I was in Albany, New York for the State University of NY UAlbany commencement activities for over 4,200 students this past weekend and was very impressed that the university offered both an in-person large outdoor ceremony (for the first time since 2019) and the popular smaller group stage-crossings held over several days (which were developed due to modifications needed in 2020 and 2021 pandemic times). These smaller stage-crossings allowed each student to have their name read as they crossed the stage in very close range to their guests who could then get photos and videos both during the crossing and at several photo opportunity areas. Many of these celebrating students felt a great sense of accomplishment as they had persevered to graduate even among the challenging semesters of unexpected on-line learning and changes due to the Covid19 Pandemic.
While on campus I got to see UAlbany’s new Emerging Technology and Entrepreneurship Complex (ETEC) which opened last fall. This impressive $180 million research facility was designed to foster cross-collaboration between scientists and entrepreneurs to solve society’s most complex challenges. It is home to the college’s Weather-Climate Enterprise and their College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity, as well as other departments, supporting faculty research, business development, and many applied learning opportunities for UAlbany students. Innovative spaces include a decision theatre (replicating real-world emergency response situations), a maker lab to construct drones and robots, and specialized equipment for tracking hurricanes, weather systems, and storms.
UAlbany is a highly ranked, large research institution in the New York State public university system serving approximately 17,000 undergraduate and graduate students who collaborate with top-ranked faculty. With over 50 undergraduate majors and more than 150 graduate programs, students can explore a wide range of fields, including programs newly in demand today, such as digital forensics, financial market regulation, public health, and homeland security. The university has three campuses to accommodate their ever-expanding offerings and students travel seamlessly between them as needed with their free city bus pass. The college has an 18:1 student to faculty ratio, over 300 clubs/organizations, Division 1 athletics, early assurance programs with Albany Medical College and Albany Law School, an honors college, and too much more to mention. In addition to costing less than most private institutions, UAlbany offers both need-based aid and merit scholarships, with about 60% of students getting aid that they don’t need to pay back, making this a more affordable option for many students.
Confident College Planning guides students and families along their college choice journey. Whether you are just starting the process and need some guidance on steps to complete, would like help researching colleges for your specific interests, are looking for tips to get scholarship money, or need help fine-tuning your application and essay – we can help! Contact me today at nancy@confidentcollegeplanning.com to set up a meeting and find out more about what I can do for you.
Commentaires