The Student Connection

Issue 39, June 22, 2012

You Asked and You Shall Receive, Direct Deposit Now Available for Financial Aid Refunds

By Danielle Benedict, student service specialist

Empire State College has entered into a partnership with Higher One Inc. to provide improved financial aid services for students effective with the September 2012 term. ... MORE

Ensuring a Successful Academic Journey: Insights from Mildred Van Bergen, Director of Academic Support, Long Island Center

By Vickie Moller-Pepe, student, Long Island Center-Hauppauge Unit and 2011-2012 student representative, Student Affairs Committee

As director of academic support for the SUNY Empire State College Long Island Center, Mildred Van Bergen works with students on many levels to ensure their academic success. From interviewing incoming students and reviewing their transcripts and writing samples, to working in conjunction with faculty members to embed academic support in the programs of existing students, to offering ongoing academic counseling and one-to-one instruction, Van Bergen’s breadth of experience has afforded her a great deal of insight into what it takes for students to succeed on a post-secondary level. ... MORE

Next Phase of SUNY Rational Tuition Plan Effective with September 2012 Term

By Pamela Malone, director, Student Accounts

The next phase of the SUNY Rational Tuition Plan will be effective with the September 2012 term. Last year, the SUNY Board of Trustees approved and the NYS Legislature passed a rational tuition plan for SUNY that gradually increases tuition rates over a five-year span. Under the plan, SUNY Empire State College can continue offering high-quality and flexible educational opportunities to adult learners at reasonable prices while allowing students to better predict their educational costs. ... MORE

ANGEL Upgrade to Version 8.0 Scheduled for August 2-4; Students and Instructors in 15-Week Summer Courses Affected

By Suzanne Hayes, director, Academic Technologies

ANGEL Upgrade to Version 8.0 Scheduled for August 2-4; Students and Instructors in 15-week Summer Courses Affected The Office of Integrated Technologies (OIT) has begun planning for upgrading the college's current ANGEL 7.4 site to ANGEL 8.0. This is required because ANGEL 7.4 will no longer be supported by the vendor after October 2012. This will be the last ANGEL upgrade in anticipation of the college's transition to Moodle/Mahara in September 2013. ... MORE

Student James Feldman, Mr. Staten Island, Is Runner-Up in Mr. New York Pageant

By Helen Edelman, manager, Exchange

James Feldman, 22, at left, an Empire State College student at Staten Island studying business marketing, was second runner-up in the third annual Mr. New York Pageant on June 11, held on Staten Island in the St. George Theater (also the home of the Miss New York Pageant). Feldman, of Great Kills, also teaches at Dance Sensations in Great Kills. ... MORE

Three New Foundation Board Members Named Including Faculty Members Robert Carey and David Fullard

By Hope Ferguson, senior writer, Office of Communications and Government Relations

The Empire State College Foundation has appointed three new members to its board of directors. The new directors are Robert Carey, at left, a long-time faculty mentor, currently at the Metropolitan Center; David Fullard, a faculty mentor also with the college’s Metropolitan Center; and alumna Marian Conway ’01, ‘04. ... MORE

"Simple Pleasures" Exhibit at Hudson Gallery Features Work by Eugenia D'Ambrosio '05; Focuses on "Every Day Stories in the Ci

By Hope Ferguson, senior writer, Office of Communications and Government Relations

The Hudson Gallery at SUNY Empire State College’s Metropolitan Center, 325 Hudson Street, fifth floor, will host a photographic exhibition, “Simple Pleasures,” featuring work by Eugenia D’Ambrosio ’05. The show will run until Sept. 14. ... MORE

ACCREDITED: TEAC Grants 7-Year Accreditation to MAT Program

By Helen Edelman, manager, Exchange

The TEAC (Teacher Education Accreditation Council) accreditation panel has reviewed Empire State College’s application and officially adopted the recommendation that the School for Graduate Studies’ Master of Arts in Teaching be granted a seven-year accreditation with no stipulation, the highest possible recommendation. ... MORE

"Best of Show" Winners for SUNY Student Art Exhibition Features Four from ESC; Photographer Debra Vilen Among Them

By Betty Wilde-Biasiny, mentor, Metropolitan Center

SUNY Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher has announced the winners of this year’s Best of SUNY Student Art Exhibition, which showcases work by the top student artists from across SUNY and is on display at the New York State Museum through Sept.3. ... MORE

Provost Meg Benke Cited in Yahoo Education Article

By Helen Edelman, manager, Exchange

SUNY Empire State College’s Provost Meg Benke is cited in a new article, “Top Five Degrees for In-Demand Careers,” on the education page of yahoo.net. ... MORE

International Programs to Graduate 84 Students from Prague Program

By Evelyn Wells, European regional coordinator and academic program director, Prague, Center for International Programs

Empire State College International Programs in Prague will graduate 84 students from its Czech Republic program June 23. Students will receive a Bachelor of Arts or Science degree in psychology, business administration, communications and mass media or international relations ... MORE

6.5 Million Encrypted Passwords Stolen from LinkedIn

By Bill Melvin, assistant director for networking, Infrastructure

The encrypted passwords of 6.5 million LinkedIn users were posted to a Russian hacker website earlier this month. Although the passwords were encrypted (or "hashed"), the format they were stored in makes them much more vulnerable to cracking. Although the total number of exposed hashes is less than 10 percent of LinkedIn's reported users, security experts recommend LinkedIn users change their passwords as soon as possible ... MORE

Other News

6.5 Million Encrypted Passwords Stolen from LinkedIn by Bill Melvin, assistant director for networking, Infrastructure

Diagnosed with Skin Cancer: A CDL Student Perspective by Anne Therese McCorkell, student, Center for Distance Learning

From Student to Administrator: An Interview with Mildred Van Bergen, director of Academic Support, Long Island Center by Vickie Moller-Pepe, student, Long Island Center-Hauppauge Unit and 2011-2012 student representative, Student Affairs Committee

International Programs to Graduate 84 Students from Prague Program by Evelyn Wells, European regional coordinator and academic program director, Prague, Center for International Programs

Provost Meg Benke Cited in Yahoo Education Article by Helen Edelman, manager, Exchange

Skin Cancer Awareness Month by Jennifer Ward, student, School for Graduate Studies, Metropolitan Center-Manhattan Unit

SAC Corner

Seventh Annual Student Academic Conference: An Interview with Diane Cosh, Student Art Presenter by Vickie Moller, student, Long Island Center-Hauppauge Unit; 2011-2012 student representative, Student Affairs Committee

Student/Alumni Profile

Meet Deborah Gregory, By Helen Edelman, manager, Exchange

Did You Know...

Annual Student Academic Conference: Priority deadline is June 30 for presentation proposals and Art Show submissions.

Article Contributors
  • Danielle Benedict
  • Helen Edelman
  • Suzanne Hayes
  • Hope Ferguson
  • Pamela Malone
  • Ann Therese McCorkell
  • Vickie Moller
  • Jennifer Ward
  • Evelyn Wells
  • Betty Wilde-Biasiny