Although Japanese student Kazuma Nagao had never been to the United States, he knew that studying abroad to learn English would help him inch closer to fulfilling his dream of becoming an astronaut. He had no idea, though, that this chance would bring him into contact with NASA astronauts and a community that supported his dream.
Nagao, an aerospace engineering major concentrating in fluid dynamics at Tokai University, seized the opportunity to study overseas at the English Language Institute (ELI) at Syracuse University. The 30-year partnership allows students in Japan to take part in the rigorous language learning program, studying English textually and orally five days a week. Nagao credits the ELI with giving him not only improved English skills, but also strong friendships and a new outlook on his career goals.
In this Q&A with Nagao, learn more about his experience at the ELI, the connections he made, and his favorite moments during his time at Syracuse University.
Leondra Tyler takes in the lush landscape at Yonsei University in Seoul, South Korea. She pops into the campus café and orders her usual coffee before walking through the forest path that leads to her classes. It’s her first time studying abroad, but she’s adjusted to campus life with ease. On the weekends, she explores South Korea, while weekdays are reserved for studying sociology, psychology, and Korean literature and language.
Tyler, a student of the University’s part-time Arthur O. Eve Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP), is the first part-time HEOP student to receive the Our Time Has Come (OTHC) scholarship. Back home, Tyler is a part-time neuroscience and psychology student at Syracuse University, but scholarships like the OTHC scholarship have allowed Tyler to push the limits of post-traditional learning and take part in studying abroad.
“What drew me into the OTHC scholarship program was that I really wanted an academically focused program for Black and brown students. This has given me a great opportunity to connect with Black and brown alumni and hear about their experiences and their post-academic lives,” Tyler says. “Although I just got the scholarship this semester, it’s been really nice knowing that I have a support system, not only at Syracuse but also here at Yonsei.”
A Diverse Learning Experience
Scholarships have not only offered Tyler access to an abundance of networking opportunities, but they have also opened doors that diversify her learning portfolio.
When Tyler wraps up classes for the day, she heads across campus to a PC café, a popular hangout spot for people to eat while they play computer games. While she waits for a game to download, Tyler orders lunch and reviews notes from her class about the history of Korean cinema. For Tyler, studying abroad has allowed her access to an array of engaging academic experiences and even expanded her viewpoint.
“We’re learning Korean history through film,” Tyler says. “I took the course because I wanted to learn more analytic skills, because that can translate into my research. But also, I wanted to learn more about Korea outside of pop culture.”
However, South Korea’s pop culture has also given Tyler a chance to analyze sociology and psychology from a new perspective. As the popularity of K-pop and K-dramas trickles their way into American media, Tyler uses K-pop artists like SHINee and 2PM in the course “Understanding K-pop” to examine global trends and parasocial relationships.
“Studying abroad has given me more opportunities to be creative with different projects,” Tyler says. “Sociology courses I’ve taken in the past have been about Western culture, so it’s been nice to learn about it through the lens of Korean society.”
Embracing Communities and Cultures
From attending K-pop concerts to taking part in traditional Korean practices, Tyler has also learned the value of community and the importance of embracing different cultures. Students from 53 different countries gathered at Yonsei University to participate in the study abroad program, giving Tyler the chance to learn about a myriad of cultures.
“I’m not just experiencing Korean culture but also culture from my friends that I met here that are from Australia, New Zealand, and Germany,” Tyler says.
On the weekends, Tyler and her friends take public transportation across South Korea and learn about the history of the country through its landscape. From visiting the coastal city of Busan to exploring the assortment of districts throughout Seoul, Tyler documents it all on her instant film camera and soaks up the unforgettable moments. While studying on the other side of the world has been a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, friendship has made Tyler’s study abroad trip an even richer experience.
“Even though we’re all from different parts of the world, I’m going to stay connected with the people I’ve met here for years to come,” Tyler says. “That’s what makes this experience so special.”
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 Arthur O. Eve Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP)
The College of Professional Studies at Syracuse University is the home of New York State’s only Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP) program for part-time students. The program provides economically and educationally disadvantaged students from New York State with access to Syracuse University through academic support and financial assistance.
Syracuse University continues to demonstrate its national leadership role as the best university for veterans and military-connected students with a first-of-its-kind degree completion partnership with the United States Army Warrant Officer Career College.
Under the first-of-its-kind agreement, Syracuse University will award 51 course credits to Warrant Officer candidates and Senior Warrant Officers completing programs of instruction at the U.S. Army Warrant Officer Career College (USAWOCC). The agreement is designed to assist participating Soldiers in obtaining one or more of the following undergraduate degrees through the College of Professional Studies: Business Management, Creative Leadership, Knowledge Management, and Policy Studies.
“This partnership agreement dramatically expands access to Syracuse University for active duty, guard and reserve Warrant Officers who have or will complete Warrant Officer Career College,” says Michael Frasciello, dean of the College of Professional Studies. “Our commitment to providing flexible and progressive pathways for military-connected students immediately extends to the approximately 28,000 Warrant Officers serving in the United States Army.”
Syracuse University’s enduring commitment to veteran and military-connected students dates back more than 100 years. As one of the best private schools in the country for military-connected students, Syracuse offers online and residential part-time undergraduate study to active-duty military, guard and reservists earning the distinction of being the Best Place for Veterans™.
Army Warrant Officers, who are admitted to one of the transfer-eligible online bachelors programs, can use their tuition assistance (TA) benefits to cover 100 percent of their tuition. Consistent with its commitment to enhancing affordability, Syracuse University honors the Department of Defense TA rate of $250 per credit hour for US military members who aspire to earn an undergraduate degree.
“Active duty military, guard and reservists are life-long learners – members of the largest population of students enrolled in higher education today. Making Syracuse University more affordable and accessible is both a natural continuation of the University’s history of supporting non-traditional students and an appropriate response to the changing needs and expectations of those who could most benefit from a Syracuse University education,” says Frasciello.
Active military, guard and reserve members interested in more information about enrollment opportunities at Syracuse University may contact the College of Professional Studies admissions team at 315.443.9378 or parttime@syr.edu. Veterans and military-connected students can learn more about tuition benefits at https://professionalstudies.syracuse.edu/info-for/veterans-military/military-tuition-assistance-ta/.
Providing an onramp to higher education access by driving opportunities toward attaining a degree at Syracuse University is at the heart of the mission of the College of Professional Studies.
At the intersection of student need and donor generosity lie scholarships that can help bridge a gap in what it takes financially to continue a path to academic advancement.
Two primary types of scholarship giving exist: named scholarships and endowed scholarships. Named scholarships provide funds that are used to support current students. Endowed scholarships establish perpetual funds that allow the college to invest the donor’s principal and then use interest earned to award aid to students based on scholastic merit or financial need.
A recent graduate, Joseph Carringer personifies how an endowed scholarship through the college fueled his degree completion. More than 25 years had passed since the small business entrepreneur enrolled in a Syracuse University course. Carringer, a didgeridoo sound therapist, and chief executive officer of a sustainable apparel consulting firm, returned to the University to study online during the Spring 2020, when the pandemic afforded him more time to focus on classes. Yet affording in terms of paying for his education was severely impacted by lessened work opportunities.
“I had to leave Syracuse University originally due to inability to pay,” says Carringer. This time around, however, as a recipient of the Distant Drums Native American Endowed Scholarship, he was assured the financial relief needed to complete his post traditional education. He graduated with a double major in creative leadership and liberal studies, along with three minors in anthropology, philosophy and project management. Carringer is now on his way at the University toward earning a master’s in project management.
“Post-traditional students often depend on scholarships to reduce tuition costs and other expenses associated with completing their degrees,” says Michael Frasciello, dean of the College of Professional Studies. “The growing portfolio of scholarships at the college draws from a range of resources including government-sponsored student assistance programs, privately funded education initiatives, and college-specific aid. If a student qualifies for aid, we will work tirelessly to find the support.”
A recent expression of a meaningful endowed scholarship came from Dolores “Lor” and Steve Speach. The couple honored their many educational and career achievements by establishing an endowed scholarship through the college to celebrate the memories they hold dear of their time at Syracuse University.
“I am continually humbled by the generosity of all donors, whose gifts come to the college in varying amounts and for varied reasons,” says Frasciello. “Those with the means to establish an endowed scholarship signal a strong commitment to the ongoing success of the college and our students.”
While grateful for the funding provided by the Distant Drums Native American Endowed Scholarship, Carringer, part Cherokee, says he has been emotionally moved by the support and assistance of his alma mater. “The College of Professional Studies has proven to be the key to my development as a professional and a more well-rounded individual.”
The College of Professional Studies congratulates each of the recipients of a donor funded scholarship during the 2022-2023 academic year:
Women of the University Community Mildred Eggers Scholarship
Victoria Ann Barnum Liberal Studies
Zhane Briggs Business Management
Aglaeth Vazquez Social Work
Bethaida “Bea” Gonzalez Endowed Scholarship
Andrew Ostrander Political Philosophy
Timothy Sullivan Knowledge Management
Pearl Ness Clements Endowed Scholarship
Autumn Patricia Battle Liberal Arts
Cindy Cunduff Liberal Studies
Gillian Knafelc Women’s and Gender Studies
Distant Drums Native American Endowed Scholarship
Joseph Brian Carringer Liberal Studies
Skuse Family 5×5 Scholarship
Alyssa Diaz Cybersecurity Administration
Robert O’Connell Kelley Cybersecurity Administration
Syracuse UniversityAlumnae Club Endowed Scholarship
Kyrissa Maria Difabio Business Management
College of Professional Studies OTHC Scholarship
Kenneth Iheanyichuckwu Creative Leadership
Leondra Jeanne Tyler Psychology
Elizabeth (BJ) Ryan Metz Scholarship
Olivia Grace Sauta Management
Class of 1950 Continuing Education Scholarship
Timothy Moses Liberal Studies
To learn how to establish a scholarship through the College of Professional Studies, contact Jeffry Comanici, executive director, post-traditional advancement, at 315-443-1409 or jjcomani@syr.edu.
Tamrie Oliver speaks at the College of Professional Studies 2023 convocation.
Tamrie Oliver ’23 retired her putty knife after spackling her living room walls for the final time. The sun crept through the windows, casting a spotlight for Oliver to examine her work. Each groove would soon be sanded down and splashed with a layer of “Glamour,” a paint mixed with tints of light pink and soft brown.
Although it took 350 hours of sweat equity, Oliver was finally seeing her vision come together. Not just in her home that she was building through Habitat for Humanity, but in life itself. From raising three children as a single mother to attending college part-time at Syracuse University’s College of Professional Studies, Oliver could envision the next phase of life approaching—the one she spent ten years preparing the blueprint for.
“I once heard someone describe a student who studies online as a nontraditional student. Over the course of my life, the phrase ‘nontraditional’ has always followed me,” Oliver said.
Phase One: Preparing the Blueprint
It was three months before Oliver’s high school graduation when the term nontraditional began to cling. Oliver, a spunky 18-year-old ready to embark on adulthood, stared at a positive pregnancy test. A cluster of emotions bubbled in her chest as she realized her life was taking a nontraditional route.
Filled with anxiety about what motherhood would mean, Oliver enrolled in community college and held tightly onto the lingering moments of a normal teenage life. Like lightning, a nontraditional occurrence struck again when Oliver delivered her baby at only 26 weeks. With a 2-pound newborn in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), Oliver was forced to take a medical leave of absence.
College would have to wait.
Soon after, Oliver gave birth to her second child at 25 weeks. This time, she would have to juggle raising a baby at home, working overnight shifts, and commuting 45-minutes to visit her newborn in the NICU.
College continued to wait.
Three years went by, and Oliver was now a single mother of three children. As her family continued to evolve, Oliver knew she wanted more for them. It would require taking a step backward and moving into her parent’s home, but it was time for Oliver to finally attend college. Two years later, Oliver graduated with an associate’s degree in business management. Although delighted that she obtained a degree after an unexpected hiatus, Oliver couldn’t help but feel that this was merely the blueprint for the goals she wanted to achieve. If she wanted to build a better future for her family, she needed to lay the foundation.
Shortly after, Oliver enrolled in the College of Professional Studies at Syracuse University.
“I was shocked that Syracuse offered bachelor’s degrees online. I called immediately to make sure it was real,” Oliver said. “After talking with an advisor, I chose to study a bachelor of professional studies in creative leadership.”
Phase Two: Building the Foundation
From 6 a.m. to 2 p.m., Oliver would go to work, while the remainder of the day was spent taking classes online. Oftentimes, Oliver’s children could be seen peeking through the bedroom door while they watched their mother attend class through a video camera and computer screen. Oliver’s father corralled the children back to playtime so she could focus on her studies. It was a controlled chaos, and Oliver was thankful for it, but she knew it was time to move into a space just for her and her children.
With one degree completed, another in progress, the kids a bit older, and Oliver a bit wiser, she knew this was the perfect time to build a house through Habitat for Humanity, a home-buying program for low-income homebuyers.
The program required 350 hours of sweat equity, which Oliver tackled each weekend from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oliver spent her time installing drywall, painting the interior, and dodging splinters from the raw wood, while the other home building volunteers and professionals focused on the more advanced work.
When moving day arrived, Oliver’s vision finally came to life. She took in the freshly painted walls—the ones she spackled, primed, and coated with pigment herself. Oliver felt a sense of pride unlike any other.
“Habitat for Humanity had this whole ceremony when the house was completed,” Oliver said. “Building a house while going to school and raising my children was a big accomplishment. I felt really proud.”
With another goal completed, it was time for Oliver to finish her degree. Tucked away in her newly decorated office nook, Oliver continued to attend classes online. A tapestry hung behind her, replicating the set of Oliver’s favorite YouTube show, “Good Mythical Morning,” which depicted a mid-century modern aesthetic combined with a collection of random trinkets, instruments, and forest print wallpaper. Surrounding her computer were various awards, ones that reminded her of the goal she was working towards.
“I kind of tried to put in a little bit of everything. I like to show my personality through the camera,” Oliver said.
Phase Three: Movin’ on Up
Tamrie Oliver takes a picture with her professor at the College of Professional Studies 2023 convocation.
Although she was online, Oliver felt connected to her cohort. Classes conducted through video calls offered a different kind of enrichment that still allowed Oliver to interact with her peers and professors. She connected with other post-traditional students, learning that their life experiences and wealth of diverse perspectives were celebrated. Suddenly, Oliver’s nontraditional life felt empowering. The adjective now held a positive connotation, and she was proud to be a nontraditional student.
“When my academic journey first began, I felt like I didn’t really have confidence or a voice,” Oliver said. “But I’ve proven myself. I’m the first graduate of my family.”
Oliver closed out her courses for the last time and soaked up the excitement of the unknown. The possibilities of the what-ifs circulated in her mind as she felt blissful knowing she had accomplished what she set out to do ten years ago. The obstacles Oliver endured, academically and personally, allowed her to grow into the best version of herself. Now, it was time to pass the wisdom on to her children.
