SUNY Orange Office of Educational Partnerships E-Newsletter June 2010 Volume 2 From the desk of Mary Ford, Interim Director: Welcome to the second annual issue of the Office of Educational Partnerships’ e-newsletter. Our goal is to keep our colleagues and educational partners abreast of OEP programs and news. Website Links: Articulations/Transfer Agreements CYD CCHSP CPTP Faculty Exchange OEP Satellite Centers SMART Summer Program Contact Us SUNY Orange Office of Educational Partnerships 115 South Street Middletown, NY 10940 http://www.sunyorange.edu mary.ford@sunyorange.edu P: (845)341-4760 F: (845)341-4999 Community College in the High School Program: CCHSP Enrollment Grows in 2009-2010 Academic Year The Community College in the High School Program (CCHSP) continues to grow. In Spring 2010, a total of 602 students enrolled in CCHSP courses at Orange County high schools, compared to 550 in the Spring 2009 semester - a 9.5 percent increase. SUNY Orange’s overall enrollment for Spring 2010 was 6,339 - a 8.9 percent increase compared to the Spring 2009 semester. Pine Bush CCHSP Students Study Adirondack Ecosystems A group of Pine Bush High School students will be taking BIO 210 (Study of Biological Habitats) through CCHSP this summer. This is a field-experience course, and the students will spend two weeks at SUNY Cortland's Education Center at Raquette Lake, N.Y., studying flora and fauna. This is the second field experience course offered to Pine Bush CCSHP students. Last summer, a one-credit course - Special Topics in Environmental & Field Biology - was offered. The course was developed by SUNY Orange Biology Department Chairperson Frank Traeger together with Joseph Sorrentino, chairperson of Pine Bush High School's Science Department and Mike Sturm, a Pine Bush science teacher. Among the highlights of last summer's program was the students' meeting with Professor Eugene Waldbauer, who taught in SUNY Cortland's Biology Department from 1956 to 1990 and is the author of a guide to the area's flora - a guide which was used extensively by the students as a source for their research projects. As the week neared its end, Mr. Sturm, a former student of Professor Waldbauer, happened to spot the long-retired biologist walking along the shore of Raquette Lake, and arranged for him to visit the group at the Education Center. Later that day, when Professor Waldbauer arrived and Mr. Sturm introduced him, the students spontaneously broke into applause. "It was an incredible experience," reports Sorrentino. CCHSP Instructor Honored by Boston College CCHSP instructor Alison Miller was recently honored by the Lynch School of Education at Boston College with an Exemplary Teacher Award, as part of the school's 10th annual Symposium on Education. Miller, who teaches English 101 and English 102 for Orange-Ulster BOCES' New Vision Program, was nominated by Kerry Kennedy, a former New Vision Education student and 2006 Monroe-Woodbury High School graduate. Kennedy is currently an Elementary Education major at Boston College. As part of her nomination, Kennedy wrote, "The open and friendly atmosphere Ms. Miller created as my teacher, in addition to the professional development she encouraged, allowed me to feel confident in my personal opinions. Most importantly, I learned from Ms. Miller how to be independent. She encouraged me to be my own, unique person by nudging me into unfamiliar environments...and teaching me to approach them optimistically. Her high expectations led me to do my absolute best." Miller traveled to Boston to be honored at the Symposium. She has been teaching at BOCES for 12 years and also received the Mid-Hudson School Study Council's Excellence in Teaching Award in 2005. Career Pathways in Tech Prep Program: Newborn on Campus The SUNY Orange Nursing Department has purchased a new patient simulator, the Laerdal SIM NewB infant mannequin. The computerized baby can be programmed to cry, turn blue and emit lung and heart sounds. The simulator, acquired through OEP's Career Pathways in Tech Prep Program Perkins Grant, is being used by students in Nursing 3: The Growing Family, which is taught by Kathleen Zurilla, Beverly Marchesani, Cheryl-Ward Simons, Eileen Drabik and Ilene Castaldo. The Nursing Department also has an adult SIMMAN simulator that students have been working with since 2004. Occupational Therapy Assistant Department Aids Military Veterans The Occupational Therapy Assistant Department, with OEP’s Career Pathways in Tech Prep Program’s support, has undertaken initiatives to help local military veterans with traumatic brain injuries. Under the mentorship and guidance of Nanci Pate, an Occupational Therapist (OTA Class of 1983), OTA students surveyed local Veterans Affairs Centers as well as the SUNY Orange Office for Veterans Affairs to determine the needs of injured veterans. As a part of the Career Pathways in Tech Prep Perkins grant, A.J. Woroschinski, an OTA student (Class of 2009), attended a two-day training seminar in the use of Captain's Log, a cognitive rehab software program, and shared his knowledge with OTA students who will be working with the veterans. The department also formed a socialization group for veterans involved in the project. Says Flo Hannes, Chairperson of the Occupational Therapy Assistant Department, "We are looking forward to continuing and expanding this cognitive and socialization group for returning 'wounded warriors.'" Nursing Student Eric Haley a Vanguard Finalist Eric Haley, a SUNY Orange nursing student, was named a 2009-2010 Vanguard Student Recognition Award Finalist. The Vanguard Award recognizes students enrolled in Career and Technical Education Programs which are not traditional to their gender and is sponsored by New York State Department of Education. Eric was nominated by SUNY Orange Nursing Professor Cheryl Ward-Simons. He graduated with an A.A.S. degree in Spring 2010. Center for Youth Development: Students Participate in Community Projects Liberty Partnerships Program (LPP) students were involved in a variety of community service projects during the 2009-2010 academic year. During the Fall 2009 semester, LPP students worked on Project LIFE's Neighborhood Harvest Festival and also helped prepare and serve meals to Newburgh senior citizens on Make A Difference Day (October 24). In January 2010, LPP students participated in Celebrating the Dream, an event at North Junior High School which commemmorated the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. On Family Reading Day (May 15) at Newburgh Free Library, LPP students assisted with registration, set-up and cleaned up and also manned a face-painting booth. Other News: OEP Early Assessment Initiative Progresses OEP continues to work on the Minisink Early Assessment Project, an initiative launched by former OEP Director Rosana Reyes-Rosello to reduce the number of freshman placing into remedial writing at SUNY Orange. As part of the project, during the 2009-2010 academic year a remedial writing course was offered after school at Minisink Valley High School for Minisink seniors who took SUNY Orange's writing assessment test last year (as juniors) and tested into developmental writing. For the 2010-2011 school year, the program will continue; however, the remedial class for seniors will be offered during the regular school day. Similar programs are also planned for other county districts. Rosana Reyes-Rosello Promoted to Associate Vice President Rosana Reyes-Rosello, the former director of OEP, was promoted to Associate Vice President of SUNY Orange in September 2009 and is now based at the Newburgh campus.