By Elisabeth Costanzo Stewart
School counselors from across the region gathered with members of SUNY Broome’s campus community at the Culinary & Event Center to share information and collaborate on future partnerships. Instead of heading into the office on the morning of May 9, 2023, over 30 high school counselors traveled downtown to hear the latest updates from their counterparts at SUNY Broome.
After a joint welcome from SUNY Broome’s President, Dr. Kevin Drumm, and Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Penny Kelly, Owen Conklin, SUNY Broome’s new Director of Admissions was formally introduced to his newest and greatest allies in the community.
“I am excited to build relationships with each of you and to work together to serve the needs of your students,” beamed Conklin.
Enrollment Management Staff Associate, Brittney Richardson, provided a comprehensive overview on the custom College Express Partnerships offered by SUNY Broome’s Admissions team. After citing examples like the highly successful Windsor Central High School, Deposit High School, and Binghamton High School partnerships, she encouraged each counselor in attendance to consider implementing their own uniquely tailored College Express events for the upcoming year.
Members from Binghamton University’s Undergraduate Admissions Office attended the brunch to co-unveil the B2B program.
Photo Credit: Matt Ebbers
SUNY Broome’s partners from Binghamton University attended the breakfast to co-present the official unveiling of SUNY Broome and Binghamton University’s newest collaboration, the Broome to Binghamton (B2B) program. B2B is geared specifically towards students from the Southern Tier. To participate in the B2B program, admitted students are required to earn 30 transferable credits in their first year at SUNY Broome, with a minimum of 18 credits in the core academic curriculum. If they complete those credits with an overall grade point average of a 2.8 or higher, they can seamlessly transfer to Binghamton University’s Harpur College of Arts and Sciences.
Next, Danielle Britton, Director of Workforce Development, explained the in’s and out’s of microcredentials. Through Britton’s presentation, school counselors were updated on how a microcredential may be the right fit for their graduating seniors, especially for students who wish to stack their professional skills into a degree program.
The school counselors were then treated to rapid fire updates from each academic division and on special topics including the Educational Opportunity Program, Athletics, and Student Life. Each division tasked one to two faculty members representing academic departments to share information about their programs, provide examples of experiential learning opportunities, and highlight transfer pathways and career connections.
Business and Professional Studies Division representatives included:
- Criminal Justice & Emergency Services Department: Associate Professor/Chairperson Leigh T. Martindale
- Business Information Technology Department: Professor Sandra K. Wright
Liberal Arts Division representatives included:
- Communications & Media Arts Department: Professor/Chairperson/Coordinator Dr. Timothy Skinner
- Psychology & Human Services Department: Associate Professor/Chairperson Dr. Courtney O’Hagen
Health Science Division representatives included:
- Health Studies Department: Associate Professor/Chairperson/Assistant to the Dean, Erin O’Hara-Leslie
STEM Division representatives included:
- STEM Division: Staff Associate Dr. Erika Olenik
- Mathematics Department: Professor/Assistant to the Dean, Tom Reed
Other presenters included:
- Marquis Bennett: Associate Vice President and Dean of Students
- Colleen Cashmane: Director of Athletics
- Venessa L. Rodriguez: Director of EOP
Breakfast and lunch were prepared by SUNY Broome’s culinary and hospitality students.
Photo Credit: Matt Ebbers
Attendees were treated to both an equally scrumptious breakfast and lunch prepared by culinary and hospitality students in the Catering and Community Service, Professional Cooking, and Professional Food Service and Operations classes.
While most assume that the summer months are quiet for SUNY Broome’s Admissions Office and for our partners at our local high schools, it’s quite the opposite. The next few months will be spent sharing transcripts, scheduling advising appointments, and helping students confirm their scholarships and financial aid. The School Counselor Brunch often serves as the calm before the storm of proms, graduations, and finalizing college enrollment plans.
For school counselor, Christi Smith of Vestal High School, the brunch is a great opportunity to collect information to pass along to her soon-to-be-graduates, as well as to her rising sophomores and juniors.
“It’s a wonderful time to relax, regroup, and learn more about the opportunities at SUNY Broome that we can share with our students.”
View photos from the School Counselor Brunch!
