The State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry is the nation’s oldest college dedicated to the study of the natural environment. It is also a partner institution with its close neighbor, Syracuse University.

The partnership, which began when SUNY-ESF was established in 1911, has created many opportunities for intersection between the two schools. Students from SU or SUNY-ESF can use facilities, take classes and participate in extracurricular activities at the opposite institution. The schools also hold a joint undergraduate commencement ceremony in the Carrier Dome, and SUNY-ESF graduates receive diplomas with seals from both their home college and SU.

SU has about 14,600 full-time undergraduate students, more than 4,500 full-time graduate and law school students and approximately 2,200 part-time graduate and law school students. Smaller than its sister school, SUNY-ESF enrolls about 1,700 undergraduates and 600 graduate students at its Syracuse campus and regional campuses throughout central New York and the Adirondacks.

Academic crossover

Students from SU and SUNY-ESF can take courses in both schools to supplement their major programs. SUNY-ESF offers undergraduate and graduate programs, minors and a doctoral program. Students from SU can take courses from SUNY-ESF programs at the appropriate academic level.

Likewise, SUNY-ESF students are permitted to take courses at SU in areas of interest not otherwise available. The food studies, management and water resources minors require SUNY-ESF students to take courses at SU. SUNY-ESF also offers its students an information management and technology minor in collaboration with SU’s School of Information Studies.

Facilities & activities

Students at SUNY-ESF enjoy many nonacademic amenities offered at SU. They can eat at all SU dining halls, cafés and snack bars, as well as use SU libraries and computer labs. Dorms are not shared, however, as SUNY-ESF provides its own on-campus housing. The Office of Off-Campus and Commuter Services at SU also provides support for SUNY-ESF students who live off-campus.

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All extracurricular activities at SU, including the marching and pep bands, sports clubs and theater groups, are open to students from the environmental college. Students at SUNY-ESF cannot participate in NCAA Division I sports but can buy Student Passes, which provide season tickets for SU men’s football and basketball games plus free admission to SU women’s basketball and lacrosse games. SUNY-ESF students can join SU fraternities and sororities after their first semester.

In addition to recreational clubs, SUNY-ESF students are active in social justice at SU and constitute half of its chapter of the International Socialist Organization, said Sam Norton, a member of the group and a senior advertising and psychology major at SU.

Renewed partnership

Starting in the 2016 academic year, SUNY-ESF students could receive health services at Crouse Hospital and SUNY-ESF Counseling Services after an official break from SU’s Health Services. Before, students from the environmental college could use their sister university’s Health Services and Counseling Center.

The transition came as a result of “renewed partnership” talks between SU Chancellor Kent Syverud and SUNY-ESF President Quentin Wheeler in February 2016. It was also agreed that SUNY-ESF would provide its own information technology services in about two years.

The Daily Orange reported earlier this year that SUNY-ESF students found a lack of consistent and available counseling since the transition. Students said SUNY-ESF Counseling Services, which employed two full-time therapists, was not staffed enough to match their need for regular visits.

Another objective of the renewed partnership was to establish areas for future academic collaboration between the two schools. Cathryn Newton, former dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, was appointed special adviser to the chancellor and provost for faculty engagement. Newton is responsible for, among other things, identifying with SUNY-ESF leadership areas for collaboration — including research and faculty partnerships — that support Syverud’s Academic Strategic Plan.

Published on November 5, 2017 at 10:15 pm

Contact Mary: mdcatalf@syr.edu | @mrycatalfamo