New Student Newsletter
June 13, 2014
Vol. 1
June 13, 2014

Dear Mighty Oaks!

 

On behalf of my colleagues in the Office of Student Affairs and across campus, I am thrilled to formally welcome you to the College of Environmental Science and Forestry community! We are busy getting things ready for your arrival in August. I hope you are looking as forward to that day as we are.

 

You likely chose ESF because you know you will get an excellent education here. You will take classes from outstanding faculty members who are well regarded in their fields. And you may participate in research projects with these faculty members. In addition to an excellent academic experience, a hallmark of an ESF education is the learning and experience you will have outside the classroom.

 

In the Office of Student Affairs, our mission is to advance individual student learning, well-being, and success by intentionally designing involvement and engagement opportunities to promote contributions to the College community and greater society. We do this by planning programs and service projects, by helping you prepare for your internship and job searches, by coordinating tutoring programs, by assisting you with any challenges you may face, and in many other ways. You will learn more about our offices and other offices on campus during your upcoming Orientation.

 

Enjoy the remainder of your summer. We look forward to seeing you soon!

 

Regards,

Dean Lombard  

Anne E. Lombard, Ph.D.

Dean for Student Affairs

General Reminders, Orientation Info, and
Centennial Hall:  Two Months to Go!
 New Student Checklist Reminder
Next week you should receive a package in the mail letting you know the New Student Checklist on the MyESF Student Portal is live and waiting for you to complete the required items.  The most important thing for you to take care of right away is activating your NetID so you can start to use your College e-mail address (which is administered through Syracuse University so will be @SYR.EDU).  This will also allow you to upload your photo using your SUID Number and Net ID for your College ID Card.

The MyESF Student Portal items include emergency contact information, a photo for ESF, policies acknowledgement, and FERPA waiver for billing and academic purposes.  You also must also complete the Syracuse University required tasks before Orientation starts which includes the Math Placement exam. Please do not forget about the Required Health Form and Immunizations Record Form (see to the right).  Last, there are meal plan options that you must select so pay particular attention to the MyESF Portal for further details and to make your selections.
  
  
Orientation Preview
We are about 2 months away from Orientation!  We are very much looking forward to meeting each and every one of you and having you get to know our 53 Orientation Leaders.  To take a sneak peak at what Orientation will look like for you, please visit the Orientation page.  For a look at the tentative First-Year Orientation schedule, click here.  For more information on the International Student Orientation, click here
 
Welcome to Centennial Hall!
  
Congratulations on your choice to attend SUNY-ESF, Centennial Hall Logoand welcome to Centennial Hall! We're busy preparing the building for your arrival and processing all your housing applications. The professional and student staff members are all excited for you to join our community.

 

Keep an eye on your email for your housing contract. When you receive your contract, please be sure to read through it carefully. There is a lot of important information in there, including your unit type (whether you're in a Double, Triple, or Two-Bedroom Suite) and your move-out dates.

 

As you start to coordinate your travel plans for the semester, keep the following in mind:

 

- First-year student move-in is Tuesday, August 19th from 8AM-Noon

 -Transfer student move-in is Thursday, August 21st from Noon-5PM

� Centennial Hall remains open over Thanksgiving break for any students who wish to stay

� The building does close at the end of the fall semester, and all students must check-out 24-hours after their last final, or by noon on Saturday, December 13th

 

Contracts are due by close of business on June 30th. Please watch your email as it will have all the information on how to sign and return contracts electronically.

 

Information regarding room assignments and roommate information will go out on or about July 3rd, 2014. Students will not receive this information until they turn in their housing contracts.

 

For information on What to Pack, click here.

 

Bike Storage in Centennial Hall

 

Centennial Hall offers residents the opportunity to store their bike in the indoor storage space located inside the hall. When students check-in to the residence hall on August 19th, they will be able to sign up for a bike spot and pay the $35/semester bike parking fee. While the room to the storage area is locked, it is still important to have a lock for your bike. A U-Lock works best because it is the most secure. (U-Locks will be available for purchase during move-in for $10.) The number of spaces is limited, so it's first come, first served.

 

If you have any questions, we're happy to help. You can give us a call at 315-741-3067. See you in August!

Meet the Office of Student Affairs
Student Involvement and Leadership
Student Involvement and Leadership is the office you will first meet before you arrive on campus, led by the Director, Laura Crandall, an ESF alum.  This office is here to assist in your transition to ESF starting at Orientation with assistance from 53 OLs, faculty, and staff.  After Orientation has concluded, some OLs will stay on as Mentors throughout the fall semester and host a variety of social and academic events to further help you succeed at ESF. 
   
Student Involvement and Leadership also oversees all of the ESF student organizations and student government (Undergraduate Student Association or USA).  Consider joining a club your first year so you can get a nice flavor of all that ESF has to offer.  Through this office there are also many other ways to stay connected and get involved such as attending an Insomniacs event.  These are held almost every Friday night at 10pm in Nifkin Lounge. You might go to an SAPB event (see your student planner you will get at Orientation), or attend one of the many USA sponsored events such as Morning Munches, Ice Cream Socials, Earth Week events, or an awards banquet and dance.
  
The office is located in 14 Bray Hall in the lower level.  You will be greeted by Lela Randall, our secretary, and you will also work with Emily Gleason who is the program coordinator.  Across the hall from 14 Bray Hall is a newly renovated space called Bray Space which is a cool place to hang out and relax between classes.  Be sure to get involved and check your e-mail regularly for our weekly update!  For questions regarding our office, visit our website at http://www.esf.edu/students/involvement.

Student Support

Sometimes through the course of a student's experience issues arise and it would benefit the student to talk about those concerns with a staff member and explore options and resources that may be of assistance. The Office of Student Affairs assists students and their families in managing crises and other barriers that impact success such as physical health, emotional wellbeing, and social adjustment. We are also a point of contact if you are unsure where to direct your concern or seek assistance from. To learn more please click here or contact the Office of Student Affairs at (315)470-6660 or [email protected] to explore ways in which we can assist you.

 

 

Academic Support Services

Led by Scott J. Blair, Academic Success & New Student Programs is here to assist students by providing a variety of development opportunities to assist students in their academic pursuits. The  Academic Support Services Offices oversees the College's Peer Tutoring Program, which provides ESF undergraduates with peer tutoring support for classes taught at ESF along with Physics support if taken at Syracuse University.  Students are encouraged to visit the office in 109a Moon Library to sign-up for a tutor once the semester has begun if such support is needed. Students are also encouraged to visit the office if they qualify to be a tutor as well.  ESF students are hired to serve as peer tutors and are required to attain a 'B' or better in the respective course while being in good academic standing'.  Having taken the course at ESF is preferred.

 

In addition to the Peer Tutoring Program, the office also runs a variety of academic support workshops each semester to assist students in developing appropriate time management and study skills to be a successful student, support for Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) and Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program (CSTEP) students, an academic Early-Alert program for first-year students, and academic coaching for students on academic probation. 

  

For questions regarding our services, visit our website at http://www.esf.edu/students/success/ for more details.   

 

 

Academic Information:  June is Math Placement Time!

Math Placement Exam Info

 

All first-year students, along with transfer students without credit for the minimum required math course for their major, will be sent an email next week detailing a required Math Placement Exam that is to be completed by July 3, 2014. Completing the Math Placement Exam assists the math faculty with correct course placement for academic success. The math faculty will use the score, along with a review of previous math coursework, to advise the Registrar's Office when creating Fall schedules.

 

The Math Placement Exam will not have an impact on admissions decisions but the exam should be taken seriously and without assistance. It is administered online through Syracuse University's MySlice portal. The exam is 50 questions and should take about an hour to complete.

 

A few common questions that the Admissions Office has received about the Math Placement Exam are:

 

-I just logged into MySlice but I cannot get into Blackboard. What is the problem?

After logging into MySlice, the system needs time to refresh. This could take up to 24 hours. So, after logging into MySlice, give the system a rest and log into Blackboard after 24 hours has passed.

 -I am a transfer student and I took the prerequisite for the required math course that I have yet to take for my degree. Do I still have to take the Math Placement Exam?

Yes, the math faculty is requesting that all students, who have not completed the minimum required math course for their major, take the exam. Your scores will be used to assist the math faculty with a general understanding of your knowledge. Taking the exam will not hold you back from taking the next level math course.

- I am taking the exam but I have to stop for now. Will the exam save so that I can come back to it to finish?

Yes, the exam can be saved without submitting and, when you return, you can pick up where you left off.

 

For additional information about placement exams, including step-by-step instructions and frequently asked questions visit: https://answers.syr.edu/display/place/Placement+Exams.

 

If you have questions concerning the exam, please contact the Admissions Office at (315) 470-6600.

Meet ESF Student Leaders
The Role of the Orientation Leader

 

Hello everyone!

We are Katie, Chris and Sam, your Head Orientation Leaders for 2014! Between the three of us, we are involved in a variety of activities and clubs on and off campus. As head OL's, we get to oversee our team of 50 crazy and excited student leaders to help make this year's Orientation better than ever. The team of Orientation Leaders aims to make the transition to college as smooth as possible, helping to acclimate first-year and transfer students, establish ties with faculty and staff, and prepare you for your time here at ESF as much as possible. We are here to help you out, so don't hesitate to ask us anything at all! Remember to say hi to us on campus during and after Orientation, and get excited to call ESF your home for the next four years.

   
Click here to meet the rest of the Orientation Leader Team!
In This Issue
Quick Links
ESF Traditions
Join an ESF or SU Club

Many of the major events and programs at ESF are created, planned, and managed by students. Conducting campus tours through the Ambassador program, assisting new students during Orientation through Mighty Movers or Orientation Leaders, planning the annual awards banquets, or hosting families and friends during the Fall BBQ are all ways in which you can become involved. You will have the opportunity to gain new skills, manage finances, expand your knowledge about a particular topic, contribute to and improve campus life, and most importantly have a good time doing it!

 

During your first year at ESF you should make it a priority to attend at least one USA meeting, an Insomniacs event, join at least one club, tie-dye one of your ESF shirts, get to know your floormates and Resident Advisors (RAs), participate in an Eco-Rep program, and check out Earth Week. There is so much more to do than that at ESF but it will give you a nice snapshot of the traditional events and programs we have at ESF. Don't forget to check out all the events that are going on across the street at SU, too! 

 

Click here to see a list of ESF student organizations that are either directly related to your academic program or of particular interest to ESF students. You are also eligible for membership in all student groups at Syracuse University (except NCAA Division I sports). Currently there are 30 organizations at ESF and more than 325 at SU in which you can become involved. Click here to see a list of clubs and organizations at SU.

 

Services  for Disabled Students  
The Office of Disability Services (ODS) at Syracuse University provides and coordinates services for students with disabilities at both Syracuse University and SUNY-ESF. This includes facilitating access to programs and activities, coordinating auxiliary aids and services, and providing access to adaptive technology.  For more information, click here or go to the ODS website at disabilityservices.syr.edu


Health Form Information 

Your health history is an important part of the care we will provide to you while you are a student at ESF.

 

Proof of immunity to measles, mumps, and rubella (which may be obtained by contacting your high school or primary care physician) and a completed response form related to meningococcal meningitis vaccine are required by New York State public health law. SU's required Health Form can be found here

 

The Health History and Immunization Form must be mailed, faxed (315-443-9010), or emailed ([email protected]) to SU Health Services by June 30th. If these documents are not received prior to arrival, you will risk strict administrative consequences, including the inability to register for classes and/or suspension of ID card services.


If you do not have the information available to complete this form, or have questions, or concerns, please contact SU Health Services at 315-443-9005.
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry | Office of Student Affairs | Student Involvement and Leadership
  
[email protected] | 315-470-6660
 1 Forestry Drive | 14 Bray Hall
Syracuse, NY 13210


Copyright © 20XX. All Rights Reserved.