Dec 06, 2024  
2019-2020 Undergraduate/Graduate Catalog 
    
2019-2020 Undergraduate/Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Student Life and Student Services



SUNY Plattsburgh students plan and participate in many programs outside the classroom. Such programs depend upon the cooperation of all campus constituencies, and the college community regards them as an integral part of the educational experience.

Art, Music, Theatre and the Plattsburgh State Art Museum

Students are welcome to join the activities of the art, music, and theatre departments. These departments and the art museum are all represented on the campus Arts Council which is supported by the Student Association. They work together to bring outstanding performances and visual arts to the campus.

Students may refine music performance skills by playing or singing in one or more of our many performing ensembles. They are open to all SUNY Plattsburgh students, whatever their majors, for credit. For more information, please check our website at https://www.plattsburgh.edu/plattslife/arts/performing-ensembles.html

Students that are interested in acting or theatre production may participate in any of the Theatre department’s faculty-directed productions, which range from classics to contemporary as well as original plays. A musical is offered every other year in conjunction with the Music Department. Theatre provides students with opportunities to develop skills in performance, design, directing, dramaturgy, and technical theatre. Participation is open to all SUNY Plattsburgh students.

The visual arts provide students with a wide variety of art history and studio art experiences, including sculpture, photography, ceramics, printmaking, drawing, painting, and graphic design. Students also have access to Plattsburgh State Art Museum’s Burke Gallery, Slatkin Study Room, Rockwell Kent Gallery and Edward and Bette Brohel Museum Without Walls installations. Students interested in joining any of the above organizations or learning more about how they can enjoy the arts while at SUNY Plattsburgh are welcome to visit the art, music, and theatre departments and the Plattsburgh State Art Museum (https://www.plattsburgh.edu/plattslife/arts/art-museum/index.html) in the Myers Fine Arts Building.

Campus Dining Services

For a complete listing of dining facilities, hours of operation, free Campus Dietitian services and catering information go to https://www.plattsburgh.edu/plattslife/food-dining/.

Campus Dining Services, operated by Chartwells, provides a quality dining experience for students, faculty, staff and visitors to SUNY Plattsburgh through its two resident dining facilities (Clinton) and a host of retail facilities across campus.

Clinton Dining Hall offers a wide variety of choices along with a constantly changing menu. Order your prepared-on-the-spot meal, while you wait, from three kiosks from three different food stations.  All food is freshly prepared in different cooking styles within full view of the diner.  Guests can enjoy The Grill (burgers, fries, sandwiches and chicken), The Deli (wraps and deli sandwiches), Terre Ve (vegetarian and vegan options), The Kitchen (home style meals), The Hearthside Oven (pizzas, calzones, flat bread pizzas, pastas and sauces), The Fresh Market (fresh made salads, soups, crepes, Belgian waffles, homemade pastries and parfait choices) and an “Allergy Awareness Area” serves customers with special dietary needs and includes made without gluten breads, soups and salad.  Take out is also available in Clinton’s take out containers.

Little Al’s, with a New York Deli style,  is a takeout place with a dine-in option. Little Al’s is located adjacent to Big Al’s and features soups, salads, sandwiches, pasta and desserts.

The Sundowner is located on the first floor of the Angell College Center and is a state-of-the-art food court facility. Stations include an Asian concept, Rosso Verde (pizza, pasta and entrees featuring local New York products), Coyote Jacks (grill items), Freshens (smoothies and frozen yogurt), and Pia Dori (freshly made deli sandwiches served cold or warmed on a panini grill, and upscale flat bread sandwiches - all served with homemade chips). Chop’d is the specialty salad section and offers an opportunity to create your own salad priced by the ounce. As a convenience for the night owls on campus, Late Night at the Sundowner is available.

Scoops is located on the first floor in the Angell College Center in Campus Express (the college convenience store). Scoops is SUNY Plattsburgh’s version of an old fashioned ice cream shop with delicious ice cream and fresh baked goodies to satisfy your sweet tooth.

Subway is located in the Angell College Center and serves freshly made hot and cold subs, salads, and soups. 

Griddles is located on the first floor of the Angell College Center next to Subway. Whenever your day begins, Griddles serves breakfast all day. Lunch choices enhance menu options.

Street Eats is located at Griddles all week beginning at 4:00 pm.  Enjoy bowls of flavor, including:  hummus, tahini sauce, tabbouleh, quinoa and couscous salad, lemon rice pilaf, chutneys, traditional gyros and Tzatziki sauce and more - check it out…yum!

Tim Hortons, located on the second floor of the Angell College Center, specializes in delicious coffee, fresh pastries, sandwiches, soups, and salads.

Einstein Bros. Bagels is open on the first floor of Hawkins Hall. Enjoy fresh bagels, specialty sandwiches, soups, salads and beverages.

Samuel D’s is located in Sibley Hall. Campus Dining Services staff work directly with Hospitality Management students providing hands-on experience in the operation of a Starbucks coffee shop. A bagel bar with salads and pastries is available for in-house dining or take out.

For a complete listing of dining facilities, a dining venue campus map, hours of operation, information regarding free Campus Dietitian services and catering information, go to https://www.plattsburgh.edu/plattslife/food-dining/.

Career Development Center

The Career Development Center (CDC) provides comprehensive career education and development resources to support students and alumni for lifelong professional success. Our services include personal career assessments, career consultations, print and online materials,  assistance with career document preparation, job and internship search, company and industry research, graduate school applications and interview preparation. We host several career events each year, including a Career Fair, the Part Time Job Fest and the Graduate and Professional School Fair. The CDC, in partnership with the Plattsburgh University Foundation, offers Applied Learning Grants to support students with pre-professional experiences.

Online resources make the CDC accessible 24/7. CardinalConnect is the primary online career management system, available through MyPlattsburgh. CardinalConnect includes job postings for both on and off-campus positions, and resources on Resumes and Cover Letters, Interviewing, Networking, Graduate School, and more.  In addition, we provide CareerShift, Targeted Job Websites, Career Diversity Resources, and Candid Careers for job search and career exploration. The CDC also serves students and alumni through our social media channels at Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

The CDC has developed a four-year career strategies plan; students are strongly encouraged to work with the CDC beginning with their first semester and continuing through alumni years. Please visit https://www.plattsburgh.edu/plattslife/careers/index.html to see our website.

Child Care Center

The center is a not-for-profit corporation which is operated as a service to the college community and is licensed to provide developmentally appropriate  early care and education for children between the ages of eight weeks and five years. Located on campus, the center offers full-time enrollment as well as a half-day preschool, Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. Tuition rates reflect the market rate for child care in the area. Eligible student families may apply for a Child Care and Development Block Grant which can defray the cost of tuition considerably, if funds are available.

The staff, selected for their education and experience in early education and child development, strive to plan meaningful days for children in a nurturing, stimulating environment. Emphasis is placed on supporting each child’s development of self-esteem and self-confidence resulting in the child’s ability and desire to learn. For more information, call 518-564-2274.

Educational Opportunity Program

The Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) provides comprehensive academic and financial support services to New York state residents who qualify both academically and financially. Services include academic and personal counseling, a pre-freshman summer program, tutoring, reading and writing skills programs, and the administration of special financial aid funds.

Fitness Center

The Fitness Center is a paid-membership program consisting of a 5,000 square foot area in Memorial Hall housing cardiovascular equipment, resistive weight equipment, and a free-weight area. A separate, adjacent 1,800 square foot area is used for aerobic activities. Another activity room offers an additional 2,700 square foot area for group cycling and kickboxing classes. Hood Hall has a Fitness Center with approximately 1,200 square feet of exercise space. This facility provides dedicated access to students living on the SUNY Plattsburgh campus who are paid members of the Fitness Center Program. The Fitness Center is also air-conditioned.

The Fitness Center program also offers access to an indoor climbing gym with opportunities to boulder, and top rope. The varied climbing terrain will reward the first-time climber and the most experienced.

With a membership exceeding 3,000 students, faculty, and staff per semester (over 50 percent of the campus community), the Fitness Center is known as the place to be on campus. Member services include orientation, personal training, strength and conditioning, nutrition analysis, fitness assessment, and classes in aerobics, kickboxing, spinning, yoga, and pilates.

The Fitness Center also hosts Personal Trainer and Group Exercise Instructor Certifications throughout the academic year. For more information, call 518-564-3143 or visit the website at https://www.plattsburgh.edu/athletics/recreational/fitness-center/index.html.

Fraternity/Sorority Life

Fraternity/Sorority Life provides support, advice, and services regarding effective organizational management to fraternities and sororities. The office also provides values-driven educational programming to assist members in creating an ideal fraternal experience that encompasses the core principles of Friendship, Scholarship, Leadership, and Service. Programming emphasis is placed on ethical leadership, character development, diversity and inclusion, risk and harm reduction, service learning, membership development, continuous recruitment, lifelong membership, and the concept of community. By participating in programs and partnerships developed by this office, students affiliated with fraternities and sororities learn, through collaboration and interfraternalism, the skills and concepts necessary for creating a positive Fraternity/Sorority Community. This office oversees all values-driven fraternities and sororities, governance councils, and auxiliary organizations.

Global Education Office

The staff members in the Global Education Office (GEO) provide a range of services to international students studying at SUNY Plattsburgh, and to all students wishing to study away from campus for a short period of time. Within GEO, there are three functional areas: international admissions, international student services, and study abroad and exchanges. For international students, the staff provides assistance and support from the point of initial inquiry through graduation. For students wishing to study away from campus, staff members assist with all the details related to selecting, applying for, enrolling in and completing one of the over 600 study abroad and exchange program options available through SUNY Plattsburgh.

The GEO staff makes every effort to help international and study away students fulfill their academic goals. The office is located in Kehoe 210 for walk-in advisement during regular business hours. For information call 518-564-3287 or email: geo@plattsburgh.edu.

Intercollegiate Athletics

SUNY Plattsburgh is a Division III member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), and the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC). The college sponsors 18 varsity sports. Men’s sports include baseball, cross country, soccer, basketball, ice hockey, indoor track, outdoor track, and lacrosse. Women’s sports include cross country, ice hockey, soccer, tennis, volleyball, basketball, indoor track, outdoor track, lacrosse and softball.

The women’s ice hockey team won the NCAA Division III National Championship in 2007 with an undefeated season. They also repeated as national champions in 2008, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017. The Cardinals have also won two national championships in men’s ice hockey and have had several individual champions in track. Conference championships have been won in softball, men’s cross country, women’s cross country, men’s soccer, women’s soccer, men’s basketball, women’s ice hockey, men’s ice hockey and men’s lacrosse. Each year, SUNY Plattsburgh student athletes are selected for athletic and academic All America honors. Since the 2005-06 academic year, the Cardinals have been in the top 25 percent in the NACDA Directors’ Cup final standings each year, measuring the nation’s best athletic departments based on finish in NCAA Division III Championships.

The college operates two main athletic facilities. Memorial Hall hosts basketball and volleyball, while the Field House is home to cross country, soccer, ice hockey, track, lacrosse, softball, and baseball.

Intramurals and Recreational Sports Program

The intramural and recreational sports program strives to engage the college community in enhancing the quality of life and educational experience by providing services, facilities, and opportunities to participate in sports and training programs that respond to a diverse college community.

The intramural program sponsors tournaments in flag football, volleyball, indoor and outdoor soccer, basketball, and softball. They offer one day tournaments in tennis, racquetball, 3v3 basketball, 2v2 sand volleyball, kickball and dodgeball.  The sports club program includes men’s and women’s rugby, co-ed ultimate frisbee, cheerleading, martial arts, men’s and women’s lacross, golf, climbing club, pick up ice hockey, pick up volleyball, kick line, runners high a running club, a marksmanship club, multiple dance groups and fishing.  The Recreational and Sports program supports special requests for facilities and equipment by campus groups who want to organize their own events, and informal open recreation and pool hours that allow for a variety of free time for the drop-in do-my-own-thing sports individual.  

In addition, the Department of Recreational Sports provides special programming opportunities for the college and community: the American Red Cross youth learn to swim program; noncredit lifeguard training and lifeguard review courses; and the CPR/First Aid/AED program of initial training or renewals for individuals, groups, programs, or departments on campus that require certification of employment or clinical experiences. CPR/FA/AED noncredit instructor courses are also offered. Check the website at https://www.plattsburgh.edu/athletics/recreational/index.html for more details.

Learning Center

The Claude J. Clark Learning Center, located in Feinberg Library Room 103, is an important academic support resource for SUNY Plattsburgh faculty, staff members, and students. The Learning Center’s professional and student staff work together to provide a quality peer tutoring program. Tutoring is available in over 150 courses each semester. Students can schedule appointments (minimum one day in advance) between noon - 8:45 p.m. Monday - Thursday, noon - 4:00 p.m. on Friday, and 4 - 9 p.m. on Sunday.

Math, Statistics, and Writing walk-ins are available and allow students the flexibility of dropping in for assistance as their schedules permit. In addition, the Learning to Learn workshop series is offered by request and focuses on developing or strengthening academic skills such as goal-setting, time management, and exam preparation. For more information, call 518-564-6138 or visit our website at https://www.plattsburgh.edu/academics/resources/learning-center/index.html.

New Student Orientation

The college conducts a series of one and one-half day summer orientation programs for freshmen students and a series of one day sessions for transfer students. An extensive family orientation is held concurrently with these sessions. SUNY Plattsburgh’s New Student Orientation affords the opportunity to register early for classes and to gain the information and insight needed to feel comfortable about the transition to college life at Plattsburgh. The program allows students and families to establish a comfort level with the campus and college environment prior to arrival in the fall.

Off-Campus Residence Living

SUNY Plattsburgh does not own or operate any off-campus housing nor does it inspect, approve, or supervise off-campus facilities. In addition, the college does not become a party to private landlord-tenant matters. The Housing & Residence Life Office does maintain a listing of available off-campus housing to assist students. Facilities in this listing have been inspected and approved by the City of Plattsburgh Building Inspector’s Office. A placement service is not available.

Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

The Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, led by Dr. Michelle Cromwell, Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion participates in efforts to maintain an academic environment that will attract, recruit, retain, and prepare a diverse group of students to assume leadership roles in a global society. As the Chief Diversity Officer for SUNY Plattsburgh, Dr. Cromwell and her office will also help establish and nurture collaborative partnerships with college leadership, faculty, students, staff, collective bargaining units, the greater Plattsburgh community and other SUNY insitutions.

On-Campus Housing

The college’s 12 residence halls feature educational, social, and cultural programs and services designed to help students succeed with their academic pursuits and to participate meaningfully in their collegiate experience. All full-time undergraduate students must live in residence halls, except married students; branch campus students, veteran students, fully on-line students, students with dependent children residing with them; students who live at home within 60 miles, with parents or guardians, and commute from their home address; students 21 years of age before Oct. 1 of the academic year in which they enroll; students who have been enrolled full time at college and have lived on campus four semesters; and students who are closed out of campus housing who must live off campus.

Every possible effort is made to accommodate individual tastes and values within the residence community. Opportunities exist for requesting particular rooms/roommates, and individual attention is given to special needs of students. Each residence hall has a residence director (R.D.) and residence assistants (R.A.s) who work with students to create a positive community and to enforce community standards. In addition, each residence hall is part of an area government which assumes responsibility, along with the staff, for planning events and programs. Residence hall staff and government positions are great opportunities for students to get involved and develop leadership skills.

Parking/Vehicle Registration

Students shall register vehicles for parking on campus by completing these steps:

1.  CONFIRM ENROLLMENT with optional parking fees (PR and PK) included in the tuition bill*.  After confirming enrollment, any refund request for unwanted parking fees must be received at parking@plattsburgh.edu no later than 5 business days from session start.  Upon hang tag assignment, the registration fee (PR) is nonrefundable. 

     *A veteran parking waiver requires the filing of a DD-214 (honorable discharge) with the University Police Department.

2.  ADD, OR UPDATE VEHICLE REGISTRATION in MyPlattsburgh under the “Automobile Registration” link.

3.  PICK UP AND DISPLAY HANG TAG within 48 hours from session start; or, after session start, within 48 hours of registering.  Hang tags are disbursed from the Angell College Center during the first 3 days of the fall session (10A-2P); and from UPD, Health Center, for spring or summer session, or late registrations.

Security/Crime and Fire Information Available

The State University of New York College at Plattsburgh is committed to assisting all members of the campus community in providing for their own safety and security. The University Police web site located at https://www.plattsburgh.edu/plattslife/health-safety/university-police/index.html contains helpful safety informations, statistics, services provides and resources for the campus community.

Crime statistics for the previous three calendar years for reported crimes that occurred on campus; in certain off-campus buildings or property owned or controlled by SUNY Plattsburgh; and on public property within or immediately adjacent to and accessible from the campus are collected and available to the public in an annual security and fire safety report. Fire safety information and annual fire statistics for on campus residence halls is also included in this report. This information is required by law and can be obtained at the University Police Department at SUNY Plattsburgh or online at https://www.plattsburgh.edu/plattslife/health-safety/university-police/index.html. Campus safety information can also be obtained from the U.S. Department of Education’s website at https://ope.ed.gov/campussafety/#/ .

For more information contact the Univeristy Police Department, 101 Broad Street, Plattsburgh, N.Y. 12901, 518-564-2022 or email universitypolice@plattsburgh.edu.  

Student Accessibility Services

All students requiring on-campus accommodations of any kind must register with the Student Assessibility Services office located in Macomb Hall, 518-564-2810. Alternative testing, note takers, readers, audiovisual aids, advocacy, and career, personal, and academic counseling are generally available.

Student Association

While students assume major responsibility for most of their out-of-class activities, the Student Association (SA) - exercising control over an annual budget of about $1,100,000 - provides a variety of services to students including shuttle bus service, a revolving loan fund, recreational equipment rental, and legal advisory service, to name a few. The Student Senate, the legislative branch of the SA, approves all funding requests, develops policies for student activities and makes recommendations about aspects of student life to appropriate policy-formulating bodies. The administrative duties of the SA are carried out through the Executive Council which consists of elected student representatives.

The Activities Coordination Board of the SA plans for and provides films, entertainment, novelty events, trips, and other special events such as the Presidents’ Gala. Additionally, the SA is extensively involved in higher education lobbying efforts at the local and state level.

Student Conduct Office

The Student Conduct Office is located on the 6th floor of the Kehoe Administration Building. It is responsible for administration of the campus judicial (student discipline) system.  It also houses the SUNY Plattsburgh Circle of Omicron Delta Kappa Student Leadership Honor Society.

Student Health and Counseling Center

The Student Health and Counseling Center provides a wide array of services including acute and chronic ambulatory healthcare, time-limited, goal-oriented individual and group counseling, crisis intervention, health education and preventative outreach. Additional services include women’s healthcare clinic, laboratory services, immunizations, and medications.

The Center is staffed by a team of trained physicians, mid-level providers, psychologists, counselors, laboratory personnel, nurses, support staff, and administrators. Each team member is committed to providing the highest levels of professional care using a holistic health and wellness model. The Center is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. 

Student Involvement

Student Involvement, located on the first floor of the Angell College Center, is designed to serve as the primary programming department on campus that offers social, community service, and leadership opportunities and supports the many student clubs.

The office provides a well-rounded program of social, educational, cultural, and recreational activities for all students, faculty and administration. Student Involvement organizes and presents many of the activities (such as Family Weekend, Opening Weekend Activities, comedy shows, and other types of entertainment) that bring excitement and life to SUNY Plattsburgh.

For more information on upcoming events, or to see how you can get involved, please contact us at 518-564-4830 or stop in the office.

Student Publications

Student publications are Cardinal Points, the weekly newspaper; Z Platt Almanac, the annual literary journal; and All Points North, a quarterly magazine covering the North Country both online and in print.

Student Support Services

The Student Support Services (SSS) is a federally funded TRIO Program. Students qualify for the program if they meet an income guideline or neither parent has graduated from a four-year college or if they have a learning or physical disability. In addition to specialized general education classes, the program offers academic support as well as career, personal, and academic advising. Additional services are available on an as-needed basis. The program is located in Macomb Hall, 518-564-2810.

Title IX Requirements

Students are protected under Title IX of the 1972 Educational Amendments against discrimination based on sex. These protections include the right to pursue your education free from sexual harassment and sexual violence. For more information, including how to file a complaint, contact the Title IX Coordinator at 518-564-3281.

TV and Radio Stations

The Student Association operates a campus FM radio station (WQKE) which provides students with experience in programming, writing, and reporting news and radio engineering.  The college also owns and operates a student cable TV station (PSTV 10) which is largely student operated to provide students the opportunity to acquire skills in TV production.  Students gain experience and receive credit in both radio and television in conjunction with academic course work.

Upward Bound

The Upward Bound Program is a federally funded TRIO Program serving selected area high-school students in Clinton, Essex and Franklin counties.

The program provides the necessary advisement and support to assure high-school graduation and successful completion of postsecondary education. For more information, please visit our website at www.ubplattsburgh.org.

Veterans Support

The Veterans Support Coordinator is responsible for coordinating veterans affairs issues for the college. This is done by creating a supportive and welcoming environment for students who are veterans, service members and their families on the SUNY Plattsburgh campus, by developing and implementing services which foster student academic/career success, by serving as an advocate/outreach coordinator for all military-affiliated students with constituents both on and off the campus, and by educating and training college faculty and staff members on how to better understand and serve our military-affiliated students.

Military-affiliated students (active duty, National Guard, reservists, and military dependents- children and spouses) may contact the Veterans Support Coordinator to seek information about all aspects of the student experience at SUNY Plattsburgh. The Veterans Support Office is located in Kehoe Administration Building, in Room 113B. It offers a study center for all military-affiliated students with computers, CAC readers, meeting space and a veteran/military resource kiosk. For more information visit our website at https://www.plattsburgh.edu/plattslife/student-support/veterans-support-services/.

Volunteerism

The Center for Student Involvement coordinates opportunities for students to volunteer through service to local not-for-profit agencies, schools and community organizations. In addition, intercollegiate athletic teams, clubs and organizations, and fraternity and sorority groups all incorporate community service as part of their mission and practice here on campus.  

For more information on volunteerism please check out our website at https://www.plattsburgh.edu/plattslife/get-involved/community-volunteerism.html  or stop by the second floor of the Angell College Center, Room 203.