News

University College Hosts Open House in Celebration of Centennial Year

University College (UC) is opening its doors to the public to celebrate its 100th year of providing education to part-time students.

An Open House and a tour of University College will take place on Thursday, April 19, from noon-3 p.m. Visitors can check out the newly launched Center for Online and Digital Learning, learn about remitted tuition benefits, the English Language Institute, and degree and certificate programs. Information is also available on UC’s Bachelor of Professional Studies Program.

Sean Kirst, an award-winning Upstate New York journalist, current columnist for the Buffalo News and former Post-Standard columnist as well as the author of “The Soul of Central New York: Syracuse Stories” will be available for a book signing. His book will be available for purchase at the open house.

Enjoy hors d’oeuvres, desserts, giveaways and conversation as you learn of UC’s history and its plans for the next 100 years. Visitors will receive a trivia sheet to fill in UC facts at each location throughout the building.

To RSVP to the event, go to http://cc.syr.edu/uc100openhouse.

For more information, contact Eileen Jevis at 315.443.3527 or ejevis@uc.syr.edu.

University College and Student Association Partner to Help Rescue Mission

Rescue Mission Collection Drive FlyerUniversity College and the Student Association are partnering with the Rescue Mission to hold a collection drive to gather toiletry items for those in need. The campus-wide initiative will take place from March 19-30 as part of SU’s Philanthropy Week.  Collection boxes will be placed in the Schine Student Center, University College, Day Hall, Flint Hall, Brewster, Boland and Brockway Halls, and Ernie Davis Hall. Collection boxes will also be placed in Graham Dining Hall, Brockway Dining Hall, and Goldstein Student Center on South campus.

The Student Association is leading the effort as part of its “Spring into Action” campaign. Their hope is that this year’s campaign will encourage future partnerships between university and community entities. “The Student Association is thrilled to collaborate with University College for their 100th year celebration with a collection drive,” says John Beavins Woltman, a member of the Student Association. “We look forward to a successful event with cross-campus involvement, and believe that this is the beginning of a strong collaboration between SA, University College, campus and community organizations.”

As part of this event, on March 27, Chipotle restaurant on Marshall Street will donate 50% of its proceeds from 4:00 p.m. to close to the Rescue Mission.

“University College has a long history of community engagement,” says Eileen Jevis, communications manager. “As we celebrate our 100th anniversary in 2018, partnering with the Rescue Mission and the Student Association was a natural way to continue to strengthen our connections across campus and in the community. Syracuse University is a strong supporter of the Rescue Mission and we are pleased to be able to participate.”

“We appreciate Syracuse University’s dedication to helping those in need by collecting hygiene items for the Rescue Mission,” says Glenna Croy, director of Volunteer Services at the Rescue Mission. “Hundreds of hygiene items are given out to our clients each month so we are grateful for the members of the community that help us fulfill this need.”

University College staff will join students on March 30 in the atrium of the Schine Student Center to sort items collected. If you would like to volunteer to pick up or sort items, please contact Woltman at jbwoltma@syr.edu. For more information, contact Eileen Jevis at 315-443-3527 or ejevis@uc.syr.edu.

2018 University College Honors Ceremony

University College held its Honors Ceremony and Reception on Friday, March 9. Students who attend Syracuse University part time and who made the dean’s list for the spring and fall 2017 semesters were recognized for their high academic achievement.  Eleven students were inducted into the Alpha Sigma Lambda National Honor Society. ASL is the nation’s largest and oldest chapter-based honor society for nontraditional students.

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.