|
|
I often state my belief that collaboration, compassion, and prioritizing our values are the keys to nurturing community and achieving our goals. I am certain that we all have stories of how students, faculty, and staff work together, inside and outside of the classroom, to support one another, make progress on existing projects, think of innovative ways to overcome challenges, and celebrate excellence.
Efforts and accomplishments like the ones highlighted below reflect that collective approach and a commitment to our core values of sustainability, inclusivity, and service. As we move through the Spring 2025 semester, we can continue building on our success by maintaining this spirit of working together with kindness.
Sincerely,
Alberto J.F. Cardelle
President
| |
Alumni Hall Earns Platinum LEED Certification
| |
Alumni Hall is the first LEED Platinum facility on campus and one of only nine LEED Platinum buildings across the SUNY system. Physical Science is also a LEED-certified building, having earned Gold certification after it was renovated in 2018. These recognitions are a reflection of the university's commitment to sustainability and innovation.
| |
ACE Program Becomes "ASPIRE Oneonta"
Pathy Leiva
Executive Director, Access & Opportunity Programs
A program that was developed to assist first-generation SUNY Oneonta students is getting a new name. Access to College Excellence (ACE) was established in 2016 to provide students who are the first in their families to earn a bachelor's degree with guidance on everything from financial aid processes to academic success to career preparation.
This fall, ACE became ASPIRE Oneonta. This new name better reflects the motivational nature of the program and the ambition of the participating students. It will also distinguish our program from similarly named support programs outside SUNY Oneonta.
Part of the Office of Access and Opportunity Programs, ASPIRE Oneonta will continue helping students facing academic and financial challenges whose families don't have generational knowledge about higher education. ASPIRE Oneonta aligns with all five strategic pillars of the Forward Momentum Agenda, especially Academic Excellence & Equity and Student Success. The continued commitment to programs like ASPIRE Oneonta highlights the university's efforts to give all students the opportunity to excel, thrive, and achieve their goals.
| |
Student Ambassadors Raise Thousands of Dollars
& Nurture a Culture of Giving
| |
Essence Delmonte
Assistant Director, Fund for Oneonta
Throughout the Fall 2024 semester, 23 current students helped to raise over $17,000 to help fund scholarships, career preparedness programs, and more. These students work for University Advancement's Phonathon program as Student Philanthropy Ambassadors.
Phonathon is more than just a fundraising effort; it is an opportunity for students to engage with the university's broader community, obtain valuable skills, and support their fellow Red Dragons in a unique way. Ambassadors are part-time student employees who connect directly with alumni, donors, and friends of the university over the phone. However, these conversations are not only about securing gifts or pledges - the Ambassadors focus on engagement over transactions.
The Phonathon program utilizes dynamic, branched conversation prompts that facilitate and prioritize longer, more meaningful conversations. Each week, Ambassadors make phone calls to provide updates about the university, inquire about possible donations, and make sure the person on the other end of the line feels respected, valued, and heard. Student Philanthropy Ambassadors are also a key part of our stewardship efforts, calling recent donors to thank them for their generosity.
The Student Philanthropy Ambassador role offers a unique form of experiential learning, where students gain strong communication skills and grow their professional networks by speaking with alumni who were once in their shoes. Additionally, Ambassadors develop an appreciation for the vital role that charitable gifts of all sizes play in supporting scholarships, experiential learning, emergency support, and more.
The Phonathon Program aligns deeply with SUNY Oneonta’s core values.
- Inclusivity: Every gift matters. Ambassadors reach out to our entire diverse community of alumni and friends, ensuring that people from any background or with various capacities to give feel welcome to participate in shaping the university’s future.
- Service: By raising money for scholarships and other student support funds, Student Philanthropy Ambassadors help ensure that future students succeed.
- Sustainability: Investing in an on-campus Phonathon program ensures our responsible use of budget resources, compared to outsourcing to an off-site call center or third-party vendor. Connecting with alumni and donors via phone, text, and email also reduces our need for print materials, thereby minimizing paper use and promoting environmental stewardship.
University Advancement welcomes anyone who would like to learn more about the Student Philanthropy Ambassadors or visit the Phonathon room in Alumni Hall. Please reach out to me via email for more information.
| |
Student Athletes, Coaches Achieve Historic Milestones
| |
The men's wrestling team had a momentous achievement last month when they were named 2025 co-champions of the SUNY Athletic Conference (SUNYAC). Ten Red Dragons contributed to earning 141 points at the SUNYAC Championships, tying with SUNY Cortland for first place. All-American Jack Ryan '25, was also crowned the champion for the 184-pound class. Oneonta acheived this accomplishment in just the second year since men's wrestling was introduced to SUNYAC. The team also earned SUNY Oneonta's first New York State Collegiate Championship for the first time in program history in Nov. 2024.
| |
Women's basketball coach Daphne Thompson recorded her 500th career win on Jan. 25, when the Red Dragons posted a 58-48 victory against SUNY Potsdam. This is Coach Thompson's 33rd season as a head coach in women's collegiate basketball. She began her head coaching career at Hartwick College, where she racked up her first 223 career wins. Thompson is SUNY Oneonta's all-time winningest basketball coach, tallying 277 wins with the Red Dragons throughout 18 seasons.
Two Red Dragons were named 2024 SUNYAC Scholar Athletes of the Year for their respective sports. In January, the SUNYAC announced that Dillion Kelly '26, was named the Scholar Athlete of the Year for Men's Soccer, and Sabrinna Mena '25, earned Scholar Athlete of the Year for Women's Cross Country. Mena is a senior Dietetics major with a 3.94 GPA, and Kelly is a junior with a 3.95 GPA, majoring in Biology.
| |
SUNY Oneonta Welcomes The Voice of Selma
| |
On Jan. 27, the 2025 Martin Luther King Jr. Day keynote and Black History Month Distinguished Lecture was delivered by renowned singer and civil rights activist Bettie Mae Fikes. Well known as 'the Voice of Selma,' Fikes was a member of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee and the Freedom Singers. A native of Selma, Alabama, Fikes grew up participating in the civil rights movement, spending time with notable leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. and John Lewis.
Fikes spent two days on campus sharing her story with students, faculty and staff, and the greater Oneonta community. Her inspirational words and songs encouraged listeners to get involved with finding solutions to the problems facing society and to use music to connect with causes and one another.
| |
New PharmD Cooperative Program with University at Buffalo
Tami LaPilusa
Director, Office of Health Careers
We are proud to announce a new articulation agreement with the University at Buffalo (UB) School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences that provides an accelerated path to earning a Doctor of Pharmacy degree for SUNY Oneonta students.
This program is a 3+4 agreement where students spend three years at SUNY Oneonta completing at least 95 semester hours in our Biology BS program, then four years at UB completing their remaining Oneonta bachelor's degree, then their professional study for the Doctor of Pharmacy degree. After successfully completing their first year of study at UB, the coursework will transfer back to Oneonta and students will earn their B.S. After completing their seventh year of study and meeting the requirements at UB, students will earn a Doctor of Pharmacy degree.
UB's School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences is ranked the No. 1 pharmacy school in New York, 19th best in the nation, and the 12th most affordable in the U.S. This is an exciting new partnership that expands access for our students and will improve outcomes for those interested in pursuing careers as pharmacists.
| |
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.
No regular meeting notes were taken this month. On Jan. 10, the President's Cabinet held a retreat where ideas for cross-campus collaboration were discussed.
| |
|
|
|
|
