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The email address for Our SUNY Canton, the weekly faculty/staff newsletter is oursunycanton@canton.edu

Hurricane Brings New Orleans Student to SUNY Canton

A New Orleans, La. college student who escaped the wrath of Hurricane Katrina is currently studying at SUNY Canton after joining the College's late-start semester.

"This year we reopened our doors in mid-September, so that displaced students would be able to continue their college education uninterrupted," said SUNY Canton President Joseph L. Kennedy. "We also opened our doors to any students who decided to start college late, for any reason. One of the students who joined us was Nicholas Stromboe, a History major from the University of New Orleans."

After a series of carpooled rides and Greyhound bus trips, Stromboe escaped prior to the disasters that have drawn world-wide attention. He made his way from Louisiana back to his hometown of Orange County. Stromboe originally went to the University of New Orleans to study History close to family members. "My father and uncle live in New Orleans," Stromboe said. "As soon as I got back to Orange County I started calling colleges, so I wouldn't miss an entire semester."

Stromboe said he chose SUNY Canton because, the late-start classes allowed him to start a class from the beginning, rather than joining a class and having to catch up. "I didn't really want to be behind," Stromboe said.

The College's late-start session was formulated by Provost Jeremy D. Brown and School of Liberal Studies and Support Services Dean Pauline Graveline. They constructed the schedule around the new Intensive Scheduling learning curriculum, formerly known as Block Scheduling. Intensive Scheduling was created to allow students to focus their attention on one class for a three-week period. Students cover the same material as they would during a semester-long class. Approximately 50 students started taking classes in the Intensive Scheduling semester, some of whom were active students who wanted to take additional classes or made course changes.

"They (the students) live and breathe a class for three weeks, then move onto the next class," Brown said in a previous interview.

Stromboe is currently taking Intermediate Algebra, Introduction to Information Technology, Sociology, and an online Earth Science class. Both Stromboe's father, Lawrence, and his uncle, Axel, survived the hurricanes and flooding. "My uncle lost his house, so he is living with one of my cousins," Stromboe said. "My father got shot at by a looter."

Stromboe said that he enjoyed the small-class atmosphere and individual attention he received at SUNY Canton, but that he had a mild culture shock after moving from New Orleans to the North Country. However, as the semester progressed and he got to know more of his peers, he learned more about the student activities and student culture of SUNY Canton. He is excited to see the snow accumulate, so he can go snowboarding.

SUNY Canton will be marking its 100-year anniversary next year and has already begun celebrating with its highly successful SUNY Canton Centennial Campaign: Cultivating the Minds of Tomorrow. The College is transitioning from a two-year institution to a four-year college. In addition to 25 associate degree programs, SUNY Canton currently offers eight four-year degrees with plans to double that number during the next academic year. SUNY Canton also offers a Masters of Business Administration in conjunction with SUNYIT, Utica.

November 1, 2005

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

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