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This month's edition of Notes from Netzer contains articles that perfectly align with the university's three core values:
- inclusivity — making sure that everyone feels welcome here;
- service — committing to making a difference in the lives of others; and
- sustainability — stewarding resources to foster a just community in ecological balance.
The efforts and passion of every employee, combined with our students' aspirations and ambition, help us accomplish the amazing things you will read about. Initiatives, activities, accolades, and programs like those highlighted below serve as reminders about our purpose and indicate progress toward our strategic goal of remaining a thriving institution that provides relevant and impactful educational and social experiences.
Sincerely,
Alberto J.F. Cardelle
President
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New Solar Installation Provides Power and Learning Opportunity
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Anna Rutenbeck, Coordinator of Science Outreach Activities
Sandra Garcia-Fine, Energy Manager
We are excited to announce the installation of two solar arrays at the A.J. Read Science Discovery Center (SDC)! These two units were installed with demonstration and interaction in mind. They are wired directly into the Physical Science building to power the SDC partially and will help students and employees become more familiar with photovoltaic technology.
We often get the question, "What is the difference between a solar array and a solar panel?" These two units are solar arrays because they are each made up of multiple solar panels. Each of these arrays contains six solar panels.
The solar arrays will eventually be part of an interactive exhibit about solar energy at the SDC. Once the exhibit is complete, visitors will be able to control the angle of one of the units and explore usage data. We are partnering with David Kenny of TECHKnowledge Learning Lab on the exhibit and plan for it to be completed in January 2025.
Facilities is also planning to install outlets on each unit and benches underneath, so university community members can charge devices using solar power. Additionally, this is the first major solar project on our main campus and is representative of SUNY Oneonta's commitment to clean energy.
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Examine Experiential Learning at the Fall Faculty Institute
Oct. 24 - 25
Chilton Reynolds
Director, Faculty Center for Teaching, Learning & Scholarship
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The Fall 2024 Fall Faculty Institute topic is "Experiential Learning into the Classroom: Connecting Students to Opportunities." As the university works to define what experiential learning means to us, we know that it combines learning through action, reflection, and collaboration and can foster essential skills and connect students with potential employers after college. There are many ways to help students access and engage with these experiences.
All employees are invited to join us on Oct. 24-25 in the Morris Conference Center, where we will examine how different aspects of experiential learning can be integrated into the classroom and how to connect with opportunities beyond the classroom. We also invite you to attend our October campus mingle, which will be held at the end of the Institute on Friday, Oct. 25, at 3 p.m. at Morris Conference Center.
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Campus Thrift Shop Reinvigorated with New Location
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Rachel Kornhauser
Sustainability Coordinator
After nearly a decade of being in the Netzer Administration Building, SUNY Oneonta's thrift store has moved to a new, upgraded space in Hunt Union, on the main floor next to Starbucks. The store opened with a successful soft launch in early September and is now open for regular hours! Please stop by to visit Wednesday - Friday, from 12 - 4 p.m. during the academic year. We stock donated clothing, decor, and more - all available for a suggested donation. The proceeds support a scholarship awarded annually to a SUNY Oneonta student involved in campus sustainability efforts.
The thrift shop supports the university's core value of sustainability. It reduces textile waste, conserves resources, and prevents pollution from new production. It also promotes social justice by offering affordable clothing to ensure all students have access to the attire they need. The pay-as-you-wish model makes the items economically accessible, and we continue to pay it forward by contributing all donations to our scholarship. The shop also creates opportunities for experiential learning, allowing Fashion and Textile students to contribute ideas for styling and layout and Eco-Reps/Empire State Service Corps students to actively run the store. Read more about the recent reopening.
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SUNY Oneonta Leads the Way for New Empire State Service Corps
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Chancellor John B. King and Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado visited SUNY Oneonta on Sept.18 to officially launch the Empire State Service Corps (ESSC), an initiative to expand civic and public service opportunities for students. The program aims to create over 500 paid service positions for students across the SUNY system.
SUNY Oneonta leads the initiative with 48 student members, the highest number among participating campuses. Students began their assignments this month in various high-need areas, including K-12 tutoring, SNAP/basic needs outreach, peer mental health support, hate/bias prevention, and civic engagement. Each student Corps member will complete 300 public service hours over the year, contributing significantly to our campus and local communities while gaining valuable experience. Read more about this event and the ESSC.
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Dozens of Students Contribute for 9/11 Service Day
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On Sept. 7, more than 50 student volunteers packed over 25,000 meals that were donated to 22 Otsego County food banks.
This effort was held in support of 9/11 Day, a National Day of Service and Remembrance. The 9/11 Day organization was co-founded by a SUNY Oneonta alum, Jay Winuk '80, who lost his younger brother, Glenn, in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Glenn was also a Red Dragon, class of 1983, and worked near the Twin Towers in New York City. That day, knowing his training and skills as a volunteer firefighter and EMT could save lives, Glenn helped evacuate his office building and was last seen running toward Ground Zero. Jay co-founded 9/11 Day, hoping some good could come out of the tragedy. Each year, the day's goal is to bring people together in service and to pay tribute to those who were injured, bravely rose up in service, or lost their lives.
Each year, upwards of 30 million people participate in 9/11 Day with acts of kindness, unity, and service. SUNY Oneonta was one of 11 colleges participating in the 9/11 Day Meal Packs program. In total, nearly one million non-perishable meal kits were created and distributed to communities across the country. Read more about this event.
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| National Recognitions for Value, Academic Excellence, Inclusivity
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This month, SUNY Oneonta was recognized by three different national organizations.
The Wall Street Journal/College Pulse ranked SUNY Oneonta No.187 on their 2025 list of the Best Colleges in the U.S. This list recognizes colleges for the value provided to students based on many academic and financial criteria. Read more about this recognition.
The university was named among the top 10 public schools in the Northeast, according to the U.S. News and World Report's 2025 rankings of "Best Colleges." SUNY Oneonta is also listed as No. 25 in the "Best Regional Universities- North" category, No. 8 among public schools in the region, and No. 17 on the "Best Value Regional Universities-North" list. Read more about this recognition.
SUNY Oneonta was also recognized as being one of the "Best Colleges for LGBTQ+ Students" in 2024 by BestColleges.com. In fact, the university was listed as No. 5 on a list of the top LGBTQ+ Friendly Colleges in acknowledgment of our resources for LGBTQ+ students and academic and personal development opportunities to learn about gender and sexuality.
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Cabinet Meeting Notes
Notes from meetings of the President's Cabinet are shared with the university community monthly in Notes from Netzer. Questions can be directed to president@oneonta.edu.
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