News

University College Celebrates its 70th Commencement Celebration

The University College Commencement Celebration for part-time students took place on Thursday, May 10, at Hendricks Chapel, followed by a reception on the Quad.

Benjamin Vasquez (BPS in Creative Leadership and 2018 recipient of the Chancellor’s Award for Public Engagement and Scholarship) was the student speaker. Patricia McBride (BPS in Creative Leadership) was UC’s class marshal. Candace Campbell Jackson, senior vice president and chief of staff for Chancellor Kent Syverud, gave the keynote address.

Seven  UC students were named Alumni Scholars. They earned a GPA of 3.63 and higher: Karlea Abair, Philip Adams, Lark Allen, Andree Finkelstein, Amanda Riccardo, Benjamin Vasquez, and Kenneth Wilcox.

Awards also recognized students’ outstanding achievement in other schools/colleges:

  • Hortence Cochrane Award: Karlea Abair, a part-time social work student in the Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics; GPA of 3.706.
  • Nancy C. Gelling Award: (graduate with the highest overall grade point average for a first bachelor’s degree) Andree Finkelstein, B.A. in Geography from the College of Arts and Sciences; GPA of 3.806.
  • Sylvia Wyckoff Award (outstanding achievement in the College of Visual and Performing Arts): Philip Adams, who graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts, with a GPA of 3.778.

Faculty, staff, and departments across campus who demonstrate a commitment to providing quality education to UC students were also recognized:

  • Deans Excellence Award: (acknowledges outstanding contributions of a UC staff member who has been instrumental to the success of UC); Jennie McLaughlin, UC director of Information Systems.
  • Staff Service Award: Office of Veterans and Military Affairs. Colonel Ron Novack (RET.), executive director, accepted on behalf of his department.
  • Excellence in Teaching Award: Faith Plvan.
  • Excellence for Online Teaching Award: Susan Conklin.

English Language Institute Completes Successful Pilot Program

As part of an initiative to supplement existing tutoring services at the University, the English Language Institute (ELI) completed a successful pilot for one-on-one tutoring services tailored to meet specific needs of international students and faculty.

The service offers weekly half-hour sessions for otherwise highly competent speakers of the language, who benefit from reinforcement exercises from TESOL-trained experts in areas where they require additional reinforcement. “The program provided by the English Language Institute has been a valuable resource for our scholars,” says Margaret E. Lane, assistant director of the Executive Education Program at the Maxwell School. “ELI was able to identify each student’s area of need and as a result, the students gained confidence academically.”

Center for Online & Digital Learning Set to Launch Programs in August

The Center for Online and Digital Learning is working in partnership with schools and colleges across campus to offer full programs and individual courses that will be launched online in 2018.  The online Associate Degree in Liberal Arts – offered through the College of Arts and Sciences – will be one of the first programs available in August. By combining expertise in instructional design, development, and evaluation with a strong understanding of Syracuse University platforms, processes, and procedures, the Center’s team works with faculty to create and deliver engaging online experiences for Syracuse University students. For more information, visit the website.

Candace Campbell Jackson to Speak at University College Commencement Celebration

The University College Commencement Celebration for part-time students will take place on Thursday, May 10, at 6 p.m. at Hendricks Chapel, followed by a reception on the Quad.

Candace Campbell Jackson

Candace Campbell Jackson

Benjamin Vasquez, who will graduate with a bachelor of professional studies degree in creative leadership, will be the student speaker. Patricia McBride, also graduating with a bachelor of professional studies degree, will be the UC class marshal.

Candace Campbell Jackson, senior vice president and chief of staff for Chancellor Kent Syverud, will be the keynote speaker. Jackson came to Syracuse University in 2015 from the University of Akron, Ohio. She served there as vice president for student success and vice provost for academic success, providing strategic and operational leadership to nearly 600 employees in more than 20 student success and academic support units.

Prior to her career in higher education, Jackson was an attorney in the public law and corporate departments of the law firm Buckingham, Doolittle & Burroughs, LLP. A graduate of Howard University with a bachelor of arts in journalism, Jackson earned a J.D. from the University of Akron.

This year, seven University College students will be named Alumni Scholars. These students have excelled academically while juggling countless other responsibilities, earning a GPA of 3.63 or higher.

Awards will also be given to students to recognize their outstanding achievement and academic excellence and to faculty, staff and departments across campus who demonstrate a commitment to providing quality education to UC students.

The campus community is invited to attend the celebration. To RSVP for the event, visit cc.syr.edu/UCGrad2018, call 315.443.3261 or e-mail ucinfo@uc.syr.edu.

Celebrating a Century of University College

The Crouse Mansion (later the SU College of Law) was home to the first Syracuse University evening classes on October 8, 1918.

In the early 1900s, college was a distant dream for most American students. As they grew older, opportunities for college study receded even further, but the desire for education never diminished. M. Ellwood Smith, a Syracuse University graduate and member of the University’s faculty, recognized this gap, and set about rectifying it. He recommended that SU establish a self-supporting night school where adults could study part time. In 1918, Smith’s efforts led to the creation of Syracuse University’s School of Extension Teaching and Adult Education,
which later evolved into University College. The intervening 100 years have witnessed many changes in adult education, but Smith’s vision remains at the core of UC’s mission: to provide a first-class education to adults, veterans, active military, and first-generation college students. Career advancement has always been a goal for nontraditional students who study part time through University College. But other motivators include setting an example for children, fulfilling long-held dreams, and experiencing the joy of lifelong learning. Innovations through the years include the development of distance education options, community engagement programs, and the creation of pathways for students with significant educational and economic challenges. More recently, UC has become SU’s leader in the advancement of innovative online curriculum and programming.