SUNY Plattsburgh's Homecoming '09 on Oct. 16 and 17 will once again offer alumni a chance to reconnect with classmates and faculty while visiting the place they once called home, but, in doing so, it will also mark a change in the college's alumni programming.

"Like our Homecomings of the past, it will be a time to showcase the campus," said Interim Director of Alumni Relations Kerry Chapin '98, "a time to listen to the alumni tell stories about their days at Plattsburgh, how the campus has changed and what things have remained constant."

"Ultimately, we have events that allow our alumni to socialize, like happy hours and cocktail receptions," continued Chapin. "And we have some family-oriented events planned as well, like the planetarium shows and open skate with Burghy.”
 

While this year's event will involve many of the activities alumni have come to appreciate and expect, it will also feature a shift toward a new model for the weekend that will be fully in place next year. This new model will feature an emphasis on affinity-group programming, with affinity groups consisting of alumni who have some sort of shared experience.

For instance, this year's event will feature gatherings with alumni from the Educational Opportunity Program. This is the 40th year that the state-funded program has been on campus, providing support to capable New York state residents from financially disadvantaged families. In honor of this anniversary, alumna Pamela Hewitt '74, who once received EOP services, will return to campus as a Distinguished Visiting Alumna and give the presentation, "Your Passion and Your Career Journey."

Alumni from the Honors Program will also return to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Redcay Honors Center.

In addition, this year's festivities will include gatherings highlighting the classes with special anniversaries. For instance, there will be a reception for the Golden Anniversary Club, as well as anniversary reunion brunches and happy hours.

Next year, however, this will change. These class-year celebrations will be moved to the summer. The college's new Summer Reunion, June 11-13, will honor the class years that end in zeros and fives and allow them to take part in the region's summer activities.

Finally, the Cardinal Sports Hall of Fame festivities have been moved. They will now be celebrated during a new Cardinal Weekend event on Dec. 4 and 5 of this year. This event will welcome former Cardinal athletes while showcasing the newest alumni to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.

For more information on Homecoming '09, Cardinal Weekend or Summer Reunion or to register for events, contact the Office of Alumni Relations at 518-564-2090 or alumni@plattsburgh.edu.

To view the full schedule of events, including dinners, brunches, Northcountry Planetarium shows and special alumni sporting events, visit our Web site at www.plattsburgh.edu/alumni/homecoming/ and click on the link for the schedule of events.

On Saturday, Oct. 24, more than 100 students will descend upon the streets of Plattsburgh.

Chances are, community residents will be glad to see them arrive.

Every one of these SUNY Plattsburgh students will be taking part in National Make-a-Difference Day, the nation's largest day of service, volunteering their time at eight non-profit organizations and throughout the Plattsburgh community. Students of varying ages, nationalities and backgrounds will take part in this large-scale effort, coordinated through the college's Center for Student Involvement and organized by students eager to make a difference in the community they call home.

The projects scheduled for that day range from setting up and staffing the haunted house at the City Recreation Department's Paranormal Expo (proceeds from which will be donated to the Interfaith Food Shelf) to painting and repairing the porch of an elderly cancer survivor.

Twenty students will help paint the gymnasium at the Salvation Army's Plattsburgh Community Center, a project Laurence Goodman, captain of the Plattsburgh Salvation Army Corps, said he has needed someone to do for a long time. Other SUNY students will work at the Interfaith Food Shelf, cleaning and stocking shelves and taking part in the Food Shelf's inventory of non-perishable food items. The North Country Cultural Center for the Arts will be assisted by students from the college in setting up the historic Strand Theatre for its annual "Arms & Legs" art auction, one of the organization's most important fundraisers.

A work crew of between 10 and 12 students will perform its service at Meadowbrook Nursing Home, joining in activities like playing cards and creating arts and crafts projects with the senior citizens who reside there.

Another group of students will play similar roles at Evergreen Valley Nursing Home and help with some necessary outdoor maintenance work there. Still other volunteers will work on cleaning the yard at the Senior Citizen's Council of Clinton County's property on North Catherine Street. Individual senior citizens who put in requests for work to be done on that day will also be personally aided by SUNY Plattsburgh students.

That night, a special free community meal will conclude the day's activities at the college's Algonquin Dining Hall on Rugar Street. Organized in the same manner as a meal at the Salvation Army Soup Kitchen or the community meal hosted every Wednesday by the Trinity Episcopal Church, volunteers will assist in preparing the food, hosting the dinner, and cleaning up afterwards. The meal will provide an opportunity for area individuals in need of food to enjoy a hot dinner at no cost. Special support for this dinner is being provided by Chartwells Dining Services, the college's food service provider, and SUNY Plattsburgh's College Auxiliary Services.

Student volunteers for this day come from a number of sources, including SUNY Plattsburgh chapters of national fraternities and sororities, the Office of International Student Services, SUNY Plattsburgh sports teams, various student clubs and organizations on campus, and students unaffiliated with any particular group but interested in making a difference in their community. Largely responsible for coordinating these activities is the college's Project H.E.L.P. (Hands Engaged in Linking People), an organization designed to provide students with volunteer experiences that meet the needs of the Plattsburgh community.

Created by USA WEEKEND magazine, Make-A-Difference Day has grown to become America's largest single day of service. In 2008 alone, 3 million people volunteered in thousands of projects throughout the nation's cities and towns. This year, on the 19th annual Make-A-Difference Day, SUNY Plattsburgh students will ensure that Plattsburgh is one of those communities benefiting from this unique service undertaking.

For more information on SUNY Plattsburgh's work on Make-A-Difference Day, contact the Center for Student Involvement at 518-564-4830.

Beginning in January 2010, SUNY Plattsburgh students will not have to stand in line or work around office hours to pick up their refund checks.

Thanks to a new debit card from Higher One, SUNY Plattsburgh students will have more choice when it comes to receiving their financial aid or school refunds, including the "Easy Refund" option, which will allow students access to their refund money the same day it is released.

With the Easy Refund option, the student’s refund money is deposited into an account that is directly linked to the Plattsburgh Debit Card, which is also a Debit MasterCard.

"I'm excited about this new service for students, and I truly believe it's the right decision because it will give our students more choices more efficiently and more effectively," said Gregory B. Withrow, the director of student accounts.

Each student will receive a Plattsburgh Debit Card, but, when they activate the card, the students will be able to select between three refund options. The refund can be deposited into a pre-existing bank account or sent to them via paper check, if the student would not like to take advantage of the Easy Refund option.

According to Withrow, since 2006, more and more of the students’ financial services, like bill processing and payment and direct deposit for refunds, are being offered online.

"Our decision to go with Higher One is a natural progression of our online services to students," said Withrow. "I became convinced that Higher One was the direction for our campus to go."

Instead of waiting in line, said Withrow, students will be able to go online and view the status of their refund disbursements, ask questions, and view their monthly e-statements if they choose the OneAccount option.

For more information, contact Withrow at 518-564-3120 or withrogb@plattsburgh.edu.

Liz McAleer, Senior
Public Relations Intern