info A valuable resource available at any time is the University Police website at www.oswego.edu/police/.

It contains important emergency procedures and videos for virtually any crisis situation, including a shooting. These response plans

cover the appropriate actions one should take, such as: • Finding a way out that does not cross the path of the active shooter • Remaining in place and locking all doors and entrances if escape is not possible • Dealing directly with the shooter if he or she should come into close proximity.

University Police also holds monthly practices for first responders on campus.

These training sessions demonstrate what a shooting may be like.

“Officers have used both live ammunition during exercises during our semi-annual firearms qualifications as well as every officer has gone though drills either locally or at the Department of Homeland Security training facility in Oriskany,” Rossi noted.

Faculty also stays well informed, as University Police offers numerous work-

shops that train teachers and staff on how to respond efficiently and quickly to ensure the safety of anyone in the vicinity.

Above all, however, Rossi emphasizes the need for prevention. There are a number of resources that allow students and staff to alert authority if they suspect a student of being potentially dangerous to his own well being or that of others.

The behavioral intervention team, established in 2008, acts as a vital preventive measure.

The dean of students, directors of residence life and counseling services and others meet at least once a month in order to discuss people who have come to their attention in regards to mental health and safety.

Doing so keeps everyone aware of those who may

show potential to harm, allowing the opportunity to get help for these people.

“Always report it,” Rossi said. “Don’t feel that you’re bothering us.”

University Police can be reached by calling 3125555. The phone contact for S.A.V.A.C. (campus ambulance) is 312-4000. For off-campus assistance during an emergency, call 911.

Students and faculty both have the right and the responsibility to report strange activity. Not only does this prevent harm to others, but to the potential shooter as well.

“It’s good for everyone to always be aware of what’s going on around us,” one SUNY Oswego student commented. “We all live or spend a majority of our time here. This is how we’ll keep the campus safe.”

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Steve Chirello takes his public relations skills to the classroom

By Hanna McNamara

S

uccessful businessman and longtime Fulton resident Steve Chirello has learned the art of balancing multiple professions as a new professor at SUNY Oswego.

Chirello, owner of Steve Chirello Advertising in Fulton, is taking a swing at teaching as the adjunct professor for the journalism course “Introduction to Newswriting and Reporting.”

With an associate degree in journalism from Morrisville State College and a bachelor’s degree in English from SUNY Oswego, Chirello has loved the art of news writing since he was a college student.

“I originally wanted to be a reporter when I was studying journalism in college,” Chirello said. “The Watergate scandal was breaking and anybody studying journalism wanted to be a great investigative reporter like [Bob] Woodward or [Carl] Bernstein at The Washington Post.”

Although he has been a guest lecturer at multiple universities including SUNY Oswego, Syracuse University and Cornell over the past 20 years, this is his first time instructing a class as an adjunct professor.

“I really love the questions and perspectives of college students,” Chirello said. “In a way this is like a dream come true for me to have an opportunity to teach as well as share some of my experiences.”

By taking time during each class to talk about the daily news, Chirello aims to prepare his class of 18 students to be aware of what’s happening on campus as well as the world at large.

“As journalists, they are not only college students but students of the world,” Chirello said.

Although news writing is near and dear to his heart, Chirello realized his passion for public relations before having the chance to pursue a journalism career. After spending his summers as a college student interning at the advertising firm of Ed Vayner and Associates in Fulton, he quickly saw the opportunities that a career in public relations could

provide him.

“I really enjoyed the challenges and rewards of creativity in solving problems and promoting people in services through public relations and advertising,” Chirello said.

Following graduation from SUNY Oswego in 1977, Chirello began to pursue his passion for public relations with a job at Barlow/Johnson Advertising in Fayetteville.

Although it’s not in business anymore, Barlow/ Johnson was an innovative in the 1980s and served clients all over the Northeast and Canada.

Joins Miller Brewing Chirello decided to move into the corporate sector of public relations in the late 1980s when he was hired as the public relations manager of Miller Brewing Company in Volney.

The plant was one of Miller’s seven breweries in the United States and the only one to ever be located in New York state. As public relations manager of the 1.2-million square-foot brewery, Chirello handled everything from public events to acting as a spokesperson whenever there was an issue such as a fire, seasonal layoff or labor dispute.

“One of the things that the brewery stressed at the time was that they wanted a very active community presence, so I was charged with conducting about 50 different events every year in that role,” Chirello said.

However, he said goodbye to his career at Miller Brewing Company in 1989, just a few short years before the Volney brewery closed down.

Within the same month, Chirello began a

job in a new sector of public relations as the director of community relations at Syracuse University.

His first project was to help Syracuse University change the traffic flow on campus to improve safety for faculty and staff.

“I spent my first year there working with city government, the county legislature, neighbors, and local institutions to create this traffic plan and try to gain their understanding and support,” Chirello said. “We really had to roll up our public relations sleeves and do some challenging work.”

Embarks on own But when an opportunity arose for Chirello to develop his own business in 1996, he made his lifelong dream come true by opening Steve Chirello Advertising in Fulton.

Even though Chirello had already achieved so much success in the public relations world, his mind always wandered back to how much he enjoyed his first taste of public relations in an agency setting while working for his previous employers early in his career.

“I guess you never forget your roots so to speak,” Chirello said.

Chirello certainly never did. He has achieved significant success by retracing his roots and following in the footsteps of former president of Barlow/

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Johnson Advertising Doug Johnson, who opened his major PR and advertising agency in the small nearby community of Fayetteville.

Steve Chirello Advertising will celebrate 20 years of success in April of 2016.

The small town of Fulton along the Oswego River has proved to be a profitable location for Chirello’s business.

“We certainly have proven that we take on about anything that we can,” Chirello said. “If you’re a small agency like I am, it helps that you cultivate a wide range of clients so I handle everything from retail business, educational institutions, business-to-business and business-to-consumer applications.”

With over 30 years of experience in different public relations sectors, Chirello understands how important it is for a business to keep reinventing itself to stay current with the constantly changing world of public relations.

“One of the things that’s helped me tremendously with this is that I have people working for me and student interns who have helped show me new things and new ways to help our clients for the past 15 years,” Chirello said.

But even after 30 years of success in the public relations field, Chirello continues to set goals to better himself even further.

“I plan to pursue a master’s degree in communications,” Chirello said.

“I also hope that the day comes where I’m not working full time with my own business so I can continue to be an adjunct professor teaching public relations or something connected to journalism because I’m discovering that I really do enjoy it very much.”

Chirello

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College Life

My Experience at Cayuga Community I was terrified when I set foot again in a classroom — more than 20 years after I left school

By Kelly Newton

A

ll I could think when I walked up to the doors of Cayuga Community College was that it had been more than 20 years since I had stepped foot onto a college campus.

I was terrified.

I was about to take classes with people much younger than I and I had convinced myself they were much smarter than me. What if I failed? Am I too old for this?

All the negatives were swirling around in my head. But I took a step, opened the doors and everything changed.

My first experience when I walked through the doors was the Welcome Center staff who cheerfully directed me to my first class. It was a small class of about 15 students in a normal sized classroom, not the cavernous lecture hall that I had imagined. The professor knew me by first name in the first

7 Spring 2016

week of classes. I found that I had much more in common with the younger people than I thought. They were just as nervous and intimidated as I was.

Being a 39-year-old non-traditional student gave me the opportunity to extend a hand to the younger generation. That approachability along with a drive to succeed more than I ever had is what led me to become student government president for two consecutive terms. The more time I spent on campus, the more I became involved.

The complete student life experience, if one takes advantage, is extremely beneficial. There are many clubs, organizations, committees and events to get involved with to enrich your academic career.

I came to Cayuga because I needed a place to attend classes that was close

to home and was affordable. As a wife and mother I needed to make college work around our schedules and our budget. Cayuga Community College is our diamond in the rough; you literally become a part of this place.

The relationships built here make it almost impossible to fail. The opportunities are endless. The faculty and administration have opendoor policies and are always willing to take the time to help you. There are people here who actually care to see you succeed. There is free tutoring, help for people with disabilities, and student success advocates who have taken the time to prepare me for my next journey whether it be a four-year degree or a career.

This place has transformed me from being a just-struggle-to-get-throughthe-day type of person, to a seize-the-day-and-conquer-it type of person.

Kelly Newton is the student government president at Cayuga Community College-Fulton Campus. She is expected to graduate in May.

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College Life

Travel Studying Abroad Everything it’s cracked up to be, and more

Study abroad and exchange programs range from lasting a full year, a semester, over the summer, or even just for a week in a quarter course.

By Stacey A. Baran

S

tudents and faculty agree: If you’ve been contemplating traveling to another country through a study abroad program, don’t hesitate.

Your college years are the best time to go financially, educationally and time wise.

At SUNY Oswego, there are many programs available in a multitude of countries, including Germany, New Zealand, South Korea, Austria and Brazil.

Whether you’re an art student or a science major, there is always a program suited to fit your educational goals and needs.

These study abroad and exchange programs range from lasting a full year, a semester, over the summer, or even just for

a week in a quarter course.

Whatever amount of time you’re looking to travel, and most likely wherever you want to go, you’ll be able to find the perfect program.

Julia Shipley is a SUNY Oswego senior majoring in French and international business. She studied in Nice, France, for seven months at the IPAG Business School. Spending an extended amount of time in another country allows you to learn about daily customs of another culture, better your foreign language skills, and gain independence, she says.

“It makes you a more globally aware human being,” Shipley said.

She also emphasizes how

easy it is to study abroad when you’re still a student.

“It’s easy to fund it, it’s designed for you, and you have the energy and desire to do it.”

Scholarships will also play heavily to your advantage. Shipley received at least four that helped her finance her trip. They came from the French department, the study abroad department, GETGO, and the French National Honor Society.

Because she chose to do an exchange program, she paid her standard Oswego tuition, plus flight and living expenses. In addition to this, Shipley saved quite a bit of money for personal expenses, much of which went toward traveling to nearby cities and countries while in France.

Because it is so easy to travel for a low price, there’s no reason not to go to as many places as possible, she says. Having a surplus of money upon arriving also means there are no restrictions as to what you can do, she adds.

Summer Abroad. Just for Fun Summer is a good time to explore the world. Experts suggest places to visit in Europe, Central America

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

W

ould you like get out and see the world this summer?

Plenty of venues remain safe for your exploration.

Nancy Maynard, travel agent with Auburn Travel, recommends Costa Rica.

"It has been popular," she said. "It's environmental, and a fantastic destination."

She said France, England and Ireland are typically locations that offer lots of culture, yet are relatively safe.

As for places she warns against, she said that anywhere in the Middle East and the country of Mexico.

"Drug cartels have been known to kidnap American tourists from Mexico," Maynard said.

Regardless of where you go, dangerous situations can arise. But you can mitigate the dangers by traveling smart.

If possible, travel in a group of friends or join a tour group. As the old adage goes, there's safety in numbers.

Leave expensive jewelry and pricey gadgets at home if you're going to an underdeveloped country.

"Don't keep all your money in one spot," Maynard said. "If you get robbed, it's not all gone."

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Ready to Study Abroad?

Here’s What You Need to Do

S

o, you’re convinced you want to study abroad?

Here’s what’ next.

Julia Shipley, a SUNY Oswego senior majoring in French and international business, who spent seven months studying in France, recommends doing a lot of personal research.

Looking within your own major and knowing where you stand in regards to your degree will be important in the long run, she says. When you’re taking classes abroad, you want to be sure you’re going to get the credits you need while you’re there.

According to Shipley, there are also a number of resources to consult in the study abroad department at SUNY Oswego. She also suggests checking with students who have gone abroad before, and with your own advisers — all of whom will help you narrow down your options and pick the right program.

Shipley gives advice on how to handle feeling homesick as well.

“Keep in contact with your family,” she says. “If you miss someone, call them.” She recommends a number of popular apps to use while you’re abroad, considering you probably won’t be buying an international or country-specific mobile plan.

Skype, Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp all work well with keeping in touch.

Allen Stagl, French professor and faculty leader

of one of the quarter courses, also shares his experience with traveling abroad.

This Q3 study abroad program/course (GLS 100 for non-French students) features one week in Paris over spring break and grants three credits. The program cost is about $2,200, and although it varies each year, it includes flight and hotel arrangements, local public transportation and museum trips. In regards to choosing to study abroad in college, he says it’s much easier and more affordable than it used to be.

“The experience of going abroad is eye-opening, particularly for Americans,” he says. “It’s amazing what even one week can do for students.”

Having taken multiple trips to Paris through this program, with different students each time, he comments on the importance of keeping your eyes open and taking in everything you see.

Wherever you go, he says, everything is “visually engaging to see up close and personal,” as opposed to only reading about it and seeing pictures. While one of Stagl’s favorite parts of any trip is enjoying the food, he also emphasizes the cultural significance of the region, wherever you end up travelling to.

You’ve heard it from a student’s and a professor’s perspective. Now pack your bags and get going.

She recommends wearing a hidden wallet under the clothing for carrying your passport and cash. It's also wise to keep important items like this on your person at all times.

"Make copies of all your documents," Maynard said.

"Leave a set at home and take one with you. If you lose your passport, you can go to the US Consulate or Embassy."

Before you leave, locate a consulate near where you'll be (www.usembassy.gov).

Stay aware of your surroundings as you tour.

Gawking at the sites and taking pictures can

make you forget where you are for a few moments, an ideal time for a thief to take advantage of you.

"There are a lot of pickpockets in Europe," Maynard said, "and they're very good at it. Keep your wallet in your front pocket. Don't put everything in your backpack and keep it on your back.

They go by with scooters and razor blades and cut if off your back."

As you want to snap a few photos, ask another person in your group to watch your back.

While mingling with the locals is all a part of a wonderful traveling experience, always keep in mind that this isn't your home. Adhere to the cultural customs of wherever you travel. Reading up on their culture can help you act more respectfully — and respect goes a long ways in every corner of the world.

Spring 2016 8

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College Life

SUNY Oswego earns 2016 ‘Best for Vets’ recognition

M

ilitary Times has named SUNY Oswego a 2016 Best for Vets College, ranking it among only 125 four-year colleges and universities nationwide for the second consecutive year.

Oswego ranked 73rd, tops among the four State University of New York institutions on the list that weighs results of detailed surveys and comparative national data. Other SUNY schools on the list were SUNY Plattsburgh, University at Buffalo and SUNY Cobleskill.

“Receiving this recognition from Military Times shows we at Oswego are able to implement all of the supports proven effective in helping veterans transition to college and to succeed once they get here,” said Ben Parker, veteran services coordinator and senior academic planning coordinator for the college’s division of extended learning.

The survey from Military Times, a top independent publisher of news for current and former service people, covers policies, procedures, outreach, services, campus climate and much more for veterans. It is “very compre-

hensive,” Parker said.

Weighing the heaviest were responses dealing with academic outcomes/quality, university culture, student support, academic policies and cost and financial aid.

Amanda Miller, editor of Military Times’ Best for Vets rankings and special Parker editions, noted that the publisher also utilizes data from the departments of Defense, Veterans Affairs and Education.

“We award the Best for Vets designation to the very best—the colleges that are really setting the example,” she said.

Services to veterans at Oswego include assistance with

applications for admission, transfer of military and other college-eligible credits and financial aid; specialized academic advisement; emphasis on policies that are friendly to non-traditional students— those who do not follow a traditional high school-tocollege path—and a veterans lounge and veterans club.

Parker said the college continues to work on programs to support veteran students, including training for faculty and staff who encounter and work with veterans, and proposed training in the UC4 program—the Center for Deployment Psychology’s University Counseling Center Core Competency—for clinical staff at the college and in the community.

For more information about opportunities for veterans at SUNY Oswego, visit oswego. edu/veterans or call 315-3122270.

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College Life

Serious Business

C

10 Reasons to Feel Hopeful About the Future

Good time to graduate: strong economy, growing job market. Employers plan to hire 11 percent more college graduates than in previous years

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

T

he daily news may bring plenty of bad news, but soon-to-be college grads have many reasons to envision a bright future. Here are 10 of them. . The growing job market. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported in December 2015 that nationwide, "service-providing industries are projected to account for the most job growth between 2014 and 2024, adding about 9.3 million jobs." The bureau predicts above-average growth for healthcare, educational services, and professional and business services — all of which many people find satisfying career paths.

Locally, "we're moving toward a better job market," said Gary Morris, director of career services at SUNY Oswego Compass. . The good chances that you'll get a job that lasts.

The National Association of Colleges and Employers' Job Outlook 2016 survey states that in 2016, employers plan to hire 11 percent more college graduates than in previous years.

"Even in the worst job market, employers are hiring at the entry level every day,"

1

2

Morris said. "It's a matter of applying and positioning yourself for success.” . Your tech skills. Consider that people 40 and older became acquainted with the Internet when they were the age you are now — or older. However, you've been using technology all your life.

"We have hired young grads here," said Carol R. Fletcher, owner of C.R. Fletcher Associates, Inc. in Syracuse. "We've trained them in the industry but they run circles around me in social media. Those skills they bring to the table help us immensely." . Numerous employment options. Flextime, virtual commuting, consulting and freelancing can help you better manage your work/life balance, especially if you plan to start a family.

"It used to be you had to work certain hours," Fletcher said. "Employers have changed their thought process. You just have to get your job done. Companies are understanding. If you go in, work hard and prove yourself, they'll know they can rely on you to get that

3

4

job done." . Continuing education opportunities. Now that you're nearly done with your degree, seeking more education may be the last thing on your mind. But as you begin your career and desire to advance in your career, you will have many more resources available than previous generations.

"Organizations are putting more effort into selecting the right people and doing things like mentoring to keep them onboard," Morris said.

"There is a path to a very bright future to anyone who wants to work hard and earn it." . Low loan interest rates.

In the next few years, you'll likely purchase some big ticket items like a home or car. Low interest rates mean you'll pay less. . Housing costs. In many regions of the country, like Central New York, home costs remain stable with mortgage payments lower than rent for starter homes. For example, a recently listed four-bedroom, 1.5-bath, 1,889-sq.-ft. home in Oswego would have an estimated $399 monthly mort-

5

6

7

gage. Similar-sized Oswego homes rent for about $1,200.

Apartments start at around $500 per month. . Low or zero-interest credit cards. Should you need to pay off credit card debt, rolling the balance(s) onto a zero-interest card lets you put every penny of your payment toward the principal to pay it off faster.

Numerous companies charge no annual fee for these cards, though you may pay a nominal transfer fee. . No cost of living increase.

The federal government has determined to not increase Social Security and Supplemental Security Income benefits because of the year's lack of inflation.

This means that Gary Morris, you'll pay SUNY Oswego about the director of career same for services

8

what you need throughout 2016. . Technology growth. More and more apps and devices make our lives easier — or at least more fun. Who knows what tech will revolutionize how we work and play this year and this decade?

Plus, it costs less and less the more it improves.

10

9

5 Things Seniors Have to Do Right Away

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

C

ompleting your senior year isn't just about wrapping up your papers and finishing exams. It's also time to take care of a few tasks that will improve your chances of employment after graduation.

Here are the five important things you need to do: — Update your resume with any new information, such as references and accomplishments, and perform practice interviews "so if you get a call back, you'll be ready," said Joseph Szlosek, co-owner of JAS Recruitment in Liverpool.

— Clean up your act online. If you have posted photos, quotes and

1

2

links that make you appear immature or unprofessional, get rid of them and quit posting them. Szlosek and most other hiring agents check applicants online. Work at developing business contacts and industry-related comments on your LinkedIn and other social media accounts to boost your professional image.

— Check the job-finding tools on campus. Szlosek said they can help you know who's hiring, as can networking at alumni events, as long as you focus on matching what the employer needs compared with what you can offer. Gary Morris, director of career services for

3

Compass Resource Center at SUNY Oswego, said that approach helps students a lot. He urges students to take advantage of www.careershift.com. It's free for SUNY Oswego students and alumni and accessible to others for a fee.

— Practice your "company" manners, including dining etiquette and how to formally introduce people.

"Learn how to dress," Morris said. "Some employers don't allow men to have facial hair. The mantra of any career center is 'Drift upwards versus down in your appearance.'"

Pull together one or two professional outfits with

4

the appropriate accessories, shoes and minimal jewelry.

Once you know the "dress code" of your company, you can adopt it.

— Don't spend a lot of money now. Plan to live with your parents. Beyond the practical savings, it helps you broaden your job search because you're not tied down by an apartment lease.

"Don't go buy a nice, new car," Szlosek added. "Save your money. A lot of college students struggle with college loan debts."

It's far better to search for and land

a job and build up savings before making any big-ticket purchases.

5

Spring 2016 10

C

College Life

Who Hires Grads in CNY? Many job opportunities right in our backyard

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

M

any companies in Central New York are looking for talented college graduates.

Area experts recommend checking out these potential employers.

Linda Steele, business development manager with Comforce in Syracuse, likes Rapid Response (www.rrms. com), a nationwide electronic security monitoring service provider with a presence in Syracuse.

"They offer ground level opportunities and they promote quickly from within," Steele said. "You start in the call center, learn the business, and can then advance into areas you are interested in."

Carol R. Fletcher, owner of C.R. Fletcher Associates, Inc. in Syracuse, likes Syracuse Media Group (www. syracusemediagroup. com), which publishes The Post-Standard and www. syracuse.com.

"It is one up-and-coming company that's really moving," Fletcher said.

In general, she said local firms involved in accounting, engineering, and information technology offer good potential for graduating seniors.

"These are areas we see big demand in," Fletcher said. "It doesn't matter about their size. Some offer unbelievably good opportunities for graduates."

11 Spring 2016

Gary Morris, director of the Compass Resource Center at SUNY Oswego, encourages students to look at not only the salary, perks and benefits, but also at the "the potential for growth with that organization to propel you into the next step of the career."

He likes Nobel Health Care (www.noblehc.net) in Syracuse. The national company offers significant mentoring.

"They keep employee development front and center," Morris said. "They work with graduates to find the right fit in the organization. They give them the tools and mentoring to advance. They're also growing by leaps and bounds."

Enterprise Holdings (www.enterprise.com) is much more than a car rental firm.

"The management training program offers growth potential," Morris said. "They do a lot of recruiting with our graduates," Morris said.

Nationwide companies offer opportunities for working in any number of venues around the country. Working for a well-known firm also can boost your resume with name recognition should you decide to change companies in the future.

Morris also recommends checking out Target (www.

target.com), the giant retail store.

"Sometimes, it's a bit of a tough sell because [students] don't want to be a cashier, but these are high level management positions," Morris said.

Within five years, a recent graduate could manage millions in merchandise and more than 200 employees, according to Morris.

"They go straight into the management training program," Morris said. "Cashiering experience isn't required. They want someone to come in who's open-minded, can communicate well and is hard-working.

They look at business majors first. But if you're a biology major and decide you want to work in this environment, you could make a case for yourself."

Target also offers high profile opportunities in asset protection and human resources.

Sherwin-Williams (www. sherwin-williams.com) "is another great organization," Morris said.

He likes the nationwide company's training program.

"Like Enterprise, they promote from within a vast majority of the time" Morris said.

Joseph Szlosek, co-owner of JAS Recruitment in Liverpool, likes Novelis (www. novelis.com) in Oswego for their "training, career development and exposure to a lot of things," he said. "They allow people the ability to move within departments and get experience. It's very large and has state-of-the-art equipment."

Turning Stone Casino & Resort (www.turningstone. com) in Verona also stands out to Szlosek.

"They've been really making a push to hire accounting grads to grow their next round of leadership," he said.

The leadership program at Lockheed Martin (www. lockheedmartin.com) in Syracuse makes them an employer Morris likes.

"You rotate into different departments and get a lot of exposure to different things," he said of the program. "It's specific to different disciplines, like finance. You might do audit, general accounting, controlling and more. Ultimately you'd land a job in one of those departments."

Before you hunt for jobs all over the nation, take a peek in your own backyard.

You may be pleasantly surprised at the opportunities, sources said.

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College Life

Students Leaving College with a Degree — and average $29,400 in Loans Growing number of students leaving college with higher student loans

By Ken Little

C

ome May, thousands of students in Central New York will leave college with a valuable degree in hand. They will also leave college with a big bill to pay — $29,400.

That’s what the average student will owe the government or private lenders after they graduate, based on 2012 numbers.

Paying for a college education can be expensive, no matter how it’s done.

Student loans are a primary method of paying for an education.

Students considering refinancing those loans to get lower interest rates should carefully consider personal factors before doing so, experts advise.

In many instances, loan refinancing is not available to students.

Refinancing, some proponents say, is especially attractive as the nation’s total student loan debt burden hits $1.2 trillion. More student loans than credit card accounts are now delinquent, according to The Washington Post.

Student loan debt

In 2012, fully 71 percent of all students graduating from four-year colleges had student loan debt.

That represents 1.3 million students graduating with debt, up from 1.1 million in 2008 and 900,000 in 2004, according to The Institute for College Access and Success.

The 2012 figures show 66 percent of all graduates from public colleges had student loans, 75 percent of graduates from private nonprofit colleges had student loans, and 88 percent of graduates from for-profit colleges got their degrees with student loans pending.

The average debt levels for all graduating seniors with student loans climbed to $29,400 in 2012, a 25 percent increase from $23,450 in 2008.

About 20 percent of 2012 graduates’ debt was comprised of private loans.

Private loans are typically more costly and provide fewer consumer protections and repayment options than

safer federal loans, according to The Institute for College Access and Success.

Refinancing is not available to all students.

“The grim reality of refinancing, however, is that most borrowers — the average bachelor’s degree graduate with debt owes $29,000 — aren’t eligible for the deal. Education refinancing requires steady income and a high credit score,” a recent Washington Post story said.

Refinancing addressed

Mark Humbert, SUNY Oswego financial aid director, said he doesn’t know of any student loan package that permits refinancing.

“I am not aware of any lenders who provide a refinancing option for federal student loans that saves the student money over simply repaying the U.S. Depart-

ment of Education directly,” Humbert said. “Refinancing, if available, may lower the monthly payment if students stretch the payments out over a longer period.”

Humbert said the student “may actually end up paying more in total interest, but the lower payments may be beneficial for them.”

The DOE can also help students reduce monthly payment amounts through income-based repayment options, Humbert said.

“We strongly encourage students to be very careful when evaluating any loan offer, including consolidation or refinancing options,” he said.

Humbert also looks to the DOE in terms of the safest loan option for students.

Loan consolidation — “The Department of Education loan consolidation

allows students to consolidate their federal student loan debt into one payment.

They do not allow students to include any non-federal loans,” he said.

Any lender who could offer a better consolidated rate than the student is otherwise paying or provides some other repayment advantage “may be a reasonable option,” Humbert said.

“I am not familiar with lenders who can save students money over what they are paying on their federal loans to the Department of Education, but there may be some out there,” he said. “As with any borrowing, students must be careful to avoid teaser interest rates or rates that are dependent on them not being late on payments, etc.

“I have heard many horror stories of students who thought they were getting a great rate, only to find it was for the beginning of the loan or only at a low rate if they were never late on a payment,” Humbert said.

About 80 percent of SUNY Oswego students take out federal loans. The average SUNY Oswego student federal student loan debt is $24,552.

The conventional loan repayment is 10 years.

Humbert said the DOE offers income-based repayment programs for all students to pay their loans over longer periods of time.

Federal loans preferable

Humbert’s office offers various kinds of help for students with loans.

“We provide online and in-person information and counsel to students and families about the loan programs we administer, federal loans, and help them understand the things they should consider if they are looking into private or non-federal loans from another lender,” he said.

Humbert said he is aware that some local lenders, banks and credit unions “are now offering loan programs that may make financial sense for some students and families.

“It is best to work with a reputable lender you already

C

have a positive relationship with.”

“We provide an excellent online financial literacy program for our students through our online student service portal,” he said. “This system helps students better understand borrowing as well as provides them with excellent personal finance training.”

Humbert encourages students to take on the minimum debt necessary to fund their education.

“We provide assistance to students and parents in identifying grants and scholarship opportunities to minimize their reliance on loans,” Humbert said.

Factors affect refinancing

Cathleen Patella, director of student financial aid and compliance at Cayuga Community College, said there are many factors to consider when looking to refinance a student loan.

Discover and Wells Fargo are among private financial institutions that offer student loans.

According to Discover, “When you consolidate your federal student loans, you combine multiple loans into one new student loan. Federal student loan consolidation centralizes all of your federal student loan payments so you submit one monthly payment to a single servicer.”

Private student loans are not eligible for a federal student loan consolidation, Discover adds.

CCC perspective

Cayuga Community College is a two-year college, and its students may not reflect the situations of those attending four-year schools, Patella said.

“Because we have such a unique mission and many of our students are not the traditional, full-time student, our percentage of students who borrow will be less than a four-year college,” Patella said.

She said 45 percent of students who attend CCC borrow under the Federal Direct Student Loan Program.

Less than 1 percent of CCC students use private loans to finance their education, Patella said.

The average student loan debt for CCC students in 2013-14 was $4,700.

Staff at CCC and other area colleges are available to talk to students who have questions about loans or refinancing, Patella said.

Editor’s Note: Story first appeared in Oswego County Business magazine, April-May 2015 issue.

Spring 2016 12

College Life

Money

Student Debt Relief

Are Your Eligible?

T

ment option.”

The PAYE program has become a growing concern among many people who feel the program is causing student debt to increase instead of alleviating it. Seeing as the PAYE program offers the lowest monthly payment amount based on income, family size and state of residency, the rate of principal repayment is slower and interest is able to build rapidly.

Must stay in NYS However, the Get on Your Feet program is seen as an

der them so that they can get on with their

lives.” In order to be eligible, students must meet a number of requirements, including being enrolled in the Pay As You Earn plan, which is an income-based repayment plan.

Mark Humbert, SUNY Oswego’s director of financial aid, said although the Get on Your Feet program is a step in the right direction, the requirement to be enrolled in the PAYE program raises some concerns.

“The PAYE program lowers the payment for graduates based on their income, but it does not forgive the loans or stop the interest from accumulating,” Humbert said.

“Students who participate in PAYE will likely pay more in interest to repay their student loans over their lifetime than with the traditional repay-

13 Spring 2016

overall effective way for students to relieve some of their student

debt immediately after graduation.

“To maximize the longterm benefits, after the two years are up, borrowers should attempt to repay their outstanding loans off as quickly as possible, rather than pay the minimum payment that the PAYE program establishes,” Humbert said.

“It is similar advice that we are all given about repaying credit cards.”

At SUNY Oswego, the financial aid office provides students and families with the necessary information and advice for loans and repayment options.

“We try to be as helpful as we can to students and families to help them avoid unnecessary debt,” Humbert said. “If students and families are having difficulty figuring out how to pay for college, we spend time with them individualizing a plan for their situation.”

SUNY Oswego also offers financial literacy training, which covers all aspects of personal financial management, including debt and debt repayment.

Information about loan repayment options, including the loan forgiveness programs that are available for students, can also be found on its website — www. oswego.edu — along with links for students to search for scholarships from numerous sources.

“We always encourage

!

By Hannah McNamara

To qualify for NYS Get on Your Feet Loan Forgiveness Program, applicants must have earned an undergraduate degree from a college or university located in New York state in or after December 2014, have an adjusted gross income of less than $50,000, and be enrolled in the federal Income-Based Repayment Plan or Pay

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Financial aid programs allow students chance to get on their feet after graduation he average college student graduates with about $28,950 in student loan debt, according to the Institute for College Access and Success.

In a new effort to tackle the student debt crisis, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo created the NYS Get on Your Feet Loan Forgiveness Program.

The program provides up to 24 months of federal student loan debt relief to recent state college graduates. Since the first two years after graduation are typically the toughest for young professionals, this will give recent graduates a chance to find financial and professional stability before having to pay back their debt.

When Cuomo proposed the program, he said it would help students “get their feet un-

as You Earn plan. Recipients will have a maximum of 24 payments, equal to their monthly student loan repayment amount, paid on their behalf. Applications are accepted year round.

According to a news release, more than 2,500 graduates from the class of 2015 have registered to apply for the program through the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation.

Once fully implemented in 2020, more than 24,000 recent graduates are expected to participate. hesc.ny.gov/GetOnYourFeet.

students to apply for all federal and state aid and we try to help them find options that will limit the necessity for borrowing as much as possible,” Humbert said.

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College Life

STEM-ming the Tide Females breaking barriers in male-dominated fields

By Hannah McNamara

Y

oung women in the science, technology, engineering and math fields are working harder than ever to close the gender gap that has existed for far too long.

Statistics show most STEM fields are dominated by men and lack diversity altogether. This disparity of representation has become a complex issue among women in the STEM field as the need for these workers in these markets continues to expand.

In 2013, women held just 26 percent of computing jobs in the United States, down from 35 percent in 1990, according to a study released by the American Association of University Women, a nonprofit that promotes gender equality.

Another study released in an issue of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found men are twice as likely as women to be hired for a job in mathematics, even when the only difference between candidates is

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However, the gender stereotypes and prejudices that are associated with occupations in the STEM field are holding females back long before they reach the hiring process.

Jean Bernhoft, a senior broadcasting and meteorology major at SUNY Oswego, has recognized this gender stereotype within her core classes.

“Meteorology is a very, very male-dominated major,” Bernhoft said. “None of my professors in this major has been female.”

Bernhoft said this underrepresentation of females is projected into the meteorology work force as well.

“On television there are typically very few, if any, female meteorologists at each station, and they rarely get promoted to chief meteorologist,” Bernhoft said.

Alyssa Pellegrino, a junior zoology major and forensic science minor, doesn’t feel professors treat her any differently just because she is a female.

“The professors still treat you with the same amount of respect,” Pellegrino said.

“But sometimes you will be in a class with mostly males, which can be a little harder sometimes, due to the simple fact that females connect with females better in a classroom setting.”

In recent years, SUNY Oswego has made significant strides in the STEM fields such as expanding curriculum within the newly constructed Richard S. Shineman Center for Science, Engineering and Innovation, and providing students with

grants for opportunities such as field research.

Researching the opportunities SUNY Oswego offers programs to students such as the Summer Scholars research program where students conduct one-onone research with a STEM professor.

Julia Martin, an applied mathematics major and applied statistics minor at SUNY Oswego, has taken part in the Summer Scholars research program for the past three summers. Her research was sponsored by the SPAC grant and has allowed her to present at two Mathematical Association of America Seaway Section conferences as well as the National MAA MathFests.

“I would never have received these opportunities without support from my college and the mathematics department, which sponsored all of my expenses to go to these events,” Martin said.

SUNY Oswego also offers a number of scholarships, including the National Science Foundation S-STEM program, which provides scholarships for students and partners them with mentors during their first two years as a STEM major.

Due to the work overload and challenging curriculum in STEM courses, mentors can be seen as role models and key influences in a student’s decision to pursue a career in the STEM field.

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“Regardless of gender, studying in STEM fields can be intimidating because of the level of difficulty,” said Priscilla Palouse, senior biology major at SUNY Oswego. “Mentors such as my high school biology teacher and adviser at Oswego have helped me find my passion and guide me through my college years.”

Many female STEM majors at SUNY Oswego feel it would be beneficial to provide them with female mentors who have faced the same challenges as them.

“I would love to see SUNY Oswego provide females with opportunities to bond together and motivate each other,” Palouse said.

“I think it would be really beneficial to offer seminars taught by successful STEM women and have them talk about what they had to do to succeed and what motivated them to do so,” Pellegrino said.

However, SUNY Oswego has worked hard to ensure female STEM majors that opportunities are equally available for students if you are willing to work hard for them.

“I think it is on the females themselves to choose a STEM major. Nothing other than my own interests encouraged me to be a mathematics major,” Martin said. “The female just has to be determined, focused, and have a passion to pursue a STEM major.”

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Local Bank Establishes Scholarship for Students with Financial Need

P

athfinder Bank has made a $30,000 gift to SUNY Oswego to endow a scholarship to create opportunities for students with financial need.

The gift establishes the $25,000 Pathfinder Bank Opportunities Scholarship Endowment and will provide $5,000 to make current awards of $1,000 for the first five years, beginning in fall 2016.

Since its founding in 1859, Pathfinder Bank— Oswego County’s oldest financial institution—has worked hard to support the community that it serves. From sponsoring the annual showing of the holiday classic “It’s a Wonderful Life” at the Oswego Cinema 7 to providing loans to locally owned companies, the bank and its employees give time, leadership and financial resources to those organizations that help the region grow and thrive.

“That’s why it’s so easy to be supportive of SUNY Oswego because nothing has greater impact on the local economy than SUNY Oswego and its faculty and student population,” said Pathfinder CEO Thomas W. Schneider. The bank decided to establish the scholarship to help ensure a well-educated and diverse workforce for the region’s future.

“For our economy as a region, as a state and nation to be successful, we have to be conscious of economic inclusion as a goal toward success,” Schneider said. “Nothing breaks the cycle of generational poverty—the cycle of economic hardship—better than higher education, so creating opportunities for those with financial need to get an education and reset their future is positive to our social climate, our economic climate and our cultural climate.”

For more information, contact the Office of Alumni Relations and University Development at 315-312-2258, visit alumni. oswego.edu/scholarships or emailscholar@oswego. edu.

Spring 2016 14

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Theater Taking Stage and Shape at SUNY Oswego: Julius Caesar and Malcolm X

Initiative to bring professional theater productions to Oswego and give students a chance to work with a rising, contemporary playwright

By Melissa Stefanec

T

his spring, SUNY Oswego students will have the opportunity to work with members of a professional, touring theater troupe called The Acting Company.

The collaboration, between this professional theater company and SUNY Oswego students, is part of a new initiative that puts theater professionals in residency at colleges and universities throughout the country.

In 2014, The Acting Company chose SUNY Oswego as one of four lead institutions for a new national performance and education initiative. Now in the second year of its three-year cycle, this partnership offers SUNY Oswego students the opportunity to participate in classes and workshops led by members of The Acting Company.

As part of its Central New York Consortium, The Acting Company is bringing a contemporary playwright, Marcus Gardley, to the SUNY Oswego campus.

By arrangement with The Acting Company, Gardley

is currently writing a newly commissioned play about the life and assassination of Malcolm X. He will be working with SUNY Oswego students during the spring 2016 semester. This residency will give students a chance to provide feedback on Gardley’s play, which is an in-progress work. This will be one of many opportunities students will have access to during the 2016 school year.

“Through this long-term partnership with The Acting Company, students will have the rare opportunity to watch a new work by an important contemporary playwright take shape — and eventually see it performed alongside the Shakespearean classic that inspired it,” said John Shaffer, director of arts programming for ARTSwego at SUNY Oswego.

About the Consortium

The three-year residency will culminate with performances of Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar” and Gardley’s new play at SUNY Oswego, as well as other institutions across the country.

The performances will take place in the spring of 2017.

Partnering with SUNY Oswego in the Central New York Consortium are Hamilton College and Le Moyne College, where performances and workshops will also occur.

The Acting Company will also hold workshops Poster concept for The Acting Company project for area

by SUNY Oswego Digital Media student Alyssa high school Schock.

students.

SUNY Oswego is leading one of the four consortiums.

The others are led by Arizona State University, Towson University and the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

Each consortium will offer professional development opportunities with playwrights, actors, designers, directors and educators. The Central New York consortium was launched through a lead grant from the Richard S. Shineman Foundation.

According to Ian Belknap, artistic director of The Acting Company, his group chose SUNY Oswego to lead its Central New York consortium for many reasons, but a few stood out.

“We found them to be ambitious,” said Belknap.

“They were hungry for a new way to think about how traveling acting companies interact with students.”

About The Acting Company The Acting Company is no small name in the theater world. It was founded in 1972 by John Houseman and Margot Harley with Kevin Kline, Patti LuPone and other members of the first graduating class of Juilliard’s drama division. The Acting Company promotes theater and theater literacy by bringing a touring repertory of classical productions and new works to audiences across the country. Each year they perform in more than 40 cities, reaching more than 70,000 audience members and 30,000 students.

“Most touring is Broadway and musicals,” said Belknap. “We want to build a discerning audience for classical theater.”

Activities on the SUNY Oswego Campus Although the project culminates in the production of two plays in 2017, the first two years focus on activities that engage students

William Sturdivant in The Acting Company-Gutherie Theater production of Julius Caesar. Photo by Heidi Bohnenkamp.

from multiple disciplines in theater-based workshops and classes.

During the fall 2015 semester, The Acting Company sent one of its artists, Ian Gould, to the SUNY Oswego campus. During his residency, he worked with students in multiple disciplines and classes. He worked with students in philosophy, theater history, graphic design and English literature. He also worked with students to improve their acting and auditioning skills. One activity he hosted was for a graphic design class, where students made posters for Gardley’s upcoming play. Students designed posters that incorporated themes from the two plays.

“Beginning this semester, students can interact with the playwright, directors, dramaturg and designers who are bringing the paired productions to life. They’ll gain an inside perspective on the process and craft of professional theater,” said Shaffer.

During the spring 2016 semester, Gardley will read a working version of his play, and students will have a chance to interact with him and provide feedback.

Other theater professionals from The Acting Company will also visit the SUNY Oswego campus to provide inter-disciplinary workshops to students.

“A project like this enriches our entire campus. For students in related courses, it

means working with the creative staff of a professional theater company. Next year, everyone can experience two important plays, performed in repertory,” said Shaffer.

The ties that bind Julius Caesar and Malcom X This consortium project focuses on two historical figures, Julius Caesar and Malcolm X. Although many of the activities surrounding the consortium will focus on the two plays about these figures, this project is about more than two performances and a slew of workshops.

One of the goals is to engage students in critical thinking by comparing and contrasting different artistic works.

“The two plays, one classical and one as contemporary as today's headlines, invite us to examine basic issues-- justice, power and our complex human motivations. They relate to every field of study in a university,” said Shaffer. “The subject matter of the plays—two leaders from very different eras and circumstances who were assassinated by their own followers—will invite exploration in classes from history and political science to philosophy, psychology and many other disciplines.”

For more information on the consortium and activities, contact John Shaffer at 315.312.4581 or john.shaffer@ oswego.edu.

Spring 2016 16

C 12 Situations in Which You Should Ditch Your Smartphone College Life

Smartphone: friend or foe? — Sometimes your smartphone is your best friend, and other times, it’s the classic frenemy

By Melissa Stefanec

S

tandard dictionaries don’t recognize the word smartless.

Maybe that’s because smartless isn’t a real word.

Not only is it not a real word, it’s also not a conceivable concept for much of the population. Where we go, our smartphones go. In the span of a few inches, we have access to television, movies, the Internet and a virtual social life. Our phones have become a way to fill every second of our lives with something virtually tangible. Our phones call to us when they are out of our hands. They beckon to us with the promise of amusement, information and gratification.

There’s a problem with that promise; sometimes, it’s an empty one. Although smartphones can be completely awesome, they can also keep you from experiencing life and having a good time. A little social media and Internet browsing never hurt anyone, but when it takes the place of the good stuff in life, it’s time to rethink how you use technology. Here are 10 times you should consider putting your phone away (which is also known as “going smartless.”)

1

When you are visiting with family This is especially true when you are visiting with family

that you don’t see often.

What is the point of traveling to spend quality time with someone only to spend that time on your phone? Show your family a few great pics of college life and put your phone away. You all owe it to each other to engage in conversation and enjoy each other’s company. (You can also feel free to tell Dad to ignore his fantasy golf league for a few hours and pay attention to you.)

2

When you are visiting with friends The same technology rules that apply to your family should apply to your friends, especially those whom you don’t see often.

I’m not talking about surfing the net when grabbing a coffee with a friend between classes. I’m referring to times when you are actually hanging out with someone.

When this happens, give that person the courtesy of your attention.

3

When you are driving Do I really need to explain this one? We all know better. Don’t win a Darwin award because you just had to tweet about how awesome road trips are or text back about what time to meet at the dining hall.

4

When you are in any sort of class or workshop If you want an online education, save it for your free time. Why would you invest in your future just to distract yourself with your phone?

There is a lot of valuable information online, but a classroom or lecture hall isn’t the time to look for it. Unlike the lecture in the classroom, whatever is online will be there in a few hours.

5

When you are in a restaurant Being on your phone throughout a restaurant meal seems like paying to eat a microwave dinner in front of your own television.

You are

going out to socialize and enjoy a special meal. Don’t check out of that enjoyment by spending the entire time on your phone. (Bonus to putting your phone away while eating out — you will be more likely to resist the urge to Instagram a plate of pasta or a sushi.)

6

When you are enjoying the outdoors Just because you can post Facebook updates from a rock ledge overlooking Lake Ontario doesn’t mean you should. I’m all for posting great outdoor pics, but you don’t have to do it in real time. Posting can wait until you are lounging at home. Instead of documenting your time outdoors, go ahead and enjoy it.

7

When you are traveling Smartphones have very real utility, especially when traveling. They can find directions, phone numbers, places of interest and hours of operation.

That being said, putting your phone away when you aren’t doing something directly useful with it has some very real benefits. The whole reason you are traveling is to enjoy a new and different place. Stop worrying about status updates and experience the place you are.

8

When you are at a bar or a party Social media and alcohol can be a very dangerous mix. For posts and pictures that you want to post while at a bar or party, follow the rule of the next morning; if it seems like a good idea the next morning, go for it. Putting your phone away will allow you to enjoy yourself and practice the rule of the next morning, which has some very substantial benefits.

9

When you are with your significant other If you spend a lot of time with your significant

17 Spring 2016

other, you will inevitably spend time on your phone when you are around him or her. However, don’t let your phone keep you from engaging in quality time with that person. Instead of defaulting to phone browsing, direct some of your energy at the real, live person sitting next to you. Nothing bad can come of that (and if it can, then get out of that relationship and browse in your single time).

10

When you are in the bathroom I’m not talking about using the net like a magazine. I’m talking pictures, here. Repeat after me, “Toilets and selfies don’t mix.

Ever.”

11

When someone is talking to you If someone is talking to you, the very least you can do is pay attention.

If you simply have to do something on your phone, ask the person you are speaking with to give you a moment. Then, put your phone away and have a conversation.

12

When your phone owns you Ever have the feeling that you are compulsively browsing on your phone? Ever think to yourself that you really don’t care about what you are looking at? Ever just get bored with the whole charade? That happens to all of us, and it’s pretty solid indicator that it’s time to put the phone away.

That’s your mind saying, “I want something else out of life right now.”

Melissa Stefanec is a SUNY Oswego alumnus who thinks she knows something about life.

Feel free to indulge in, enjoy or disregard her writing.

College Life

Raising Your Grade

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

M

aybe you picked a class that's a little beyond your academic ability. Or perhaps the professor's teaching style is one that's hard for you to understand. But whatever the reason, you find yourself failing a class.

Even if the class isn't one vital to your future career, a poor class grade drags down your GPA. Instead of taking a hit on your GPA, try these ideas to bring your grade up.

If it's still early in the

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semester, you may be able to drop the class without penalty (check your school's policy). Sometimes, it's obvious really soon that you're not in your element and it's best to cut your losses and pick a different class. If you suspect that the teacher's the issue — her style just doesn't work for you — see if you can transfer to the same class led by a different teacher.

The problem may be that you have not studied enough. Honestly evaluate your study habits. Do you breeze through the reading, skim your notes and think you're on the path to an A? Do you "study" for tests while watching TV, texting your friends or catching the latest updates on Facebook?

College classes are harder than high school. You may have easily aced classes

in high school and find that college challenges you more than you thought it would.

Studying requires completely focusing on the material without distractions.

Make sure you have all the materials and resources you need. If you buy a used textbook, only purchase the correct edition. Sharing books can mean you don't get enough study and reading time.

Seek other resources that relate to the subject.

An upperclassman who has taken this class may be able to suggest websites and books.

See if other students in the class want to form a study group. Or seek out the best student in the class. Maybe she could tutor you one-on-one.

You could also talk to the teacher about the problem.

Perhaps you could better understand his teaching style and the class objectives after you share that you're concerned about your

change a grade you've earned but may offer tips to help you do better on the next test.

Request extra-credit work. Some teachers will give credit for extra reports, reading or projects. You might better understand the class material this way, too.

The worst thing you can do is ignore the reality of your plunging grade, especially since you have the ability to turn it around.

Why not try to bring up your grade? It's certainly better than doing nothing and failing.

All About Valentine's Day — Feb. 14

E

xpressing one's love to another is a celebrated custom on Valentine's Day. Sweethearts and family members present gifts to one another, such as cards, candy, flowers and other symbols of affection. Opinions differ as to who was the original Valentine, but the most popular theory is that he was a clergyman who was executed for secretly marrying couples in ancient Rome.

In A.D. 496, Pope Gelasius I declared Feb. 14 as Valentine Day. Esther Howland, a native of Massachusetts, is given credit for selling the first mass-produced valentine cards in the 1840s. The spirit continues today with even young children exchanging valentines cards with their fellow classmates.

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29.0 and 26.6 years Median age at first marriage in 2013 for men and women, respectively.

52.7 percent The overall percentage of people 15 and older who reported being married.

68.6 Percentage of people 15 and older in 2013 who had been married at some point in their lives — either currently or formerly.

36.9 The provisional rate of marriages per 1,000 people performed in Nevada during 2011. So many couples tie the knot in the Silver State that it ranked No. 1 nationally in marriage rates. Hawaii ranked second with a marriage rate of 17.6.

2.1 million The provisional number of marriages

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grades. Express your desire to perform better and learn more in the class, but don't blame the teacher or ask for a better grade without more effort on your part.

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that took place in the United States in 2011. That breaks down to nearly 5,800 a day.

74.5 The percentage of women who married for the first time between 1990 and 1994, who marked their 10th anniversary. This compares with 83 percent of women who married for the first time between 1960 and 1964.

6.2 Percentage of currently married women who had been married for at least 50 years as of 2009. A little more than half of currently married women had been married for at least 15 years.

Looking for Love

393 The number of dating service establishments nationwide as of 2007.

These establishments, which include Internet dating services, employed 3,125 people and pulled in $928 million in revenue.

Flowers

15,307 The total number of florists' establishments nationwide in 2011. These businesses employed 66,165

people. $280,357,058 The value of imports for cut flowers and buds for bouquets in 2013 through October.

The total value of fresh cut roses as of October 2013 was $354,703,231.

Giving Love a Second Chance 8 Median length, in years, of first marriages that ended in divorce.

3.8 and 3.7 The median time in years between divorce and a second marriage for men and women, respectively. However, the two medians are not statistically different from each other.

College Life College Life — For Students at SUNY Oswego and Cayuga Community College — is published twice a year by Local News, Inc. Mailing Address: P.O. Box 276, Oswego, NY 13126.

Phone: 315-342-8020. Email: editor@oswegocountybusiness.com Visit us at OswegoCollegeLife.com.

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