“We very recently received good news that SUNY Canton was among the colleges eligible to enroll veterans seeking VRAP benefits,” said Interim President Carli C. Schiffner. “The program must lead toward a high-demand occupation, making SUNY Canton the ideal choice for veterans in our area.”

The program offers 12 months of financial assistance to veterans who are between 35 and 60 years of age and are unemployed. They also must have been honorably discharged, among other criteria.

“The Department of Veterans Affairs reserves portions of this program for technical education,” noted Patrick S. Massaro, the Military and Veteran Student Service Coordinator. “SUNY Canton is the only College in the area to fit within the regulations for the retraining program.”

Massaro serves both SUNY Canton and SUNY Potsdam as the primary point of contact for active military students, veterans and their families. He is one of the successful hires created through SUNY’s plan to share services between the two colleges. “Being both an alumnus of SUNY Canton and veteran, I see this as a tremendous opportunity for unemployed former military looking to reenter the workforce.”

Veterans looking to take advantage of VRAP must apply before Sept. 30. The program is limited to 45,000 participants in its first year. The program will then be enrolling 54,000 participants from Oct. 1 (2012) through March 31, 2014.

SUNY Canton is among the top “Military Friendly Colleges and Universities” according to Military Advanced Education magazine, and was among the top 20 percent of colleges, universities and trade schools to be recognized as a 2012 Military Friendly School by G.I. Jobs.

For more information, contact Massaro at his SUNY Canton office, 386-7073, or email massarop@canton.edu.

SUNY Canton and SUNY Potsdam are pleased to announce the appointment of the first employee who will serve both institutions. Patrick Massaro is a unique fit for the newly created position of veterans and military services coordinator, a joint position that will serve students on both campuses.

Massaro will be the primary point of contact for the military families and serve as an advisor to the veteran’s organizations on each campus.

“This is a great opportunity for me to give back to both colleges and to those that have served and to the families of those that have served,” he said.

The veterans affairs position will enhance the student experience for veterans at both institutions and is the first joint hire to result from the ongoing shared services discussions between SUNY Potsdam’s and SUNY Canton’s Campus Alliance Network.

“Filling this position was a significant step in the goal of greater shared services for our colleges. We learned a lot about the search process and what we need to do in the next years to more efficiently use our resources,” SUNY Canton President Dr. Joseph L. Kennedy said.

“First and foremost, this hiring will positively impact the lives of service members and veterans working toward their higher education goals at the two colleges,” said SUNY Potsdam President Dr. John F. Schwaller. “Both SUNY Potsdam and SUNY Canton will benefit and learn from the experience of filling our first joint position, as Patrick navigates the unique learning environments at both campuses.”

Patrick Massaro is uniquely qualified to tackle the job, given his military background and the fact that he is an alumnus of both colleges. In 2003, he graduated from SUNY Canton and in 2005 from SUNY Potsdam. The Massena Central High School graduate then served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 2006 to 2010, including one tour of duty in Iraq. He now holds the rank of Captain in the U.S. Marine Reserves. Most recently, Massaro completed his Master of Science degree in sports administration while working as the director of hockey operations at Canisius College in Buffalo, N.Y.

A member of the search committee, SUNY Canton Associate Professor William Fassinger, a retired Military Police First Sergeant, said, “If we could have built a person for this job, it would look like Patrick. He is a graduate of both institutions, with recent military service, and in the past two years having dealt with the Veteran’s Administration for his own education.”

“He will inherit the work done by others at Canton and bring those ideas to Potsdam, and then in turn assess how the things we do well at SUNY Potsdam might benefit Canton,” said SUNY Potsdam Director of Extended Education Thomas Fuhr, who co-chaired the search with SUNY Canton Professor Robert Edwards.

Both SUNY Potsdam and SUNY Canton have been named military-friendly colleges for their dedication to serving service members, veterans and their families.

About SUNY Canton:

The State University of New York at Canton offers 22 career-driven bachelor’s degrees in addition to its associate and certificate programs. SUNY Canton OnLine features more than 190 courses online each semester. The College’s athletic teams belong to the United States Collegiate Athletic Association. The College is home to a brand-new athletic facility, nicknamed Roos House, and the Grasse River Suites, offering students single rooms in apartment-style settings while they live on campus.

About SUNY Potsdam:

Founded in 1816, and located on the outskirts of the beautiful Adirondack Park, The State University of New York at Potsdam is one of America’s first 50 colleges. SUNY Potsdam currently enrolls approximately 4,350 undergraduate and graduate students. Home to the world-renowned Crane School of Music, SUNY Potsdam is known for its handcrafted education, challenging liberal arts and sciences core, excellence in teacher training and leadership in the performing and visual arts.

Media inquiries should be directed to Gregory Kie, Media Relations Manager, or call 315/386-7527.

“Our latest courses were selected in response to the growing demand for paralegal professionals,” said Carl J. Disalvatore, an adjunct instructor and retired Judge Advocate General’s Corps Colonel. “Our ties with Fort Drum allow U.S. Army soldiers stationed locally to start taking face-to-face courses without commuting. If they chose to continue with the courses in the legal studies program, they can enroll online and earn their four-year degree from anywhere in the world with Internet access.”

The College’s schedule of courses at Fort Drum includes seven-week three-credit SUNY Canton courses in the following:

• American legal system (LEST101) with Disalvatore from 5:30 to 8:45 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays.
• Business law 1 (BSAD201) with Disalvatore from 5:30 to 8:45 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
• Engine and power transmission services (MSPT 110) with Instructor Mark R. Hill from 5 to 8:50 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
• A later powersports performance and repair class, marine propulsion systems (MSPT 130) with Instructor Neil A. Haney, will be held from 5 to 8:50 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays beginning March 19.

The College began outreach originally began offering one powersports course during the fall 2011 semester.  Shortly following the new course announcement, SUNY Canton was recognized as a 2012 Military Friendly School by G.I. Jobs magazine for the second straight year.

For more information about SUNY Canton’s Fort Drum courses, or any SUNY Canton courses, contact SUNY Canton Admissions, 315-386-7123, or email admissions@canton.edu.

“This program is part of our outreach with the SUNY North Country Consortium,” said SUNY Canton President Joseph L. Kennedy. “As a premiere college for soldiers, veterans, and their families, we seek to offer our in-demand academic programs where they will be utilized the best. In this case, we’ll bring our class to Fort Drum, rather then having the soldiers come to us.”

SUNY Canton powersports performance and repair student Stephen A. Weston of Potsdam helps Instructor Mark R. Hill load Polaris snowmobiles, motorcycles, and four-wheelers destined for Fort Drum.

The three-credit seven-week powersports service course (MSPT101) began at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 6, at the Outdoor and Recreation Facility on the post. Mark R. Hill, the Powersports program instructor, said it was offered in a condensed version to minimize the time commitment for soldiers.

“We’ll be bringing approximately $50,000 worth of snowmobiles, motorcycles, and all-terrain vehicles – all donated by Polaris Industries – to Fort Drum for our newest students to work with during the course,” Hill said. “This is one of the first courses that we offer in the one-year program. Students find it very personally and professionally rewarding.”

SUNY Canton partners Polaris to provide certification training at the main campus, allowing students access to the latest Polaris line to complete their course requirements. Students diagnose, troubleshoot, repair and even rebuild the recreational vehicles during the one-year program.

At SUNY Canton, powersports performance and repair is a career-driven one-year certificate program. The program is part of the College’s ladder curriculum, allowing students to transfer into associate degree programs, including automotive technology, or a bachelor’s degree program that best fits each individual student’s interest.

Media inquiries should be directed to Gregory Kie, Media Relations Manager, or call 315/386-7527.

The College has been selected as a “Top Military Friendly Colleges and Universities” honoree by Military Advanced Education magazine. The list will be published in the upcoming December 2010 issue.

“This recognition reaffirms SUNY Canton’s outstanding efforts to be a welcoming and accommodating campus for the military community,” said SUNY Canton President Joseph L. Kennedy. “It’s gratifying to stand out in comparison to other colleges and universities across the country.”

Over the last several years, the College’s Military Friendly Committee has assessed all programs on campus and their responsiveness to the needs of the military community. The College now features a Veterans Lounge, a specific individual within the Admissions office to work with military personnel, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) training for the College’s counseling staff, and an on-campus Veteran’s Day ceremony.

In 2008, SUNY Canton illustrated the importance of the College’s veterans to its graduating class. In 1943, twenty-seven students were called into service just weeks before their commencement. The veterans, who have come to be known as SUNY Canton’s Greatest Graduates, left to serve the country in World War II. In a heartfelt and emotional ceremony, President Kennedy presented four members of the class and a spouse of a deceased veteran with honorary certificates in their respective programs. Those veterans who could not attend the ceremony were also honored for their sacrifice, some of them posthumously.

Earlier this year, SUNY Canton was among only 15 percent of colleges, universities and trade schools throughout the country to be recognized as a 2011 Military Friendly School by the magazine G.I. Jobs.

Media inquiries should be directed to Gregory Kie, Media Relations Coordinator, or call 315/386-7528.