News

WRVO Highlights Syracuse University Cannabis Certificates

In the world of higher education, online cannabis courses are blooming. New classes provided in partnership with Syracuse University’s College of Professional Studies and Green Flower allow students to study cannabis-related programs such as healthcare and medicine, agriculture and horticulture, law and policy, and the business of cannabis.

Green Flower CEO Max Simon said he expects cannabis to create between 60,000 and 80,000 jobs in New York state over the next few years alone. 

“The certificates provide the specific ability to say, ‘Now I understand enough about this, so no matter what happens in the industry, and/or what happens in regulations, I’ll know how to go from here,’” says Art Thomas, executive director of the Office of Professional Acceleration and Microcredentials.

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Syracuse University Center for Online and Digital Learning Announces New Executive Director

The Center for Online and Digital Learning announces Judy Yuzhu Teng, Ph.D., as its executive director. In this position, Teng will lead the Center for Online and Digital Learning’s instructional design and course development services.

Teng will serve as an institutional lead, coordinating with academic leaders and faculty to research, evaluate and implement instructional and content development strategies and technologies supporting Syracuse University online programs.

“Judy joins us at a transformational moment for Syracuse University. She brings to us the thought leadership necessary to anchor the mission-critical Center to the University’s strategic enrollment plan,” says Michael Frasciello, dean of the College of Professional Studies. “As a senior leader of large-scale instructional design and development initiatives, Judy understands what is required to drive sustainable, scalable, and research-driven learning innovation.”

Teng joins Syracuse University from George Washington University where she served in academic leadership roles, overseeing transitions to online learning, establishing course design and development readiness. Teng guided technology infrastructure and academic support processes to meet the needs of globally dispersed online students.

Teng’s career additionally includes leadership and innovation design positions at the College of Saint Rose, the State University of New York, and the Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences.

Teng earned a bachelor’s degree from Jilin Normal University, a master’s degree in educational psychology from the College of Saint Rose and a Ph.D. in curriculum and instruction from the State University of New York at Albany. Additionally, Teng maintains professional certifications in technology-mediated instruction, instructional design quality and learning innovation from EDUCAUSE and Quality Matters.

 

About the College of Professional Studies

The College of Professional Studies is a global, inclusive and future-facing college, providing access to diverse students and learners seeking a Syracuse University degree, credential, certificate, or education experience.

About the Center for Digital and Online Learning

The Center for Online and Digital Learning provides evaluation, development, and delivery of world-class online programs at Syracuse University. Employing instructional design theories, prescriptive models, and research, all online courses are designed in collaboration with Syracuse University faculty to leverage the full spectrum of learning that is possible in technology-enhanced, feature-rich digital environments.

College of Professional Studies Increases Student Support Through Artificial Intelligence Chatbot

Syracuse University’s College of Professional Studies launches the Orange Bot, an artificial intelligence-powered chatbot designed to offer current and prospective students support and information through chat.

“Orange Bot, provided by Ivy.ai, crawls all of your website pages, indexes your content and stores the data in the Bot’s brain. When users ask a question, the bot searches its brain to deliver a customized, on demand answer for each user,” says Jennie McLaughlin, director of information technology.

By automatically responding to questions from current and prospective students, the Orange Bot will serve as a virtual assistant to the college and its departments. The Orange Bot provides non-traditional students with round-the-clock advice by promptly answering frequently asked questions. Communicating in over 105 languages, Orange Bot guides users to a solution before a human operator is involved.

“We are a high touch division serving students nationwide, and this will allow for nurturing and engagement where it would have previously been delayed or missed,” says Nichole Henry, director of admissions and recruitment. “It is a very useful tool, and we hope to expand when and where we can as we explore it’s features.”

Website visitors are encouraged to engage with the Orange Bot for answers to frequently asked questions. For questions that are more individual in nature, current students should reach out to their academic advisor and prospective students can call or email the admissions department at 315.443.9378 or parttime@syr.edu.

To see the Orange Bot in action, visit professionalstudies.syracuse.edu.

About the College of Professional Studies

The College of Professional Studies is a global, inclusive, and future-facing college, providing access to diverse students and learners seeking a Syracuse University degree, credential, certificate, or education experience from anywhere in the world.

Syracuse University Ranked Among the Nation’s Best Online Bachelor’s Programs by U.S. News & World Report

In only its second year of eligibility, Syracuse University has ranked as one of the top universities in the nation when it comes to online undergraduate education, according to U.S. News & World Report’s 2022 Best Online Programs rankings.

Syracuse University’s AACSB-accredited business management degree, which represents a partnership between the College of Professional Studies and the Whitman School of Management, is ranked No. 8 in Best Online Bachelor’s in Business Programs, while Syracuse University additionally earned ranked spots for Best Online Bachelor’s Programs (No. 59) and Best Online Bachelor’s Programs for Veterans (No. 40).

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Syracuse University Establishes Office at Hancock Field Air National Guard Base

Advisors from Syracuse University (SU) showed up to Hancock Field Air National Guard Base to do a presentation about educational benefits that will be available to all members of the 174th Attack Wing (ATKW), as well as their dependents in the near future.

The presentation covered programs that are available to members, tuition assistance, and class dates.

What was previously known as Columbia College will now be known as the Syracuse University building.

Starting on February 8, 2022, Syracuse University advisors will be on base every Tuesday and Thursday. This will give members a chance to be able to sit down and speak with them in person to ask any questions that they may have regarding anything pertaining to taking classes at Syracuse University.

“We’re starting with the short-term goal first, which is just getting advisors on base, and then working toward the bigger goal, which is getting actual classes,” Master Sgt. Miles Sauer, 174th recruiting and retention manager said.

“When we had Columbia College here, a lot of our members utilized that school, and it was a very easy way for them to finish their CCAF, and then move on towards a bachelor’s degree. Having classes here on base also makes it more comforting for our members. They get to be around their peers, and can get help from each other whenever they need. It builds relationships on base as well. Having SU come here and have a physical presence will do a lot of good things for our members,” Sauer said.

The 174th leadership is happy about this partnership

“This is an excellent opportunity to further develop our airmen,” Col. William J. McCrink III, 174th ATKW commander said. “Based on the turn out at the presentation today, it seems we’ll be developing airmen far into the future with help from Syracuse University.”

Liz Green, Executive Director of Online Student Success, is thrilled to bring Syracuse University to the 174th ATKW.

“We could not be more excited,” Green said. “I’ve had the opportunity to come out here about a half dozen times in the last month or so. Everyone has been welcoming, collaborative, helpful, and I feel like we’ll be able to work together to give the best access possible to the members of the 174th ATKW.”

Classes will start online, and then they’ll work towards possibly having classes every week.

“We want to hear from airmen about what classes that they’d like to take,” Green said. “For example, if they’d like to take one of their core courses or writing 105, and if it was offered in the summer would it be more helpful if we came to the building, and have it there. We are open to exploring a lot of different hybrid course options in order to meet the demand.”

“The Syracuse team got to learn from us today, and they’ll use that information to implement their programs. Once they have an actual physical space on base, and once we start having physical classes, it’s just going to go up from there,” Sauer said.