SUNY Orange business students are getting a rare chance to witness the interworking of the County’s Chamber of Commerce. It is part of an exciting new partnership between the College and the County that has everybody buzzing with excitement.
In order to give the business students a real-world application of material, Orange County Chamber of Commerce President Dr. John D’Ambrosio announced with SUNY Orange Vice President at Newburgh Mindy Ross that the Chamber has accepted every student in the Business Club as a member. The move is unique in higher education; it gives SUNY Orange students a leg up in today’s competitive job market.
President D’Ambrosio cites the partnership as a “win-win” while listing the numerous opportunities their partnership offers. Each membership gives students resources, access to events, mixers, breakfasts and a seat at the Chamber meetings
An area’s Chamber of Commerce is simply an organization of local businesses that collaborate on issues affecting the community’s economy. It is set up like any other formal group with an executive board and members and is able to utilize its membership base to provide seminars, networking and events to the participants.
College President Dr. William Richards added in a statement, “As educators, we strive to find creative and effective ways to connect the classroom and the workplace so that our students and graduates are prepared to succeed … We are happy to partner with the Chamber on this creative program.”
Marine veteran and student Jason Westbrook has his sight set on being a CPA in the County. He is currently attending SUNY Orange as an accounting major, is part of the Business Club and is looking forward to his membership. Westbrook say that he will use it to learn business jargon and refine his ‘business look’.
The current Chamber members are energized by the partnership as well. They have already offered to pay for students’ admission to events if they cannot and want to expand the program to other schools in the Hudson Valley including Mount St. Mary College and SUNY New Paltz.
SUNY Orange’s two campuses—Middletown and Newburgh—together host education for almost 7,000 students and have many organizations like the Business Club. For more information on the two campuses and its three other satellite locations, click here.