News

Syracuse University’s College of Professional Studies is forging impactful partnerships with a network of community colleges across New York State united by a bold shared mission: expanding access, elevating academic excellence, and fueling student success.

This initiative creates clearer pathways for students who begin their academic journeys at community colleges or commuter schools and continue toward a bachelor’s degree. Through alignment, communication, and shared goals, these partnerships prepare students not only to transfer, but to thrive in a university environment.

“This commitment reflects our ongoing dedication to supporting students at every stage of their academic journey,” said Jim Gaffey, Executive Director of Administration and Strategy. “The College of Professional Studies meets students where they are and champions their path forward.”

Syracuse University’s Community College Partners

The College of Professional Studies is honored to stand alongside these outstanding institutions. Each institution plays a vital role in supporting student achievement and degree mobility:

• Cayuga Community College
• SUNY Corning Community College
• Dutchess Community College
• Finger Lakes Community College
• Onondaga Community College
• Hudson Valley Community College
• SUNY Fulton–Montgomery Community College
• Tompkins Cortland Community College

A Shared Commitment to Student Success

Transfer students don’t arrive empty-handed. They bring hard-earned academic experience, resilience, and drive. The College of Professional Studies and its partners recognize that, and have built an intentional, collaborative framework to honor it. Together, they work to:

• Eliminate friction in academic transitions, making the path forward seamless
• Maximize credit mobility so students’ hard work is recognized and carries over
• Spark early advising conversations that set students up for long-term success
• Strengthen student confidence at every step of the transfer journey

These shared efforts help students move forward with clarity and purpose, reducing uncertainty and strengthening outcomes after transfer.

Expanding Opportunity Through Partnership

Life doesn’t pause for education. The College of Professional Studies knows that many of its students are juggling coursework alongside demanding jobs, family responsibilities, and everything in between. By deepening its community college partnerships, the College of Professional Studies extends opportunity to the learners who need flexibility, not obstacles.

These partnerships are built on a powerful shared belief that higher education must be flexible, inclusive, and responsive, especially for students pursuing nontraditional or transfer pathways.

Together, the College of Professional Studies and its partners are building pathways that honor prior learning, celebrate student persistence, and open the doors to academic and professional growth for which students have worked hard.

Learn more about community college partnerships today.

Alpha Sigma Lambda is the nation’s largest and oldest chapter-based honor society for non-traditional students. The Society was founded in 1945-46 and today has more than 300 institutional chapters. The Syracuse University chapter is the Beta Delta Chapter and was established in 1977.

Alpha Sigma Lambda’s aim is to recognize the special achievements of adults who accomplish academic excellence while facing competing interests of home and work. Alpha Sigma Lambda is dedicated to the advancement of scholarship and recognizes high scholastic achievement in an adult student’s career. By so doing, this Society encourages many students to continue toward and to earn associate and bachelor’s degrees.

To be considered for membership a candidate must be matriculated and have completed a minimum of 24 credit hours and represent the top twenty percent of the class, with a minimum grade point index of 3.2 on a 4.0 scale.

On March 6, the College of Professional Studies recognized the following students at the 2026 Alpha Sigma Lambda reception:

Christopher Limina

Donald Lehmkuhl

Isabella Cortes

Felicia Wingle

Sara Pittorf

Chris Watson

Hana Clark

Gregory Sunderland II

Caitlyn Davis

Vincent Loveland

Kathryn Lehman

The Project Management Institute–Syracuse Chapter, in partnership with Syracuse University, will host a half-day professional development event titled Evolving Project Management: AI, PMBOK® 8, and Professional Practice on Saturday, March 28, 2026, at Syracuse University’s Schine Student Center. 

This collaborative program will bring together project management professionals, students, and members of the public to explore how the project management industry is rapidly transforming. With emerging technologies, evolving standards, and new expectations for practitioners, the event will highlight the skills and perspectives needed to lead projects in a changing landscape. 

“We know that project managers need an efficient way to stay current in their field, and students studying the profession need to gain the perspectives of those in the practice.  This community event brings both together to learn from each other and to share ideas,” says Arthur Thomas, Director of the Project Management Degree Programs at the College of Professional Studies.  

Trends Transforming Project Management  

Attendees will engage with timely topics shaping the future of the profession, including: 

• The expanding role of artificial intelligence in project delivery 

• Key updates and implications of PMBOK® Guide – 8^th Edition (PMBOK® 8) 

• Evolving expectations for professional practice across industries 

The program is designed to support both seasoned practitioners and those entering the field, offering insights that can be applied immediately in academic, corporate, nonprofit, and government settings. 

Networking and Professional Development 

The event provides a valuable opportunity for: 

• Connecting with project managers and leaders across Central New York 

• Engaging with Syracuse University students and faculty 

• Earning professional development value through exposure to emerging trends 

• Strengthening ties between academic and professional communities 

• Earn up to 4 PMI PDUs across Ways of Working, Power Skills, and Business Acumen 

The session is open to students, PMI members, and the general public.  

Participants can learn more and register online at pmi-syracuse.org/events/march-chapter-meeting.   

National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) and Syracuse University today have launched a new program to provide current and former players and their families with access to market-relevant online degrees, certificates, and career development opportunities through the University’s nationally ranked online degree and certificate programs.

This collaboration will empower National Women’s Soccer League players and their families—as well as League and club staff and their families—to pursue customized degree programs and professional development resources designed for the unique demands of professional athletes.

With a shared vision of supporting professional development and expanding opportunities across the NWSL ecosystem, the initiative creates flexible pathways for a variety of academic offerings. Programs will draw on the expertise of Syracuse’s renowned schools and colleges, including the Falk College of Sport, the Whitman School of Management, the Newhouse School of Public Communications, and College of Professional Studies (CPS).

“Our mission at the NWSL has always been to champion our athletes not just as players, but as people with diverse ambitions and bright futures,” said Briana Gilmartin, NWSL League Player Partner. “This collaboration with Syracuse University provides a critical bridge to success for our current stars, our storied alumni, and their families. Furthermore, by extending these elite educational resources to our internal league and club staff, we are reinforcing our commitment to professional excellence across the entire NWSL ecosystem. We are proud to offer a pathway that turns ambition into tangible skill development, fueling the goals of our community on and off the pitch.”

Opportunities created through this initiative include:
• Flexible, 100 percent online degrees and certificates.
• Pre-academic English language program.
• Credit transfer assessment.
• Career-focused programs in business, project management, leadership, and sport analytics, among others.
• Dedicated online student support.

“My fellow deans and I are excited to partner with the National Women’s Soccer League to provide the Syracuse University experience to current and former players and their family members who are  interested in pursuing our robust academic offerings,” said Falk College Dean Jeremy Jordan, who earlier this year helped establish similar partnerships with MLS and NHL. “For athletes and professionals with unpredictable schedules, our online programs offer the perfect balance of flexibility, extensive academic support, and real-world applicability–all without compromising the demands of their careers or personal circumstances.”

Educational offerings will be accessible online, on campus, and at Syracuse’s “away” centers in New York City, Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles. Dedicated admission specialists and academic advisors will work with each participant to tailor academic pathways aligned with their goals.

For more information regarding NWSL’s partnership with Syracuse University, visit professionalstudies.syracuse.edu/nwsl.