The Provost noted that the College's goal is to have 3200 students by the year 2010. This year's student body consists of approximately 2,481, with some 799 students starting their first year of college. The College was also joined by approximately ten late-start students, after reopening its doors in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

"We are well in-line with our goals for 2010," Brown said. "In Fall 2006, we will offer double the number of baccalaureate programs and by Fall 2010, we will offer an estimated 20 baccalaureate programs."

Several of the baccalaureate degrees slated to begin next year include Emergency and Disaster Management, Law Enforcement and Leadership Management, Engineering Technology Management, Legal Studies, Alternative and Renewable Energy Applications, and a four-year Nursing program. These program proposals are under review with the State University of New York officials in Albany.

SUNY Canton currently offers eight baccalaureate degrees, 25 associate degrees, and one Master of Business Administration Degree with SUNYIT, Utica. This year will also be the first year that the College offers a Winterterm semester which will allow students to extend their studies over winter break.

New Faculty and Staff

SUNY Canton welcomed over 30 new faculty and staff members. Alongside SUNY Canton's diverse student body, stands an equally diverse group of college employees. The majority of individuals hired in 2005 and 2006 fill newly-created positions and key vacancies created by retirements or attrition. SUNY Canton President Joseph L. Kennedy, and Brown are encouraging all faculty members to continue their professional development, to further assist with the learning of current and future students.

New Technology

The SUNY Canton campus sounds a little different this year. The recent addition of a Carillon Digital Sound System, which consists of four 100-watt loudspeakers, a 1,000-watt amplifier, and a new computer-operated chime control system, allows the campus community to hear the Westminster chimes toll out the changing of the hour. The Carillon system can play any song in MP3 format, but aside from holidays and special occasions, the loudspeakers seldom deviate from the traditional chimes.

New Tools

The SUNY Canton Mechanical Engineering Labs celebrated Christmas just a few months early in 2005, when they unwrapped ten new Haas Machine Tool computer numerical controlled (CNC) lathes and a new CNC mill machine. These new tools were funded through a $204,000 Vocational and Technical Education Act (VATEA) grant. The new machines have manual and fully automatic settings. Students can input computer code to make precision parts within .0002 inches or one-tenth the thickness of a piece of paper. It is estimated that the new machines would put Mechanical Engineering Technology students ahead an entire semester by the time they graduate.

New Toys

Though not exactly toys, most Criminal Investigation students studying Forensic Photography will tell you how much fun the College's 25 new Nikon fully manual film cameras are. The cameras, carrying cases, and flash units were purchased through VATEA funding. Students can be seen shooting staged crime scenes all over the campus. Most of these students know all about automatic digital cameras, but still find great joy in making images using correct aperture settings and shutter speeds. Purchased with the cameras was a mobile crime scene equipment trailer, which the students use to hold the tools necessary to complete an investigation on-scene. The trailer also brings the students outside the classroom and helps them expand their areas of study.

Student Activities

As one of the members of Canton Alcohol Initiative, SUNY Canton strives to offer non-drinking related activities to the students. In October, there will be two "Golden Opportunity Nights." Students can compete in physical games, attend leadership seminars and eat snacks late into the night. These nights are traditionally well attended by SUNY Canton's Greek organizations.

On Saturday, Oct. 29, Area youngsters are invited to join the Trick or Treat parade and other Halloween activities during Canton's Phantoms in the Park celebration. The annual event, sponsored by the Canton Chamber of Commerce and SUNY Canton, usually consists of a parade, a costume contest, face painting and much more spooky fun.

For more information on the above listed topics, or the College itself, please refer to www.canton.edu.

October 11, 2005

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

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