Arthur Thomas, Ph.D., executive director for the Office of Professional Acceleration and Microcredentials at the College of Professional Studies, co-authored the textbook “Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)® Exam Official Cert Guide Premium Edition and Practice Test” with Vijay Kanabar and Thomas Lechler.
Published by the Pearson IT Certification on May 23, the textbook is an independent study guide authorized by the Project Management Institute (PMI).
“We all have taught project management for many years, and PMI allowed us the freedom to include what we thought was needed to make this book suitable for a college class in project management, while still providing the needed information for the certification exam,” Thomas says. “This textbook gave us an opportunity to include what we always considered essential, while also functioning as a self-teaching guide for students. Due to its timing, we tailored the book to the new PMI exam that was just announced, so we’re already up to date with the focus of the new CAPM certification.”
Providing an onramp to higher education access by driving opportunities toward attaining a degree at Syracuse University is at the heart of the mission of the College of Professional Studies.
At the intersection of student need and donor generosity lie scholarships that can help bridge a gap in what it takes financially to continue a path to academic advancement.
Two primary types of scholarship giving exist: named scholarships and endowed scholarships. Named scholarships provide funds that are used to support current students. Endowed scholarships establish perpetual funds that allow the college to invest the donor’s principal and then use interest earned to award aid to students based on scholastic merit or financial need.
A recent graduate, Joseph Carringer personifies how an endowed scholarship through the college fueled his degree completion. More than 25 years had passed since the small business entrepreneur enrolled in a Syracuse University course. Carringer, a didgeridoo sound therapist, and chief executive officer of a sustainable apparel consulting firm, returned to the University to study online during the Spring 2020, when the pandemic afforded him more time to focus on classes. Yet affording in terms of paying for his education was severely impacted by lessened work opportunities.
“I had to leave Syracuse University originally due to inability to pay,” says Carringer. This time around, however, as a recipient of the Distant Drums Native American Endowed Scholarship, he was assured the financial relief needed to complete his post traditional education. He graduated with a double major in creative leadership and liberal studies, along with three minors in anthropology, philosophy and project management. Carringer is now on his way at the University toward earning a master’s in project management.
“Post-traditional students often depend on scholarships to reduce tuition costs and other expenses associated with completing their degrees,” says Michael Frasciello, dean of the College of Professional Studies. “The growing portfolio of scholarships at the college draws from a range of resources including government-sponsored student assistance programs, privately funded education initiatives, and college-specific aid. If a student qualifies for aid, we will work tirelessly to find the support.”
A recent expression of a meaningful endowed scholarship came from Dolores “Lor” and Steve Speach. The couple honored their many educational and career achievements by establishing an endowed scholarship through the college to celebrate the memories they hold dear of their time at Syracuse University.
“I am continually humbled by the generosity of all donors, whose gifts come to the college in varying amounts and for varied reasons,” says Frasciello. “Those with the means to establish an endowed scholarship signal a strong commitment to the ongoing success of the college and our students.”
While grateful for the funding provided by the Distant Drums Native American Endowed Scholarship, Carringer, part Cherokee, says he has been emotionally moved by the support and assistance of his alma mater. “The College of Professional Studies has proven to be the key to my development as a professional and a more well-rounded individual.”
The College of Professional Studies congratulates each of the recipients of a donor funded scholarship during the 2022-2023 academic year:
Women of the University Community Mildred Eggers Scholarship
Victoria Ann Barnum Liberal Studies
Zhane Briggs Business Management
Aglaeth Vazquez Social Work
Bethaida “Bea” Gonzalez Endowed Scholarship
Andrew Ostrander Political Philosophy
Timothy Sullivan Knowledge Management
Pearl Ness Clements Endowed Scholarship
Autumn Patricia Battle Liberal Arts
Cindy Cunduff Liberal Studies
Gillian Knafelc Women’s and Gender Studies
Distant Drums Native American Endowed Scholarship
Joseph Brian Carringer Liberal Studies
Skuse Family 5×5 Scholarship
Alyssa Diaz Cybersecurity Administration
Robert O’Connell Kelley Cybersecurity Administration
Syracuse UniversityAlumnae Club Endowed Scholarship
Kyrissa Maria Difabio Business Management
College of Professional Studies OTHC Scholarship
Kenneth Iheanyichuckwu Creative Leadership
Leondra Jeanne Tyler Psychology
Elizabeth (BJ) Ryan Metz Scholarship
Olivia Grace Sauta Management
Class of 1950 Continuing Education Scholarship
Timothy Moses Liberal Studies
To learn how to establish a scholarship through the College of Professional Studies, contact Jeffry Comanici, executive director, post-traditional advancement, at 315-443-1409 or jjcomani@syr.edu.
The College of Professional Studies’ mission is to deliver exceptional support and services to a diverse part-time student population seeking a Syracuse University education. The Office of Professional Acceleration and Microcredentials stays true to this mission by offering microcredentials that allows learners access to upgrade their skills and explore new interests.
What is your position at the College of Professional Studies?
I am the operations specialist in the Office of Professional Acceleration and Microcredentials.
How long have you worked at the College of Professional Studies?
I’ve been working at Syracuse University for over 7 years, with the last two years at the College of Professional Studies. Previously, I worked as an advisor for a career preparation and employment program for transitioning service members, veterans and military spouses. That role helped me understand the unique needs of nontraditional students and how educational institutions can work to meet those needs.
In one sentence, how would you describe your role and/or department?
Our department supports lifelong learning by providing opportunities for everyone to upgrade their skillset, explore new areas of interest, or prepare for industry certification exams.
What aspects of your profession bring you joy?
Being able to offer learning opportunities to those who never thought they would be able to take a course at Syracuse University. I also love seeing how these shorter courses and programs can open doors for the students and provide a pathway for them to earn a degree from Syracuse University.
What is your proudest moment at the College of Professional Studies?
Hearing about the successes of those who take our courses. Success looks different for everyone; sometimes it’s completing a 4-week online course, and sometimes it’s earning an industry certification. No matter what that success looks like for those students, I love celebrating their wins alongside them and seeing how it has a positive impact on their lives.
I’m also very proud to be in a position where I can focus on providing courses and programs that meet the needs of all of our potential students. Each offering isn’t going to be a perfect fit for everyone, so I am proud to be able to invest time and resources into offering courses in a variety of different delivery methods and price points.
How does your department support students during their time here?
Our department sees everyone as a potential student—from University Leadership to SU staff to SU faculty to the local community to the continent to the entire world. We strive to ensure that everyone who interacts with our department’s offerings has a positive Syracuse University experience.
Additionally, as our department continues to grow, we will be adding a student success team, which will be the dedicated support system for the students throughout their lifelong learning with our department.
Our goal as a college is to provide high-quality service to our students. How does your department go above and beyond to support Syracuse University students?
We aspire to be a one-stop shop for anyone who is looking to upgrade their current skillset, explore new interests, or prepare for an industry certification exam. Since we see everyone as a potential student, we strive to offer courses and programs at a variety of different levels, delivery methods, and price ranges. Additionally, our department is uniquely built to quickly adapt to the needs of our students, workforce, and industry. As the market and environment continue to change, our department will continue to adapt and add new offerings to meet these needs.
If students would like to get connected with your department, how can they do so?
Tamrie Oliver speaks at the College of Professional Studies 2023 convocation.
Tamrie Oliver ’23 retired her putty knife after spackling her living room walls for the final time. The sun crept through the windows, casting a spotlight for Oliver to examine her work. Each groove would soon be sanded down and splashed with a layer of “Glamour,” a paint mixed with tints of light pink and soft brown.
Although it took 350 hours of sweat equity, Oliver was finally seeing her vision come together. Not just in her home that she was building through Habitat for Humanity, but in life itself. From raising three children as a single mother to attending college part-time at Syracuse University’s College of Professional Studies, Oliver could envision the next phase of life approaching—the one she spent ten years preparing the blueprint for.
“I once heard someone describe a student who studies online as a nontraditional student. Over the course of my life, the phrase ‘nontraditional’ has always followed me,” Oliver said.
Phase One: Preparing the Blueprint
It was three months before Oliver’s high school graduation when the term nontraditional began to cling. Oliver, a spunky 18-year-old ready to embark on adulthood, stared at a positive pregnancy test. A cluster of emotions bubbled in her chest as she realized her life was taking a nontraditional route.
Filled with anxiety about what motherhood would mean, Oliver enrolled in community college and held tightly onto the lingering moments of a normal teenage life. Like lightning, a nontraditional occurrence struck again when Oliver delivered her baby at only 26 weeks. With a 2-pound newborn in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), Oliver was forced to take a medical leave of absence.
College would have to wait.
Soon after, Oliver gave birth to her second child at 25 weeks. This time, she would have to juggle raising a baby at home, working overnight shifts, and commuting 45-minutes to visit her newborn in the NICU.
College continued to wait.
Three years went by, and Oliver was now a single mother of three children. As her family continued to evolve, Oliver knew she wanted more for them. It would require taking a step backward and moving into her parent’s home, but it was time for Oliver to finally attend college. Two years later, Oliver graduated with an associate’s degree in business management. Although delighted that she obtained a degree after an unexpected hiatus, Oliver couldn’t help but feel that this was merely the blueprint for the goals she wanted to achieve. If she wanted to build a better future for her family, she needed to lay the foundation.
Shortly after, Oliver enrolled in the College of Professional Studies at Syracuse University.
“I was shocked that Syracuse offered bachelor’s degrees online. I called immediately to make sure it was real,” Oliver said. “After talking with an advisor, I chose to study a bachelor of professional studies in creative leadership.”
Phase Two: Building the Foundation
From 6 a.m. to 2 p.m., Oliver would go to work, while the remainder of the day was spent taking classes online. Oftentimes, Oliver’s children could be seen peeking through the bedroom door while they watched their mother attend class through a video camera and computer screen. Oliver’s father corralled the children back to playtime so she could focus on her studies. It was a controlled chaos, and Oliver was thankful for it, but she knew it was time to move into a space just for her and her children.
With one degree completed, another in progress, the kids a bit older, and Oliver a bit wiser, she knew this was the perfect time to build a house through Habitat for Humanity, a home-buying program for low-income homebuyers.
The program required 350 hours of sweat equity, which Oliver tackled each weekend from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oliver spent her time installing drywall, painting the interior, and dodging splinters from the raw wood, while the other home building volunteers and professionals focused on the more advanced work.
When moving day arrived, Oliver’s vision finally came to life. She took in the freshly painted walls—the ones she spackled, primed, and coated with pigment herself. Oliver felt a sense of pride unlike any other.
“Habitat for Humanity had this whole ceremony when the house was completed,” Oliver said. “Building a house while going to school and raising my children was a big accomplishment. I felt really proud.”
With another goal completed, it was time for Oliver to finish her degree. Tucked away in her newly decorated office nook, Oliver continued to attend classes online. A tapestry hung behind her, replicating the set of Oliver’s favorite YouTube show, “Good Mythical Morning,” which depicted a mid-century modern aesthetic combined with a collection of random trinkets, instruments, and forest print wallpaper. Surrounding her computer were various awards, ones that reminded her of the goal she was working towards.
“I kind of tried to put in a little bit of everything. I like to show my personality through the camera,” Oliver said.
Phase Three: Movin’ on Up
Tamrie Oliver takes a picture with her professor at the College of Professional Studies 2023 convocation.
Although she was online, Oliver felt connected to her cohort. Classes conducted through video calls offered a different kind of enrichment that still allowed Oliver to interact with her peers and professors. She connected with other post-traditional students, learning that their life experiences and wealth of diverse perspectives were celebrated. Suddenly, Oliver’s nontraditional life felt empowering. The adjective now held a positive connotation, and she was proud to be a nontraditional student.
“When my academic journey first began, I felt like I didn’t really have confidence or a voice,” Oliver said. “But I’ve proven myself. I’m the first graduate of my family.”
Oliver closed out her courses for the last time and soaked up the excitement of the unknown. The possibilities of the what-ifs circulated in her mind as she felt blissful knowing she had accomplished what she set out to do ten years ago. The obstacles Oliver endured, academically and personally, allowed her to grow into the best version of herself. Now, it was time to pass the wisdom on to her children.
Syracuse University’s College of Professional Studies celebrated the Class of 2023 on Thursday, May 11, at its 75th annual Convocation Ceremony. Fifty-eight students, in total, were individually recognized for completing their program of study in 2023, representing eight schools and colleges and 20 majors within the University.
Dean Michael Frasciello began the night applauding the graduating class for their high achievements. Keynote speaker Mirza Tihic, College of Professional Studies faculty member, challenged the graduates to use their education to make a positive impact in the world. Tihic also remarked on the importance of “staying human” in this increasingly digital world by enacting a concerted effort to build and maintain relationships. “Please don’t forget the people that helped you get here, your friends and family members. Maintain and cherish those relationships,” Tihic said.
College of Professional Studies Convocation 2023
Tamrie Oliver, creative leadership bachelor of professional studies graduate, served as student speaker. Oliver recounted her life experiences that exemplify the term “nontraditional.” As a full-time single mother, full-time worker and part-time online student, Oliver cites her support system and unwavering determination to break out of the “stuck” feeling she found herself in for many years. Hoping to serve as encouragement to fellow students, Oliver urged “anyone that feels stuck or feels being nontraditional isn’t the way to go, I hope you find comfort and inspiration in my story.”
Celebrating Academic Achievements
Ten students were named as prestigious Alumni Scholars. Each of these bachelor’s degree candidates earned a minimum GPA of 3.9. The class of 2023 Alumni Scholars are Michael Crandall, Joseph Fernandez, Edward Furcinito, Scott Howard, Joshua Kompf, Tamrie Oliver, Andrew Ostrander, Timothy Sullivan, Dania Tompkins and Cherri Wells.
This year, the Nancy C. Gelling Award, which is given annually to part-time students who achieve the highest overall grade point average for a first bachelor’s degree was awarded to three students graduating with a perfect 4.0 grade point average; Michael Crandall, graduating with bachelor’s degree in Creative Leadership, Edward Furcinito, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Knowledge Management, and Scott Howard, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Liberal Studies. This is the first time in the history of the award that the College of Professional Studies recognized multiple students.
Additionally, the College of Professional Studies awarded the Faculty Excellence Award to Katherine Sosa, Ph.D., a Bachelor of Professional Studies instructor and the Staff Service Award was awarded to the Office of Government and Community Relations. The College of Visual and Performing Arts awarded George Lambert the Sylvia Wyckoff Award for outstanding academic achievement. The David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics awarded Aglaeth Vazquez the Hortence Cochrane Award for outstanding academic achievement.
Honoring a Collaborative Community
College of Professional Studies Convocation 2023
The College of Professional Studies was excited to honor three current staff members who joined the class of 2023 graduates; Margaret Thompson, database administrator, Cherri Wells, online student success advisor, and Rich Pitzeruse, educational technologist.
For the first time in the College’s history, student participants in the iConsult Collaborative and Nanhi Kali student groups were honored for their outstanding leadership skills. iConsult is a university-wide program to build experience for students through real-world client projects involving digital transformation. The 2023 iConsult student graduates recognized were Chakshushri, Manali Ghorpade, Ruchita Harsora, Srishti Sanghvi, Pranav Sheth, Nikita Sirwan and Ankita Vartak. Nanhi Kali is a project of the Mahindra Foundation of India, supporting education for underprivileged girls. The 2023 Nanhi Kali student graduates recognized were Chakshushri, Sagarika Barde, Sanjana Dubey, Ashitosh Gupta, Ruchita Harsora, Rahul Khairnar, Sahaj Kandelwal, Aishwary Patel and Nidhee Patil.
The ceremony was immediately followed by a reception on the quad.
