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UC Celebrates Nontraditional Student Week!

University College celebrates Nontraditional Student Week November 6-10. Our students juggle families, jobs, and other responsibilities while studying part-time, all in an effort to build a better life for themselves and their families through education.

In recognition of nontraditional students, we invite UC students and faculty to visit the main lobby at UC anytime next week between the hours of 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. We’ll have free “smart” snacks and coffee on hand for everyone to enjoy. This is our way of demonstrating our admiration for UC students’ dedication and hard work.

When you see a nontraditional student next week, don’t forget to congratulate them on their achievements.

Student Brings Veteran Support Programs to Campus

As a medic in the U.S. Air Force for 10 years, Adam LeGrand experienced and witnessed traumatic events that had a long-term impact on him. At a recent meeting of the Student Veterans Organization (SVO) housed at University College, LeGrand shared information on the Disabled Student Veteran Liaison Program (DSL), a national peer-to-peer program that assists students with services offered through the Office of Disability Services.

There is no judgement—just a friendly, helping hand from fellow veterans, says LeGrand. Any military-related disability qualifies a student veteran for the confidential program, regardless of rating.LeGrand,  who is earning a bachelor’s degree in communication and rhetorical studies in the College of Visual and Performing Arts, guides other student veterans through the process of getting the services they require. “I help them navigate the system, help them access care at the VA hospital or through Tricare and connect them with available resources,” he says. “And, if my schedule allows, I will walk the student veteran to the Office of Disability Services and wait in the waiting area while they meet with a staff member—just to show that they have someone who supports them.”

LeGrand was nominated by Jessica Calhoun, assistant director of Veteran & Military Connected Students, and Ron Novak, director of the Office of Veteran and Military Affairs (OVMA), to bring the DSL program to Syracuse University. Currently, there are only four other DSL programs in place on college campuses across the country. LeGrand says he was in the perfect place as the program started at the national level. He wrote the policy for the program at SU, and that policy has been adopted by other universities across the nation.

Soldiers are trained during military service to “suck it up” when it comes to getting help for any problems, LeGrand says. Destigmatizing disabilities is an important part of identifying oneself as having issues that can lead to accommodations on campus or in the workplace. LeGrand wants his fellow veterans to know that it is okay to have a diagnosis or disability and ask for support services. “There is no shame in asking for help. This program is 100 percent confidential and no identifying or diagnostic information is collected,” he explains.

“The number of disabled student veterans entering college who will need accommodations in the educational setting is increasing,” says LeGrand. “DSL will help bridge the gap of understanding while informing veterans of the services available.”

As a veteran who suffers from post-traumatic stress, LeGrand is passionate about another support program as well. He is an ambassador for the K9s for Warriors program. K9s for Warriors is the number one provider of service animals for veterans suffering from PTS, traumatic brain injury and military sexual trauma.

“After my second voluntary hospitalization for PTS, my friend convinced me that I needed to seek additional options to treat my problems,” says LeGrand. “The military and veteran suicide epidemic in our nation is appalling, to say the least. The VA health care model is to treat these illnesses with drugs that can be addictive. Benzodiazepines such as Xanax and Klonopin have actually been linked to suicidal ideations. I’m proud to say I don’t take them anymore. My service animal Molly has been a great tool to augment my physical and emotional therapies.”

K9s for Warriors leads the nation in research, quality and training of service animals. As of September 2017, 748 dogs have been rescued from high-kill shelters and placed with 357 warriors. The program rescues both the warrior and the dog, says LeGrand.

“K9s for Warriors paired me with the best solution I’ve found—Molly. It’s better to pick up a leash than to pick a life-ending solution to one’s problems.” LeGrand wants to remind those with any type of disability that there is help. “People care and want to help, but they have to take that first step.”

For more information about the Disabled Student Veteran Liaison Program, contact LeGrand via email at svodsl@svosu.org or 315.443.9297. For more information about K9s for Warriors, email info@K9sforwarriors.org or call 904.686.1956.

Marketing Team Wins National Award for University College Ad Campaign

University College’s Fall 2017 advertising campaign took a silver award in the University Professional Continuing Education Association’s (UPCEA) national competition. The campaign included a TV commercial, digital and social media ads, print, and radio. The prestigious annual competition draws entries from hundreds of colleges and universities serving nontraditional students throughout the U.S.

The award will be presented at UPCEA’s National Conference in Washington, D.C. in December.

“While UPCEA is recognizing a creative advertising campaign, University College recognizes the collective talent of the marketing team assigned to UC,” said Michael Frasciello, dean of University College. “They have worked tirelessly to promote Syracuse University part-time studies and adult education for more than 15 years. They really understand the continually evolving dynamics of adult education, and we are fortunate to benefit from their innovation, creativity, and commitment to the College’s mission.”

Based in Washington, D.C., UPCEA is the leading association for professional, continuing, and online education. For 100 years, the association has served its members with research and benchmarking information, professional networking opportunities, and innovative conferences and specialty seminars.

Celebrating University College: A Note from Chancellor Syverud

On the evening of Oct. 8, 1918, Syracuse University became one of the first universities in the nation to open its doors wide to “non-traditional” students. That night, 18 evening courses met in downtown Syracuse. They attracted hundreds of students who wanted to earn a bachelor’s degree but who-unlike traditional undergraduates-had to work all day or could not afford to pay full-time tuition.

That was the beginning of University College at Syracuse. In the 99 years since, University College has stayed true to that original mission while growing to encompass many areas of study in courses offered with all of the University’s schools and colleges. Today, led by a great faculty and staff, and new dean Michael Frasciello, the college is further widening the pathways for those some call “non-traditional” students, but who I think of as a great Syracuse tradition. There are great advances coming in the next century of University College, including in the areas of innovative online programs and strategic academic partnerships with our schools and colleges.

This really matters at Syracuse because of the amazing students who are enabled to become part of us. Here are two examples:

Timothy Bryant, the victim of violent crime in childhood, struggled with post-traumatic stress disorder. Professor Sandy Lane encouraged him to pursue a college degree part time through the Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP) at University College. He made the dean’s list every semester on his way to a bachelor’s degree in public health in 2015. He was named the University Professional and Continuing Education Association’s Outstanding Continuing Education Student of the Year in 2016, and is now pursuing his Ph.D. in sociology at SU.

Elaine Sartwell, a young widow, raised six children and dreamed of a better future for her family. She didn’t see opportunities for promotion in her field without a related degree. She transferred from community college into the social work program in the Falk College with an Achiever Scholarship from University College. Elaine was selected as a Remembrance Scholar and graduated last May as a University College Alumni Scholar and a proud role model for her children and grandchildren.

I thank all those who have made a century of University College possible, and all those who will enable it to thrive in the century ahead.

University College Wins Two UPCEA Awards

Syracuse, NY – University College of Syracuse University won two Mid-Atlantic Region UPCEA Awards for 2017. University and Professional Continuing Education Association (UPCEA) is the leading association for professional, continuing, and online education.

Up Online won the Faculty and Staff Development Award for innovative programming to the continuing education field. The University Partners for Online Education Strategies (UP Online) program was created to bring together online leaders in higher education within the Central and Western New York area to share ideas, address common problems, collaborate, build a regional network, and participate in professional development. “The UP Online program is an exceptional demonstration of University College’s creative innovation and impactful research relating to distance education, says Dean Mike Frasciello. “UPCEA’s recognition of our work in this space is a testament to our leadership and expertise in online teaching and learning scholarship and practices.”

Elizabeth Wimer was awarded UPCEA’s Excellence in Teaching Award. Wimer teaches online courses in Creative Leadership for UC’s Bachelor of Professional Studies Program. She also teaches Introduction to Entrepreneurship and Emerging Enterprises for SU’s Whitman School of Management. “Elizabeth teaches two of our courses in Creative Leadership,” says Eileen Julian, director of Syracuse University Center for Online and Digital Learning. “Since these are dynamic areas, Elizabeth remains not only current in her area of teaching and research, but is out in front with new ideas. Her enthusiasm and entrepreneurship drive are evident to her students.”

The awards were presented at the UPCEA Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference in New Brunswick, NJ on October 5, 2017.

Founded in 1915, UPCEA now serves most of the leading public and private colleges and universities in North America. For 100 years, the association has served its members with innovative conferences and specialty seminars, research and benchmarking information, professional networking opportunities and timely publications.

University College is an inclusive student-centric college, providing access to Syracuse University academic programs and support services to diverse part-time student populations.