Dear Fellow Smitties,
It is with pride and pleasure that I forward this second Day One report of the Fall Semester. We all owe a vote of thanks to our many colleagues who contributed and to Bianca and Shannon who assembled the report. And, it almost goes without saying that the vote of thanks should be extended to the many fellow Smitties whose acts and accomplishments are documented herein.
My first inclination was to highlight the most important items, but I could find no simple rule to delineate “most important” so here they are.
And, speaking of “pride and pleasure”, we should all take great pride in our combined efforts to assure compliance with our robust Covid-19 Management Plan that has made possible our COVID-free success to date. Please keep up this most important work. In addition to keeping us all safe, the resulting COVID-free environment will help assure the future enrollment that makes this amazing institution possible.
Thank you all for all that you do.
Jon
- The U.S. News and World Report (USNWR) annual college rankings are out! PSC has been recognized in five categories:
- Most Innovative School (#2)
- Best Undergraduate Teaching (#3)
- Best Colleges for Veterans (#15)
- Regional Colleges, North (#27)
- Top Performers on Social Mobility (#34)
- A new track in eSports Management has been added to our Management degree. The program is designed to help our students launch careers in this rapidly expanding industry, which is poised to become a 1.8-billion-dollar market by 2022.
- A new Restaurant Management Certificate has been added to our catalog. This certificate complements the recently-approved Culinary Fundamentals Certificate. Both programs can be run off-campus in collaboration with corporate partners.
- The new biathlon range at the VIC was christened with a “first shot” ceremony. Students Lina Miner-Fara, Dolcie Tanguay and Garrett Beckrich, biathletes pursuing Olympic dreams while also earning their degrees, were joined by US Biathlon Association executives Max Cobb and Tim Burke.
- Casella Waste Management has made its first-ever gift to the college with a $100,000 donation to support our sustainability efforts and athletics.
- Stewart’s Shops and the Dake Family continued their generosity toward PSC with a $100,000 gift in support of student scholarships.
- The Advancement team has partnered with FreeWill to offer alumni and friends a free, easy method for writing or updating their wills, including an option to designate a gift for PSC. In its first month the program has yielded 5 committed bequests totaling $53,100.
- PSC’s DECA Chapter visited the United States Luge Association to speak with Olympian and Director of Marketing, Gordy Sheer.
- Kelly Cerialo and Eric Holmlund are developing a “virtual study abroad” approach to the popular EST 330 Protected Landscapes and Community Sustainability course, to be run in collaboration with partners in Italy for Spring 2021.
- Cantwell 101 has been renamed “The Forge” and will be transformed into a space for entrepreneurship and innovation for students from all programs. The name was inspired by the forges where Smitties have traditionally worked on their craft for centuries.
- PSC’s DECA Chapter held a series of pop-ups to bring some fun into the beginning of the semester. Hand-crafted lemonade, popsicles, and grilled hot dogs were served to 200+ folks at the events.
- The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council is working to construct an official Charter. The team is currently surveying each department and office to assess policies and practices already in place.
- A paper on sediment core research by Curt Stager, student Lydia Harvey, and Scott Chimileski titled “Long-term Cultural Eutrophication in White and Walden Ponds (Concord, MA, USA), Thoreau’s Lakes of Light” has been accepted for publication in the peer-reviewed journal Lake and Reservoir Management.
- Our Forestry department was highlighted for innovative use of Go-Pro cameras to capture surveying labs in the article “Teaching Surveying Classes in the Era of COVID-19” published by the UESI Surveying and Geomatics Education Committee.
- Brett McLeod published a feature article in the current issue of Adirondack Life, entitled, “On Target”. He addressed the question: who needs horseshoes when you can throw axes?
- Martha Van der Voort was interviewed by the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage for the project American Ginseng: Local Knowledge, Global Roots. This project focuses on American ginseng’s importance in human culture.
- Joe Henderson was interviewed by WXXI (Rochester) for a discussion on the impact of the California wildfires.
- Dan Kelting was featured in a Talking Adirondack Road Salt virtual panel discussion hosted by Adirondack Explorer.
- Bethany Garretson and climbing partner Katie Rhodes completed a record-setting climb of the 46 peaks. Together they covered 180 miles and 65,000 feet of elevation gain in 7 days, 4 hours and 50 minutes. Along the way, they raised over $3,000 for 46 Climbs, a nonprofit whose mission is to overcome suicide and mental illness. They were the first all-women’s team to speed climb the 46 unsupported, and also hold the third-best time ever in the burgeoning climbing sport known as Fastest Known Time.
- Bethany also authored an article in Trail Runner Magazine featuring an impressive climbing duo in the High Peaks.
- Robert O’Connor and Dylan Maney have been tapped to conduct a Lunch and Learn virtual workshop outlining the principles of Leave No Trace for the Colorado company Businessolver.
- The Sea Kayaking class with Robert O’Connor paddled the entire length of Lake George in one 11-hour day!
- PSC grad student Jordan Foulds is conducting a 100-day running streak as a fundraiser to raise awareness for epilepsy. The fundraiser is dedicated to PSC alum Joe St. Cyr who died tragically in 2019. Follow Jordan’s inspiring story on Instagram, or donate at the fundraising page.
- Various teams and departments have been busy expanding our social media presence. With our limited ability to host visitors on campus, this is more important than ever.
- The Social Media User Group (SMUG) held its first two sessions of the semester. Tutorials included Quality Photos (delivered by Andy Johnstone) and Context = Better Content (delivered by Workshop). Remaining topics this semester include Organization and Consistency, Formatting Content, and A Word on Free Tools. Please contact Shannon Oborne if you would like to join.
- The Hospitality and Business department is running a #PSCMaskMadness campaign. Images of mask-wearing Smitties are welcome!
- Admissions is actively adding to four social media platforms. If faculty, staff or students are interested in doing an ‘admissions social media takeover’ or helping to provide social media content, please contact Cori Barnard.
- Admissions counselors have implemented a variety of actions to yield enrollments for 2021
- Virtual guidance visits, classroom visits, fairs and classroom presentations for prospective freshmen, transfer students and international events. At least 140 individuals registered for September.
- 14 days of virtual personal tours for students.
- Unibuddy live Q&A and financial aid Q&A for prospective students.
- Extensive communication plans for first-time freshmen, transfer students, international students, graduate students, juniors, deposited students, re-recruits, and parents.
- Constant contact with prospective Spring 2021 students to ensure they are ready to enroll this January.
- Acceptance Letters for Fall 2021 will start going out October 15.
- Advancement has implemented a new “Text to Give” option that will be incorporated in all future appeals, and will be available at the VIC and at boat launches next summer.
- Several alumni attended Class Rep training – many thanks to those who were able to join.
- The Alumni Campground Clean-Up was a great success with over two dozen volunteers (alumni, parents and current students) led by Russell Wagner ’05. The crew completed road work including 8 loads of gravel for the loop road; installed a new wood shed built by current students with instruction from Deb Naybor ’77; stained/weather sealed outhouses, picnic table tables, fence and gate; felled several dangerous trees and processed them for firewood. A special thank you to Andrew Quinn ’83, owner of Desperados, for providing a great meal for the Campground Clean-Up Crew!
- A Heritage Tree was planted in memory of William Burns ’49. Randall Swanson and Jesse Sherman led the Arboriculture II Lab class in planting the tree in front of the Phelps Smith Administration building. This was made possible with generous donations from David Eaton ’61 of Bob’s Trees in Galway, NY and the Alumni Board of Directors.
- Counseling Center Peer Educators handed out Zen boxes and made tie dye t-shirts with students for Suicide Awareness Month. Amy Belair provided counseling support to 5 FYS classes with discussions on violence and healthy relationships.
- The RAs are doing an amazing job at supporting students, providing engagement and balancing their own coursework.
- Dallas Olsen, Johnny Wood and Greg Davis assisted Student Activities with drive-in movie events at Tucker Farms.
- Yelena Jaquith held a glow in the dark/bonfire event with Student Activities for students who are on campus during the weekend.
- Jaden Sanborn held a community clean-up program for the residents of Blum House.
- Resident Assistants have been doing health & safety inspections to ensure compliance of all rules by resident students. RAs of both Currier and LMS have had follow up floor meetings with their residents to reinforce mask wearing and social distancing. We have seen an increase of students not wearing masks the residence halls. Remember your commitment to the Smitty Pledge – let’s keep vigilant and mask up.
- Facilities has been busy with campus improvements. Some highlights:
- An assessment of the campus electrical lines was conducted, and upgrades have been made in preparation for the winter.
- Repair work for the front steps of Saunders Sports Complex is expected to start this month.
- The AT&T tower should be complete by the end of October.
- The Conduct Hearing Board received an annual 6-hour training session. All individuals participating in the College’s sexual misconduct grievance process learned about the Final Federal Regulations for Title IX released in May 2020. These regulations outline how institutions adjudicate incidents involving sexual misconduct, domestic violence, dating violence and stalking. In addition, all individuals involved receive regular online training through NACCOP (National Association of Clery Compliance Officers and Professionals) and the SUNY Student Conduct Institute.
- Starting Monday October 5, Pickett Hall will be open 24 hours so students can access the Pickett 110 computer lab at any time. This overflow space for the library allows students with computer projects to work at their convenience.
- Recent co-curricular events offered by Student Activities include a Club Fair, two successful drive-in movies, trivia nights, voter registration drive, congressional speaker James Walsh, and adopt-a-highway cleanup. The team also hosted a successful blood drive, achieving 115% of our goal – thanks to all who contributed!
- Student Government Association elections were held to fill all open seats. Congrats to our new officers Nicholas Polulech, Gabriella Womack, and Sam Branch.
Upcoming Events of Note
- October 8: Comedian Justin Rupple
- October 9 – 30: Ask An Expert webinar series featuring Michale Glennon, Dan Kelting, and Joe Henderson, Fridays 10:00 am – 11:00 am
- October 13: Smitty Lecture Series featuring Jon Waterman on the topic of conservation in the National Parks. 6:30 pm
- October 16: Virtual Escape Room
- October 17: Virtual Open House Academic Department Meetings. 11:00 am – 12:30pm
- November 7: Virtual Open House Academic Department Meetings. 11:00 am – 12:30pm
- Several Halloween events are planned throughout the month – including a door decorating contest, pumpkin carving, and reverse trick or treating.
