Contact:
Tony Hoppa
Assistant Vice President for Communications
(585) 245-5516
thoppa@geneseo.edu

Kiplinger's Ranks SUNY Geneseo No. 1 Best Value Among Nation's Public Colleges for Out-of-State Students, No. 6 for In-State Students

GENESEO, N.Y.
How good is The State University of New York at Geneseo in terms of quality for the price? According to Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine, number one for out-of state students and number six for in-state students among all public four year colleges and universities in the nation, as rated on its list of the 100 Best Values in Public Colleges.

"It could just be the best public college…" writes Jane Bennett Clark, who authored the article for the February issue that prominently features Geneseo in text and photos. According to the article, schools that make The Kiplinger 100 list deliver a "first-rate education without breaking the bank." The magazine is available on newsstands and online at http://www.kiplinger.com/money.

The top 10 ranking in both categories reaffirms that Geneseo-SUNY's most selective institution-is becoming known for its academic excellence at a fraction of the price compared to some of the nation's prestigious private institutions. For the instate student category, Geneseo also topped institutions such as the University of Michigan and the University of California at Berkley.

"To be ranked number one in best value for out-of-state students two out of the last three years places Geneseo and the State University of New York in the national spotlight," said Christopher C. Dahl, president of SUNY Geneseo. "And moving up to number six among instate students validates our unique mission to attract the best and brightest who desire a strong liberal arts education."

According to Dahl, Geneseo's reputation for academic excellence and value will increase as parents share the rankings with fellow parents. "Ultimately, this will enhance our efforts to recruit top students to New York and from New York," he said. "This is a key first step in supporting the recommendations outlined by the New York State Commission on Higher Education to help SUNY aggressively compete with other states for the best students and faculty."

According to William Caren, associate vice president for enrollment management at SUNY Geneseo, the rankings help attract in- and out-of-state students which benefits Geneseo as well as other SUNY institutions. "More than 40 percent of Geneseo's students pursue full-time graduate study within one year of graduation," he noted. "That's twice the national average. And once students are in New York, they quickly see the level of excellence and opportunity afforded by SUNY's university centers and research institutions. It's exciting because we're on the front line in attracting and retaining talent vital to New York's future."

As quoted in the Kiplinger's story, Dahl said, "There's no reason why the state of New York shouldn't offer its residents the same education that would cost $45,000 to $50,000 at a private school." Geneseo's instate tuition is $4,350, with total costs of approximately $15,000. For out-of-state students, the numbers rise to $10,610 and $21,226, respectively.

Kiplinger's determined its rankings based on data provided by more than 500 public four-year colleges and universities. Schools on the list were ranked according to academic quality, which included freshman class SAT scores, admission and retention rates, student faculty ratios, and graduation rates, as well as cost and financial aid.

Enjoy the autumn beauty of our forest, 50-mile views and our maple syrup farm in East Springwater. We will share the bounty and beauty of the land's hard work and our hard work this past spring and summer. Sugarbush Hollow, a community sugarhouse, is opening its doors in September and October with five exciting Sunday afternoon programs.

Each program requires a registration so we can plan quantities. There is a charge of $15 per person, $25 per couple and families will be discounted. To run each program we will require a minimum total of eight people to register.

The first program is Sunday, September 30, 2007 featuring Chuck Winship, one of the owners of Sugarbush Hollow. From 1:00 - 2:00 we will kick off our fall programs with a Pancake Brunch using fresh maple syrup, seasonal fruits & local products. Following our local foods with be an exciting program and walk in the sugarbush. "The Life of a Maple Tree" will be lead by Chuck Winship, owner of Sugarbush Hollow. This presentation will include sugar maple history, microclimates, forest interdependencies as well as maple sap production information. You will take a one-year-old maple tree seeding home with you as well as lots of knowledge, views, smells, food and fun.

On October 7th from 2:00 - 3:00 Pam Masterson, author of "Hiking the Little Finger Lakes of Western NY" will talk on 21 local hiking trails
between Conesus, Hemlock, Canadice, and Honeoye Lakes. Each participant will receive a hiking map. Follow us for a picturesque hike from 3:00 -4:30 along Hemlock Lake to look for the eagles, identify fall wildflowers and treasure our beautiful little lake.

On October 14 from 2:00 - 3:30 Tawn Feeney, Speech Pathologist, Al Sigel Center will lead us through the woods in a program "Experiencing Nature with Children". One of the many joys of parenting is experiencing the wonder of nature through the eyes and all the senses of your child. Families with young children are invited to join us for nature discovery activities. Weather permitting we will take a short hike, so wear appropriate clothing.

On October 21th from 2:00 - 3:30 our comfortable saphouse will be a women's gathering place for "Making a wool hand-embroidered Christmas ornament or pin." Nan Miller, sister of Chuck Winship, and President of the Salamanca Garden Club, will provide all supplies to create an ornament or pin with wool, floss, beads and buttons. Participants will choose several designs and learn basic embroidery stitches while working with comfortable and cozy wools.

On October 28th from 1:00 - 4:00 we will complete our fall programs with a community harvest meal, local music, and a hay ride around the sugarbush. Be sure to wear warm clothing & bring a harvest dish to pass. We will provide homemade soup & bread, table settings and drinks.

Contact us at www.sugarhousesyrup.com or call us at 245-1252 for reservations.

At its September 22 Heritage Wine Tasting, the Town of York Historical Society will make a major announcement of statewide relevance. The announcement will clearly require the rewriting of the history of wine production both in the Finger Lakes region and in the whole of New York State. In addition to this surprising historical announcement there will be the unveiling of an artist’s conception of a projected attraction at the Warren family homestead site in York that will enhance Livingston County as a destination for visitors.

Elected officials attending include, among others, New York State Senator Cathy Young, member of the Senate Agriculture Committee. Also attending: the Cornell Faculty member whose discovery makes our major announcement possible, Governor Spitzer's Regional Representative, Jennifer Sanfilippo, and Chamber of Commerce President Cynthia Oswald, among others. Lisa Burns, Tourism Director of Livingston County, will highlight the significance of the Society's announcements.

A press kit will be made available at the event.

The Heritage Wine Tasting is scheduled to begin at 3:00 pm. The announcement will occur at 3:15 pm, Saturday, September 22. The venue is historic Hillcrest Estate, 1940 Craig Road, in the Town of York.

The Genesee Valley Farm Discovery Center announces its First Annual Open House, September 27, 2007.

Click here for full press release ...

Contact:
Mary E. McCrank
Media Relations Officer
(585) 245-5516
mccrank@geneseo.edu

SUNY Geneseo again ranked No. 2 in the North by U.S. News & World Report

GENESEO, N.Y.-The State University of New York at Geneseo once again has been ranked among the nation's best schools in U.S. News & World Report's annual listing of the top colleges and universities in the nation.

In the 2008 edition of "America's Best Colleges," Geneseo ranked No. 2 among the "Top Public Universities-Master's" for the Northern region.

Geneseo also advanced three spots to appear at No. 11 among the "Best Universities-Master's" for the Northern region. U.S. News takes into account both public and private colleges and universities in this category.

Widely consulted nationally by parents and students, the exclusive U.S. News rankings confirm that Geneseo is viewed as a premier public liberal arts college in America. The rankings will be published Aug. 17 online at usnews.com/colleges and in the Aug. 27 edition of U.S. News & World Report, which hits newsstands Aug. 20.

"Our consistent presence at the top of this list is a tribute to our faculty, students and staff," said SUNY Geneseo President Christopher C. Dahl. "Geneseo is focused on excellence in undergraduate education, and for us academic quality is our constant goal."

"The U.S. News rankings are one of the ways Geneseo captures the attention of thousands of students who visit and then apply for a place in the entering class," said Dahl.

This month, 975 students who were selected from an applicant pool of 11,000 will enter the first-year class at Geneseo, said Bill Caren, associate vice president for enrollment services at Geneseo.

"Geneseo's second-place ranking among all public undergraduate colleges in the North is realistic in light of our increasing selection standards and attraction from students throughout the northeastern part of the United States," said Caren.

Geneseo Provost Kate Conway-Turner said the rankings are a validation students are viewing Geneseo as a viable alternative to private education.

"They are coming to see Geneseo and are getting 'wowed' by it," she said. "Once they see it, they want to come here."

"We have superb faculty who are dedicated to our student body. They work tirelessly to provide the very best education both inside the classroom and with projects, research and performances outside the classroom," said Conway-Turner. "One thing that continues to impress our students is that, as undergraduates, they can be involved in significant research projects, working alongside their professors. It's a wonderful wide-ranging experience, and many of our students are involved in funded research during the summers in numerous areas, including physics, biochemistry and cell biology."

Conway-Turner pointed out that each year the college has an increasing number of students publishing and presenting their research. More than 400 students participated in this year's G.R.E.A.T. Day-Geneseo Recognizing Excellence, Achievement & Talent-to showcase their research, exhibits and performances.

U.S. News determines its rankings by gathering data from each college for up to 15 indicators of academic excellence: assessment by administrators at peer institutions, student retentions, faculty resources, student selectivity, financial resources, alumni giving rate and graduation rate performance.

"Team Livingston" was nominated for and won the First Place Group Merit Award on the New York State level given by the International Association of Workforce Professionals, IAWP, for the work they did on the Barilla America project. This State award is given annually to a group of NYS Department of Labor and other Workforce Investment Act staff for some project that they worked on. This year that also included Economic Development.

"Team Livingston" was formed in the Fall 2005 in response to an initially unknown company's inquiry into locating its new manufacturing facility in Livingston County, New York State. Members of Team Livingston include the New York State Department of Labor, Livingston Co. Office of Workforce Development, Livingston County Economic Development, Empire State Development, as well as local elected officials. In March 2006 the announcement was made that Barilla America would locate their second plant in the United States in Avon, New York. Because of the concerted efforts of Team Livingston, Barilla will provide good paying manufacturing employment to an area whose manufacturing base has been in decline and thusly contributing to the overall health of our local economy.

In the Fall of 2006 the New York State Department of Labor and Livingston County Workforce Development staff, co-located in the Center for Workforce Development Office, Geneseo, NY, took on the task of recruiting and screening for Barilla's first new employees. The two agencies accepted more than 1200 applications for the positions Barilla was hiring for. They did the initial screening of the applicants, and all of the pre-testing that Barilla required prior to being interviewed by Barilla staff from their main offices in Chicago, Il. The Center staff also set up training programs for some of the positions from State and Federal monies the employer received for training the new employees. All positions for the Avon plant from the Human Resources Manager to the Maintenance Technicians were hired thru the efforts of Team Livingston members. The employer started production on schedule in July, 2007.

From left to right are: Dawn Zigenfus, Kathy Marnell, Paula Lokken,& Rob Rose from NYS Dept. of Labor, Patrick Rountree, Director of Livingston Co. Economic Development, Coreen Jones, NYS Dept. of Labor, Keith Mitchell, Director of Liv. Co. Workforce Development, Lynn Gadd, NYS Dept. of Labor, John Jaeger, Liv Co. Workforce Development, and Rick Halsted, NYS Dept. Of Labor

Walt Isaac Named 2007 Livingston County NYS Dept. of Labor JSEC Honoree

The New York State Department of Labor’s Livingston County Job Service Employer Committee (JSEC) has selected Walt Isaac for the 2007 JSEC Honoree of the Year Award.

JSEC is an advisory group to the New York State Department of Labor which provides information to area employers about programs and services that can help them to grow and to prosper.

The purpose of this annual award is to recognize those businesses and individuals that have participated in and supported NYS Dept. of Labor JSEC programs and have made important contributions to the business climate of Livingston County.

Walt Isaac will be honored at the Annual JSEC Employer Luncheon at Woodlynn Hills Golf Course in Nunda, New York on Friday, July 13th at 12:00pm. Guest speaker will be Peter Palermo II CEO, Strategic Triangle, Inc. The public is invited to attend.

Cost of the luncheon is $10 per person and reservations can be made by calling Dawn Zigenfus at the Center for Workplace Development at 243-7047.

Walt Isaac, 2007 Livingston County NYS Dept. of Labor JSEC Honoree is surprised at the Chamber of Commerce Public Policy Committee meeting by JSEC Committee members, Dawn Zigenfus, Carol Carey and Rick Halsted.

Today we received notification from the Internal Revenue Service that we have been granted tax-exempt status and will be able to accept donations and provide statements that will permit donors to take tax deductions for their contributions. The decision is retroactive to August 2, 2006. The information below in this email has been provided to the the college media relations staff to use in press releases. Hopefully, the local papers will carry some of this next week when our March volunteers are in Gulfport. We also want to call your attention to the item about the Share & Care Dinner on April 18. Please save that date on your calendar and plan to bring some colleagues and friends. I am also attaching a draft of my notes from out last meeting. The next steering committee is scheduled for Wednesday, March 28th from 3:30-4:30 PM. Our attorney, Kevin Van Allen, has agreed to come and help us get started with the steps we need to take to comply with corporate and IRS regulations. Please let me know if you have any questions. I also want to thank each of you with helping us create Livingston CARES, Inc.

Press & Media Information:

On Friday, March 9, 49 Livingston County CARES, Inc. (CARES) volunteers will leave SUNYGeneseo to travel by bus to Gulfport, Mississippi to do Hurricane Katrina recovery work under the auspices of the North Carolina Baptist Men's Christian Association Recovery Center. The volunteers will also assist Harrison County Beautification Director, Cindy Simmons, with the beginning phase of restoring a county owned greenhouse. Several Livingston County Garden Clubs will be involved in later phases of this CARES project. The spring break trip volunteers will return to Geneseo on March 17. The group includes 44 students and five administrators from SUNY Geneseo. Kay Fly, Coordinator of Volunteerism & Service Learning and Connie Hurlburt, a recently retired staff member from the Division of Student & Campus Life, are coordinating the trip with the two CARES student co-chairs, senior Marie Ostranger and senior Fiorella Uguccioni.

Twenty-three CARES volunteers spent President's Week in Biloxi working on houses and serving meals to volunteers and residents of Biloxi at the God's Katrina Kitchen recovery center. Beth Godfrey, pastor of the Central Presbyterian Church, was the coordinator for the February work-trip. Volunteers included area residents and families.

Twenty CARES volunteers also spent the second week of January working on houses under the auspices of the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepard Camp Biloxi Recovery Center in Biloxi. Volunteers worked on three houses, met with county officials, and visited with several residents whose houses were repaired by previous CARES volunteers. The January volunteers included fourteen students and administrators and faculty form SUNY Geneseo. Tom Matthews served as coordinator for the January trip.

The fourth CARES trip to Mississippi is scheduled for the week of May 14th. Details of the May trip will be announced later in March. Dan Dimpfl from Geneseo will be the trip coordinator.

CARES has scheduled its second annual Care and Share Dinner on Wednesday, April 18 at 6:00 PM at the Geneseo United Methodist Church. The program will include brief stories and reflections from the work-trip volunteers, sharing of photos and images, awards and recognition of volunteers, and remarks by guest speaker, Connie Rockco, Harrison County Supervisor from Biloxi, Mississippi. The Geneseo Philanthropic Chefs from Geneseo will be catering the pasta dinner. Reservations are required by calling Kay Fly at 245-5893 or emailing fly@geneseo.edu There will be no charge for the dinner but donations will be accepted to support the relief and recovery work of Livingston CARES.

CARES is a non-profit corporation dedicated to humanitarian relief and recovery efforts. It is a collaborative effort by representatives of students, faculty, staff, and retirees at SUNY Geneseo; Livingston County Administrators and Board of Supervisors, Town and Village of Geneseo, Geneseo Central School, the Livingston County Chamber of Commerce, the Livingston County Coalition of Churches, and individual volunteers. The Livingston County CARES, Inc. office is located in the Center for Community, MacVittie College Union 353 at SUNY Geneseo. Tom Matthews serves as chair of the Board of Directors. CARES is accepting donations from organizations and individuals who wish to contribute a one time or annual donation or gift. Donors to Livingston County CARES, Inc.will be recognized in various publications and at several events hosted by CARES. In addition, donations will qualify as tax deductible under IRS regulations. Livingston County CARES, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization.

Contact Tom Matthews for additional information about any of the Livingston County CARES, Inc. trips and projects by calling 585-245-5857 or emailing matthews@geneseo.edu The CARES website at http://livingstoncares.geneseo.edu also provides additional information and regular updates on trips and projects.

The Livingston County Business/Education Alliance (BEA) and Johnson and Johnson have partnered to offer a new and exciting program to Livingston County students. The Bridge To Employment program (BTE) was established by Johnson and Johnson in 1992 to help young people build solid futures by introducing them to a broad array of careers in the fields of math, science and health care. The premise behind the program is to educate students through real-world experiences demonstrating that learning can be meaningful, engaging and relevant to their future. By fostering long-term relationships with representatives from business, education, community-based organizations and parents, the BTE program helps to prepare young people to meet the challenges and requirements of careers in today's knowledge rich, technically savvy work world.

Bridge To Employment sites are currently in ten communities across the United States and Ireland. Each site has its own unique structure and implementation depending on the overall goals of the participating agencies. Each program is a collaborative effort between a local Johnson & Johnson operating company, an area high school, an institution of higher education and an intermediary organization.

The BTE program's excellence stems from the use of a common core of school-to-career principles: maintaining high standards of academic learning for all students, providing opportunities for contextual learning, creating links with institutions of higher education, and connecting students with adults in the world of work. Specifically, the Bridge to Employment program hopes to:

• Build long-term partnerships among businesses, educators, community groups and parents in order to have a meaningful impact on students' future success in the workplace;
• Prepare young people to meet the challenges and requirements of the healthcare industry and today's complex society;
• Reinforce potential involvement as a critical link between young people and their schools;
• Recognize and advance community efforts in locations that are exemplary in helping young people begin building careers; and
• Assist in creating linkages to institutions of higher education and training.

In 2006, new partnerships were launched in Livingston County and Vacaville, California. As a result of these partnerships, high school students will be able to explore unique and high demand careers in math, science and healthcare. Students will also be able to engage in a broad spectrum of work-based learning including the operation of electron microscopes, exploration of the chemistry behind making soap, development of a product marketing campaign and the management of a production line.

The Livingston County BTE program is a collaboration between Genesee Community College, Nicholas H. Noyes Memorial Hospital, Livingston County Business/Education Alliance and the Johnson and Johnson Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics (OCD) research facility in Rochester, New York. OCD is the leading provider of high-value diagnostic products and services for the global health care community. The company maintains a leadership position in two major market segments:

1. Transfusion Medicine

• Bloodscreening-development and commercialization of instrument systems and reagents that screen blood for AIDS and Hepatitis, aimed at ensuring safety of the world's blood supply
• Immunohematology-OCD is the worldwide leader in the marketing and development of instrumentation and reagent systems that enable blood typing, aimed at ensuring patient-donor compatibility in blood transfusions.

2. Clinical Laboratories

• Clinical Chemistry-patented dry-slide technology and systems for use in stat and random access in-vitro diagnostic testing. The Company offers a broad menu covering basic metabolites, classical chemistries, special chemistries, proteins, toxicology and therapeutic drug monitoring tests.
• Immunodiagnostics-enhanced chemiluminescence technology and systems offering immunoassay testing capabilities across menu categories of thyroid function, reproductive endocrinology cardiology, anemia, metabolism, oncology and infectious diseases.

The Livingston County BTE program is open to currently enrolled ninth grade students in Business/Education Alliance participating districts. Students will be asked to complete an application packet and an informal interview with a member of the Bridge to Employment team before they are accepted into this three-year program. Students who are selected will take part in college visits, guest lecture programs, worksite tours, and a variety of other activities. Participating students will also be assigned a career coach and a college preparation account with funds to be used for college application fees, college courses and other college preparation activities. Interested students should contact the Business/Education Alliance Office at 585.243.2222 extension 224 for an application packet and further details.