March 2017
Our mission is to provide quality driven adult education, built on a strong liberal arts foundation that will embolden and enhance the ability of professionals to succeed in a global economy.
Daniel A. Szpiro, PhD
Dean, School of Professional Programs
From Danny's Desk:
Dean, School of Professional Programs

Hi everyone!

     March is typically the month when we can start seeing signs of spring in the Hudson Valley. This year, however, March has provided us with signs that winter is not yet over. Despite the erratic weather lately, I hope that everyone’s process towards completing the Spring semester successfully and planning for your next courses is progressing smoothly.

     Some important news that I would like to share with you is an update regarding our process to change the name of the major for our adult undergraduate degree program. As many of you may recall from announcements I made last year, after careful analysis and review the School of Professional Programs decided to change the name of the “Liberal Studies” major to “Professional Studies”. Some of you may know that the original name of this major, started back in 1983, was “Integrative Studies”. The change to the name “Liberal Studies” was implemented in 2007 in order to make the program more attractive to applicants and more marketable for graduates. Our analysis indicated that those aims would be even better served with the name “Professional Studies” for this program. In February, the New York State Education Department approved our application to change the name of the major. This change will be implemented in the Fall 2017 semester. We will share more details about this transition process very soon.  

     Other wonderful news that I’d like to share is the recent recognition received by three members of the staff and faculty involved with adult education at Marist College. The Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce has included the following people in the 2017 “Top Forty Under 40: Mover & Shaker” Awards (http://www.dcrcoc.org/top40):

  • Jennifer Becker, Assistant Director of Student Services, School of Professional Programs
  • Prof. Christopher Pels (who teaches in the Organizational Learning & Communications program)
  • Prof. Linda Fakhoury (who teaches in the Paralegal Certificate program)


     Please join me in congratulating Jenn, Chris, and Linda on this wonderful recognition of their work! We are pleased and proud to have such great people supporting our adult students at Marist.

     Last month I wrote about the international study option we are offering this summer hosted by Professor Joanna Huyck. This is an exciting opportunity to visit Germany and Poland. I encourage you to read the most up-to-date information about this study option on this page http://www.marist.edu/professional-programs/abroad_adults

   This month’s 60-Second Survey is about your use of the Marist Help Desk for technology-related questions and support. We are committed to providing our adult students high-quality service at Marist and learning more about your current use and needs from the Help Desk will allow us to adapt that service to better meet those needs. Thanks in advance for your time to complete this survey.

     Let me close with the same offer I have mentioned in previous newsletters: I look forward to both staying in touch with you and to hearing from you so please feel free to write or call me whenever you have something on your mind that you would like to share or discuss.

Best wishes for your successful completion of the Spring semester,

Danny Szpiro
Dean, School of Professional Programs
The Ongoing Global Impact of WWII Science & Technology: August 6 - 15, 2017

Program Highlights:
  • An in-depth tour of the Auschwitz-Birkenau Nazi Concentration and Extermination Camp Compound in Poland, the largest of all the camps, where more than one million men, women, and children lost their lives. The compound is still intact, and mass amounts of personal items remain.
  • An extensive exploration of Dresden, Germany, often referred to as “Florence on the Banks of the Elbe” for its museums, art, architecture, castles, and landscape. This rebuilt civilian city was nearly destroyed by Allied bombers in the final weeks of WWII.
  • A visit to Frauenkirche, a marvelous church originally built in 1743 known for its dome and pillars. The rubble of Frauenkirche was stored and protected by ordinary citizens for nearly 50 years. After the collapse of the Berlin Wall in the 1990s global and local efforts led to brick by brick restoration.
  • Side trips to other popular tourist destinations such as shopping, cafes, and water activities on the Elbe.
60-Second Survey
Help us serve you!  

We are committed to providing our adult students high-quality service at Marist and learning more about your current use and needs from the Help Desk will allow us to adapt that service to better meet those needs.

Take this month's survey about our
Help Desk
  We Asked, You Answered ...

Results of Abroad Trip Survey

Interest in abroad trip to Western Europe?

  • 78% are interested, but concerned about financing

Finance options for trip.

  • 31% Student Loans
  • 14% Private Loans
  • 50% Out-of-Pocket

Maximum out-of-pocket (in conjunction with loans or aid)

  • 28% would pay the full trip cost
  • 7% would pay three-quarters of the trip cost
  • 14% would pay half the trip cost
  • 21% would pay less than a quarter of the trip cost
  • 28% would need full loans and aid to pay for the cost of the trip
Commencement Exercises or Graduation Ceremony is fast approaching.  If you are a graduating senior, make sure you have ordered your regalia and followed-up on all details as outlined on the web.  
Spring II Online Begins March 20
Did you know our online Spring semester has two sessions?

The second half of Spring online begins
March 20, 2017.
 
Spring II begins on March 20th
Hours of operation for walk-ins and campus appointments:
  • Mon - Thurs:  10:00 am - 9:30 pm
  • Friday: 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
  • Saturday: 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
  • Sunday: 2:00 pm - 6:00 pm

Hours of operation for online appointments (reserved for Distance Education students only):
  • Monday: 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm
  • Wednesday: 4:00 pm - 8:00 pm
  • Saturday: 10:00 am - 2:00 pm


Writing Center  
Now Offering Online appointments for Distance Education Students
Located on campus in the James A. Cannavino Library, the Marist Writing Center  opens for the Spring 2017 semester on Monday, January 23rd.


New this semester is the offering of online tutorials for distance education students.

Now students in the School of Professional Programs, graduate students, and abroad students can access the resources of the Writing Center from a distance.  
The Writing Center
Library 334
845-575-3000 x 2735

Writing Center vs Academic Learning Center
  Need help with your paper?  Not sure which service you need? 
The Writing Center can help with organization, content, research strategies, and citations.


Library 334
845-575-3000 x 2735
Visit web for full schedule of hours.
The Academic Learning Center can help with proofreading a final paper.  

Appointments available in-person and online. 

Library 331
845-575-3300
Monday - Friday: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
SPP | Marist College | 845-575-3202  | Email | Website