Dear Paul Smith’s community,
In last month’s Day One I alerted you to government proposals that if adopted, would result in reduced funding to our students as well as to the college. Some of you asked for more information on how to make your voice heard. At the state level, feel free to participate in an e-advocacy campaign that allows student aid supporters to quickly and easily generate emails to their representatives in the Senate and Assembly and key members of both House’s leadership. The pre-written emails urge policymakers to restore funding for Bundy Aid and opportunity programs. Participation is simple: Click this link, input your address (please use the Paul Smith’s address of 7833 New York 30, Paul Smiths New York even if you reside outside New York), personalize the email and complete a short form. Comments on federal legislation should be directed to our Senators (Gillibrand and Schumer) and Congresswoman Stefanik.
Cathy
February was quite a month. Our temperatures swung from a low of -14 to a high of 63! As you will see reflected below, even though there were only 28 days there was a lot going on…
- Kelly Cerialo and Eric Holmlund led a virtual seminar on Sustainable Tourism in the Adirondack Park for postgraduate students at the University of Parma in Italy.
- Mark Divine, Navy SEAL, entrepreneur, yoga and martial arts guru, professor and author has been selected as the keynote speaker for our May 2018 Commencement. Even though he is now living on the west coast, Mark has a family home on Lake Placid, and spent every summer there until joining the “real world.” We’re glad to give him a reason to get back here in May.
- We have bronze medal winners! Culinary students Jeaneliz Mendez, Selena Hay and Danielle Baldwin traveled with Chef Breyette to Charlotte, NC to compete in a national competition organized by the American Culinary Federation — Baron H. Galand Culinary Knowledge Bowl. Congratulations to all.
- Hospitality Management students assisted with the “Taste of the Games” during the Empire State Winter Games in Lake Placid, serving soups, chowders and chili from 20 local restaurants to 500+ participants and earning great exposure for PSC.
- The PSC DECA Chapter hosted a tour at the Lake Placid Hampton Inn and Suites. The group will tour the Hotel Saranac in March.
- Peer Educators collaborated with Planned Parenthood to present the “At your Cervix” program to raise awareness regarding cervical cancer. Peer educators also distributed 100+ condoms with STI facts in a “condom fairies” campaign to promote safe sex.
- Joe Conto was asked to be the keynote speaker for the Adirondack Destination Marketing Summit to be held in Lake Placid. His topic is “Storytelling and Its Use as a Marketing Tool.” Joe, along with Kelly Cerialo, will be presenting one of the eight break-out sessions of the day. Students in the Destination Dynamics and Creating & Communicating Value courses will also attend the event.
- Dan Kelting gave an invited presentation, “Road Salt Reduction Initiatives in the Adirondacks”, as part of a one-day forum on road salting at the Cary Institute in Millbrook, NY.
- Admissions and culinary faculty conducted multiple cooking demonstrations for BOCES students in an ongoing effort to build stronger relationships within the BOCES programs.
- Bruno Neveu and Joe Conto visited Fort Drum for a joint presentation on careers in the Culinary & Hospitality fields for soldiers of the 10th Mountain Division.
- Tom Huber and the TRiO Student Support Services staff celebrated National TRiO Day with a luncheon featuring local foods. A representative from Congresswoman Elise Stefanik’s office joined for a roundtable discussion of the federal PROSPER Act which, if enacted by Congress, would significantly reduce federal aid to our students.
- The snowshoe team has earned victories in Vermont, Maine and New York in races from 50 meters to 10 kilometers as they prepare for next month’s World Championships in Spain followed by the US Nationals in Vermont.
- Eleven students competed in the Empire State Winter Games snowshoe races, and the group won 27 medals over the course of the day. Margret Montag and Lily Sher both won four gold medals!
- PSC was featured in a recent industry report focusing on student success and retention: Driving toward a Degree: The Evolution of Planning and Advising in Higher Education.
- Celia Evans has distributed a document outlining “guidelines for financial arrangements for international travel.” The Stirling Tompkins international travel fund supports the global adventures of approximately 50 students each year. Eligibility requirements have recently been expanded, making the fund now available to graduating seniors. The next deadline to apply for Tompkins travel funding is March 15.
- Annabelle Abbadessa and Abagail Fontaine attended HIPAA training in Albany.
- Teresa Gay attended the 2018 Conference for the Association for Student Conduct Administration.
- 47 students are attending Chapter Events to become members of the National Society of Leadership and Success.
- Jim Tucker attended a program entitled, “Sexual and Interpersonal Violence on College Campuses: What Athletics Leadership and Staff Need to Know.”
- 175 students attended the Super Bowl Extravaganza in the Dining Hall.
- PSC students helped with a multicultural fair at Petrova Elementary school in Saranac Lake, preparing and presenting dishes from Mexico, China, Poland, and Ireland.
- Rob Wickner ’78 hosted an alumni reception in Tampa Florida at Catch Twenty Three.
- Our admissions activity is in full swing. Thanks to so many who help prospective students learn more about our college. In February:
- We had 44 accepted students visit campus for Accepted Student Day. Ten of these visitors made their commitment to PSC while they were on campus. Overall, enrollment applications remain ahead of last year, as do our current enrollment deposits. A huge thank you to the many faculty, staff and students who made the day great. There was a great turnout by current students for the Club Fair — the prize for best display goes to the PSC SnowCats – they will receive a $100 donation into their club fund.
- The Admissions office hosted over 30 visitors in the month of February; campus visits are up from previous years.
- Student callers have made 2000+ phone calls to prospective students sharing stories about their PSC experience, inviting them to visit campus, and updating them on their application status.
- PSC tour guides have been outfitted with bright blue jackets – please make sure to say hello to visitors on campus when they are with the tour guides.
- After over a year of intensive work by many, a comprehensive self-study has been submitted to our accrediting agency (Middle States Commission on Higher Education) in preparation for a site visit in early April. Congratulations to all who contributed to the process; a job well done.
- In February we had some great leaders start new jobs at Paul Smith’s. Welcome to David Placey (Vice President for Enrollment Management), Janet Waldron (Interim Vice President for Finance and Administration), Shakirra Jones (Director of Student Counseling), and Josh Clemens (Business Development Specialist). Please introduce yourself to each of them! We have a few transitions coming up in March that you should know about, including Keith Braun who is leaving to pursue his own business (we are thrilled he will remain in the area and continue to assist the college as appropriate), and Sodexo employees Patrick Titus and Keith LaPointe. Even though Patrick and Keith work for Sodexo they are very much part of our community and will be missed. We wish all of them the best and look forward to continued interaction.
- This is the time of year when we begin working on the 2017-18 budget. As part of that process we are establishing a Budget Advisory Committee to bring improved understanding of college finances to the community, and to inform the allocation and management of our resources. Members will include representatives from governance groups and other constituencies. Vice President Waldron will be soliciting names shortly.
- The inaugural Adirondack Snowshoe Fest marked the first-ever collaboration between PSC and Dewey Mountain to host a regional competition. Dozens of participants from across the Northeast took part.
- Winter Carnival events were tremendous fun bringing together students, faculty, staff & alumni:
- 150 players competed in Knockerball
- 200+ attended the student & alumni Hockey Game – congrats to our students who took home the win
- Several hundred alumni and friends attended the joint NCCC & PSC Alumni Reception at the Hotel Saranac on parade day
- The Woodsmen’s Team conducted their always-popular exhibitions
Upcoming Events of Note
- 3/2: Friday Night Owl Prowl and Bonfire @ the VIC
- 3/2: information session on NOLS Fall 2018 semester
- 3/3: “Born to Rewild” movie screening @ the VIC
- 3/3: Hockey Game @ Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
- 3/3: “Cooking for Scholarships” event – 28 prospective students will be on campus for this exciting competition
- 3/4: Night at the Oscars in Lakeside Dining Hall
- 3/5: Nepali dinner
- 3/5: Featured Speaker – Sara Safari: “Follow My Footsteps” talk & book signing @ the VIC
- 3/8: Spoken Word Poet “Odd Rod”
- 3/10: Campus Visit Day including a Club Fair
- 3/11: “Making Fire” Primitive Skills Workshop @ the VIC
- 3/17: Annual Pancake Breakfast at Bob’s Trees hosted by Linda & Dave Eaton ’61
- 3/17-23: Spring break (we probably don’t need to remind anyone about this one…)
- 3/17-18 and 3/24-25: NYS Maple Weekends with Pancake Breakfast @ the VIC
- 3/29: Career Fair
- 4/1-4: Middle States Commission on Higher Education visiting team
- 4/14: First Annual Student Leadership Conference at PSC with other colleges
- 5/4-5: Capstone presentations
- 5/12: Commencement
