Two weeks into her new role, State University of New York Chancellor Nancy Zimpher visited the New Paltz campus on June 15 to meet with students, faculty, administrators, media and local business leaders.

New Paltz was the 11th destination on a tour of all 64 SUNY campuses that Zimpher plans to complete by Labor Day. The visit marked the chancellor’s first stop at a comprehensive four-year institution.

Zimpher’s day began with meetings with College President Steven Poskanzer and Center for Research, Regional Education and Outreach Director Gerald Benjamin.

She then attended a presentation by student and faculty research pairs. “At New Paltz you really invest in broadening the horizons of undergraduate students by attaching to the work of the faculty members,” she noted. “So I can see that New Paltz can be a leader amongst the campuses across the SUNY system.”

A luncheon with President Poskanzer and his Cabinet provided the opportunity for Zimpher and the group of deans and vice presidents to discuss strategic planning, branding, a master enrollment plan and the need for an intellectual map of the entire system.

In her meeting with faculty members, Zimpher and the group of 10 discussed the General Education program and student mobility (transfer and articulation). “I am impressed with the high quality of the student body,” she told the faculty members.

She then met with students to “find out what makes New Paltz tick.” She began by asking students what they liked best about New Paltz. “They like the setting. They like the quality and caliber of the programs. They love the faculty members, the personal hospitality that is given to them,” she said.

Zimpher concluded her visit with a press conference, a tour of the Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art and a meeting with local community members.

“My enthusiasm only grows by each campus visit,” she said.

The system tour is the information-gathering phase in Zimpher’s goal to developing a five-to-10-year strategic plan for the entire system. The tour, which began in early June, is set to conclude by Labor Day. Zimpher’s goal is to have the system-wide plan ready by the spring.

“We will engage students, faculty, administrators, alumni, community representatives and elected officials in this conversation,” she said. “We’ll use the Web. We’ll use YouTube. We’ll use blogging, tweeting, webcasts … whatever we need to communicate and have this be an open and transparent process. And that has already begun.”

The tour can be followed online.

The New Paltz Loop provides free transportation around the Town and Village of New Paltz to students, faculty and staff (who show a college ID). Bus service is provided by two Ulster County Area Transit (UCAT) buses (such as the one seen here).

Connecting the campus and local communities just got a little easier.

The Student Association, college staff and local government worked together to create a free, New Paltz bus loop. Bus service began on Dec. 29. The schedule runs 7:30 a.m.-10 p.m., Monday through Friday. A full schedule will be available at www.co.ulster.ny.us/ucat.

“It is great to see this many entities come together, all working on a project that alone none of us thought we could achieve,” said Ben Olsen ‘09 (Economics, Finance), president of the Student Association.

Bus stops on campus are at Route 32 near the Haggerty Administration Building circle; Huguenot St.; the Student Health Center; and at the Esopus and Lenape residence halls. Stops off campus include: the Trailways bus terminal on Main St.; Shoprite Plaza on Route 299; Stop and Shop Supermarket on Route 299; and New Paltz BOCES.

Students, faculty and staff with a valid college ID can ride for free. Cynthia Ruiz, director of the Ulster County Area Transit (UCAT), said the Student Association subsidizes all student rides and college faculty and staff also receive subsidized fares. The service is being funded by Ulster County, the Village of New Paltz and the Town of New Paltz; the college is paying for gas.

Ulster County Executive Mike Hein said he is very happy about the service, which will benefit the college and the whole New Paltz community.

“This is an example of how the county, towns and the colleges can work together to support the community with shared resources,” he said.

Olsen said he initially got the idea when, as he was running for Student Association president in 2007, he learned that among the key issues students wanted improved on campus was transportation to the surrounding community. Together, with former Student Association president Brian Gold ‘08 (International Relations), Olsen began researching how to acquire bus service for students.

Once he found out that the local community was interested, Olsen connected with John Shupe, assistant vice president for facilities management, and Julie Majak, director of administrative services, to find a company to work with. The group decided to work with UCAT.

Shupe also said he admires the forward-thinking approaches of Olsen and Gold. “The students initiated the project. We just helped to move it along,” he said.

Ruiz was equally impressed. “His (Olsen’s) dedication to the project and his proactive approach to working with the Town of New Paltz and with Ulster County is remarkable,” said Ruiz.

A ribbon cutting ceremony was held on Jan. 9 for members of the campus and local communities. The project is a collaborative project spearheaded by the SUNY New Paltz Student Association under the leadership of Student President Ben Olsen and former Student Association President Brian Gold; SUNY New Paltz; the Town of New Paltz; the New York State DOT and the Ulster County Area Transit (a service of Ulster County). An on-campus event will be held in February.

A ribbon cutting ceremony was held on Jan. 9 at the New Paltz Town Hall with representatives from the college; town, village and county officials; and members of the public. An on-campus ceremony is planned for early February.