Each Fall, we welcome a new class of students who come to Cayuga Community College with a broad range of backgrounds and academic goals. Some want to take a course or two for personal enrichment or to gain knowledge for their current careers. Others plan to earn their degrees and enter the workforce, and still others come to Cayuga with the goal of transferring to four-year institutions.

A survey of the incoming 2,911 students registered thus far this Fall indicates that 1,411 or nearly one-half have not yet set academic goals. Only 1,283 students or 44 percent indicated that they actually plan to complete their degree programs. Of those who do, 586 want to seek employment rather than transfer to four-year institutions, and the remaining 697 plan to transfer to four-year colleges for further education. Continue reading →

As the fall approaches, it signals the beginning of many things. In the world of academia, it signifies the start of a fresh new semester, and the beginning of a new student art exhibit at System Administration.

I cannot help but admire the artwork which adorned the historic building’s castle-like walls. From my first day in the building, the exhibit has been practically impossible to miss as I walk through the long gallery corridors every day. This Fall, the exhibit on display is the SUNY Art Student Exhibition Series – a multi-media exhibition that highlights the work of SUNY students from throughout it’s 64 campuses. The Exhibition allows for undergraduates and graduate students to showcase their work, while demonstrating the diversity and the variety among what our SUNY students are capable of doing.

As the exhibit has become part of my morning routine, it has also become part of Maxwell’s and Emily’s. So much so that we all thought we would share our favorites with you all!

Kyla Hill
“Self-Portrait”
Charcoal on paper
Jamestown Community College

I have always been one for simplicity, in life as well as in my own art. I was much immersed in my artwork as an adolescent, my preferred mediums being photography, pencil and charcoal. After documenting all the works of art, I found myself always going back to one particular piece. It is “Self Portrait” by Kyla HIll at Jamestown Community College.

The piece is simply a charcoal on paper drawing of the girl’s self-portrait, but she manages to capture such emotion in just the girl’s eyes, that it draws you in. I also took a liking to her dynamic use of light and texture, which I felt added another level of depth to the self-portrait. I enjoy pieces that make me stand back and think about the complexity of emotions running through an artist’s mind. The charcoal drawing to me is more than just a portrait; it is a quick glimpse into the soul of Kyla Hill.

Dustin Joyce
“Dynamic Lights”
Oil on Canvas
College of Ceramics, Alfred University

Maxwell’s Pick:

This art exhibit complements the architecture of the building so elegantly.   The mixture of medium and element between each piece offers a new angle for visitors at every passing.  And this is the very reason why choosing a most preferred piece was so difficult for me.  In fact, I couldn’t decide until this morning that my favorite display is “Dynamic Lights” by Dustin Joyce at Alfred University.  It depicts a city life with motion and light, which to me relays a sense of consistency—never resting—which appeals to me.  In fact, the oil on canvas piece reminds me of an image I would have as the lock screen on my phone!

Marta Dezio
“Disc Study”
Iron
SUNY College at Cortland

Emily’s Pick:

This is the third semester’s worth of student art I have seen showcased at the SUNY System Administration. With each new submission, I am more and more impressed by the quality of artwork that I get to see every day.  My favorite piece this semester is “Disc Study” by Marta Dezio of SUNY Cortland.

A picture doesn’t always capture it, but up close this is incredibly detailed and textured, and most likely took a great deal of time for the artist to create. With all of the patterns engraved in the piece, there is always something new to see.  I like its vintage quality and that it looks like it has been used for many years.

One of the things that I do in my spare time is read interior design magazines or blogs.  I don’t know what the intention of the piece is, but to me, it looks like the wall mounted part of a chandelier, a piece from a tin ceiling, or a ceremonial trophy.  Every time I walk past this, I stop to look at it and daydream what its use might be.  I hope other people admire and think about it, too.

While all of our selections are so very different, it speaks to the fact that SUNY just grows and grows with talent and creativity. No two pieces are alike, nor are they in any sense ordinary, if this first exhibit is any indication of the quality of talent I can expect, I look forward to the next.

All the artwork from this exhibition can be found in an album on The State University of New York (SUNY) Facebook so feel free to check it out, maybe even let us know which piece you enjoyed the most.

Whether it’s studying for an exam, working on a complex project, or writing double-digit page papers, as students we are more than familiar with the feeling of stress. And many of us are familiar with stress eating, especially during finals week, all-nighters, and when we spend entire days in the library. When students are spending many hours studying, they often can be seen with bags of chips, cans of soda, cups of coffee, and pints of ice cream; mostly foods with sugar, fat, salt, and caffeine. These foods are comforting and may provide a small bit of relief from challenging brain work.

However, what many students don’t realize is that these comfort foods, the sugary, fatty, salty foods and caffeinated beverages can actually make it more difficult to study. These comfort foods are often made up of white flour and sugar, and are called simple carbohydrates. Simple carbohydrates provide your body with a quick burst of energy while rapidly raising and dropping your blood sugar, which can leave you feeling tired and unable to focus. You’ll also feel more hungry after a shorter period of time, and crave another candy bar or bag of chips. And caffeine from soda, coffee, and energy drinks can make you feel jittery and anxious.  Continue reading →

Dr. Daniel P. Larson is President of Cayuga Community College, with campuses in Auburn and Fulton, N.Y.

Only a month after summer registration started this year, more than 300 students were registered in our online courses, Anatomy and Physiology I and II, and Microbiology, at Cayuga Community College. We are distinguished among our State University of New York and national peers as a leader with these online, intensive, laboratory-based science courses.

Using computer simulations and online laboratory exercises, A&P students explore the structure, function, and relationship of body parts. Online microbiology students order laboratory kits, including microscopes, conduct experiments, and report their findings in the online learning environment. Because our innovative science faculty has translated these courses successfully into the online environment, academic advisors at colleges and universities across the country send their students to us to pick up these courses over the summer. The sections fill up quickly – we now offer 20 sections of 20 students each in A&P I and II, required in many nursing and healthcare programs. The growth of these web-based science courses parallels the growth we see with online courses across the curriculum.

Since Cayuga first began delivering online courses in 1998, we have seen exponential growth in the number of students and courses. Today, we offer more than 60 sections of 100 different courses and six degrees fully online, and more than 50 percent of the required courses online for six other degree programs. Nearly all faculty members use the online learning management system to “web enhance” their courses. So, even as they meet in on-campus classrooms, students access the online environment to turn in assignments, check the syllabus, communicate with faculty, and post their comments to discussion boards.  Continue reading →