Academic Support Resources

Oswego has many resources and facilities that support student learning and complete the nurturing environment of our academic community. An overview of some of them follows.

Advisement Center

Advisement Center
151 Marano Campus Center
315-312-2387
advisement@oswego.edu
www.oswego.edu/advisement

The Advisement Center helps students transition from high school and other institutions to the SUNY Oswego community. Before students start their first semester we are by their side providing academic advising and introducing them to campus-wide resources, services, and experiences that will help them thrive academically and socially.

Advisors are able to discuss majors and major requirements, assist with course selection and academic planning, interpret college policies, procedures, and requirements, help students stay on track to graduate, provide strategies for time management and studying, and connect students to learning services and extra-curricular activities. 

All students are assigned an Academic Success Advisor or other advisor who is specially trained to assist students with the transition to SUNY Oswego, and provide students with the right information to help them reach their academic goals. As students progress at Oswego they are reassigned a department faculty advisor who will work with them for the remainder of their college career.

The Advisement Center also offers academic support through a variety of success workshops and success courses. Each semester we offer a range of student success workshops including topics on effective study habits, time management, and achieving goals. Recordings of all workshops are available on oswego.edu/advisement. We also offer EDU 104 as a one credit success course and GST 315 specifically designed for Transfer students’ success. 

Accessibility Resources

155 Marano Campus Center
315-312-3358
access@oswego.edu
www.oswego.edu/accessibility-resources

Accessibility Resources coordinates reasonable accommodations for students with documented disabilities. Accommodations are tailored to individual student needs and could include accommodations such as extended time on exams, alternate testing arrangements, readers, note takers, and interpreters.

The operational philosophy of the office is based firmly on the belief that the individuals served are students first and that their disabilities are secondary. The office can assist in the coordination of benefits with outside agencies such as ACCESS-VR or Commission for the Blind and Visually Handicapped, in addition to advocating for students to ensure they have the physical and programmatic access to all college programs that will affect their mainstreaming into the campus community. All students with disabilities in need of assistance should identify themselves early, pre-semester is preferred, and should make regular contact with the office. This contact is voluntary and can be made throughout the semester. Please contact Accessibility Resources with any questions.

Campus Technology Services

Campus Technology Services
315-312-3456
help@oswego.edu
www.oswego.edu/cts

Campus Technology Services (CTS) is an integrated service organization caring for administrative computing, instructional computing, network services, technology user support and telecommunications. The department delivers a broad set of infrastructure, applications and services vital to the mission and operation of the College.

Students can start using technology services by activating their Laker NetID. This account is required to use many services including email, myOswego, Blackboard, the residence hall network (ResNet), wireless network, computer labs, and more.

Email is an official form of communication at SUNY Oswego. Students, faculty, and staff have the responsibility to use email in an efficient, effective, respectful, ethical and lawful manner. Individuals are expected to check their SUNY Oswego email on a frequent and consistent basis in order to stay current with college-related communications. Please refer to our CTS Policies for more information.

High-speed Internet access is available in student residence hall rooms. Students living on campus may connect their personal device to access the campus network as well as the Internet from their room. Wifi access is available in residential, academic, and some outdoor spaces.

There are numerous computer labs available on campus. There are general access computer labs for student use in Penfield Library (including the 24-hour room), and Marano Campus Center. There are also labs available in the Oneida, Scales, Waterbury and Hart residence halls.  

Departmental computer labs are available to students in their academic programs and include departments such as Art, Chemistry, Communication Studies, Computer Science, Mathematics, Modern Languages, Music, Physics, Psychology, and Technology as well as the School of Education, and the School of Business.

The myOswego web site provides student access to their personal college records. Students can register for classes, pay their bill, review financial aid, check grades, sign up for campus emergency communications, and more.

The SUNY Oswego Mobile App is a recommended addition to all student mobile phones. The app provides access to grades, schedules, a degree completion scorecard, a map of the campus, people directory, events and of course, the latest dining choices.

Additionally, all students should add Oswego Guardian to their phone. The free Rave Guardian safety app can be used to check in with family, friends, campus police, or others you trust to help you stay safe both on and off campus.

Technology is available in all classrooms for use by our faculty and students. Our Advanced Technology Classrooms (ATCs) foster opportunities for teaching and learning by integrating audio/visual technology through use of computers, projection, document cameras, and DVD / Blu-ray players. Selected locations are equipped with Smart technology, audience response technology, lapel mics, dual projection, and lecture capture service.

The Help Desk is available to assist students with any of the technology services provided by CTS. Located in 26 Lanigan Hall, the Help Desk provides a central location and single point of contact for technology support and information. The Help Desk also provides support over the phone at 315-312-3456 or by email at help@oswego.edu.

315-312-3068
www.oswego.edu/first-year/

First-Year Experience helps students to integrate into the campus community by engaging them with campus-wide resources, services, and experiences. Signature programs include success courses, peer coaching, rich residential experiences, and personalized academic advisement. 

FirstChoice - during the first semester, all first-year students are enrolled in a course that focuses on transitioning to college life and learning about our campus. These courses span multiple academic disciplines and interest areas, and are capped at 19-students to promote optimal discussion and connection. 

Experiential Courses - In addition to FirstChoice, students can earn additional credits through a variety of service learning, academic success, and career preparation courses:

• GST 100 - College Orientation and Success

• GST 101 - Career Skills Preparatory

• GST 102 - Contemporary Social Issues

• GST 104 - Experiential Learning in College

First-Year Success Coaching - First-Year students have access to upper-division peer mentor who can help with their transition to college. Coaches meet with students in a variety of settings to help them navigate the campus, make healthy choices, and make lasting friendships.

Residential Experience - Johnson Hall houses the First-Year Residential Experience (FYRE), which offers a structured community encouraging first-year students to succeed academically. Students have academic and social requirements that assist them in becoming involved with life on-campus and the greater community.

Academic Advising - First-Year students connect with their academic advisors prior to arrival on campus and throughout their first year. The first-year Advisement Center staff assists students with course planning and registration, major exploration, academic success strategies, and navigating college policies and degree requirements.

145 Marano Campus Center
315-312-2255
www.oswego.edu/undeclared

Students who are exploring academic majors and related careers can choose to be “undeclared” for their first and second year at Oswego.  All undeclared students are assigned to an Undeclared Academic Advisor through the Advisement Center and have many available resources for major and career exploration through the Career Services office. 

Undeclared first-year students are expected to actively explore majors and careers. During their first year they will participate in at least one major exploration program, workshop or class specifically designed to support them through the major exploration process. There is a range of programs and services including self-assessments, career coaching appointments, job shadows, major exploration courses, and community service opportunities.

There are numerous services and resources available to guide students through the process, which include:

• Self-Assessments
• Exploration Workshops
• Individualized Career Coaching with Industry Experts
• Job Shadow/Informational Interviews
• Undeclared Advisement
• Online Resources and Tools
• What Can I do with a Major in …? - comprehensive website to explore majors and careers
• Courses - GST 103: Exploring your Strengths or GST 110: Major Exploration and Career Development 

Though students may remain undeclared up to the time they complete 60 credit hours, students are encouraged to select and confirm their academic major between 30-45 credit hours as some academic majors have significant core requirements that need to be completed early on to ensure timely progress to graduation. In addition, one of the requirements for SUNY Oswego’s ROI program requires a student to declare by the end of their third semester.
 

183 Marano Campus Center
315-312-3638
www.oswego.edu/transfer

SUNY Oswego’s Transfers Services Office was created in order to provide transfer students with support during their time at Oswego. Transfers make up roughly 42% of our total Oswego population. The Transfer Services Office is responsible for several programs related to transfer success including Tau Sigma National Academic Honor Society, articulation agreements, course equivalencies, curriculum pathway communication with community colleges, and transfer advisement.

Advisement is done in the Advising Center, where all Transfers are welcomed and can connect to other campus resources. Academic Success Advisors are available to help students with a variety of needs including: support services (academic and social), information about campus opportunities, academic planning, and a Transfer Success Seminar (GST 315). The seminar provides an overview of your Oswego degree and what it takes to graduate, helps you connect to on-campus resources and advisors, and also allows you to share your experiences with other new transfer students at Oswego.

Tau Sigma is the National Transfer Student Academic Honor Society and any transfer student who transfers in with at least 24 credits and is in the top 20% of their incoming class is eligible. A formal invitation will be presented and members have access to transfer student scholarships, involvement opportunities, and more.

145 Marano Campus Center
315-312-2151
www.oswego.edu/excel

The EXCEL team supports students in the pursuit of their personal, academic, and career goals by offering meaningful experiential learning opportunities and courses.

Internships, co-ops, service learning, and experiential courses provide students the ability to apply knowledge and theories learned in the classroom to “real world” businesses, non-profit organizations, and community agencies. Students are able to develop key competencies, explore career paths, and gain valuable professional connections through local, national, or international experiences.

Our program and course offerings include:

• First-Year Experience
• Academic Success and Transition
• Career Exploration and Preparation
• Service-Learning
• Peer Education and College Mentoring
• Internships, Co-ops and Practicum
• RISE: Research and Individualized Student Experiences

For more information see EXCEL: Experiential Courses and Engaged Learning under the Other Academic Options  in the Major/Minor section of this catalog.

403-405 Shineman Center
Contact: Director, Environmental Research Center, Department of Chemistry
erc@oswego.edu

The Environmental Research Center (ERC) is a specialized research unit of the College housed within the Department of Chemistry.  The ERC provides state-of-the-art analytical services for multidisciplinary environmental, human health, and Great Lakes research projects.  The ERC specializes in the analysis of legacy and emerging contaminants, including congener-specific polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), organochlorine pesticides (OCs), dioxins/furans/coplanar PCBs, polychlorinated napthalenes (PCNs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in a variety of environmental matrices.  The ERC has two environmental chemistry laboratories equipped with research-grade analytical instrumentation for sample preparation and the measurement of organic contaminants in the  environment, including: Waters AutoSpec Premier Gas Chromatograph-High Resolution Mass Spectrometer - with Agilent 7890GC, MMI and 7693 Autosampler, 2 Agilent 7890 GC/ECD with SS/PTV and 7683 Autosampler, 2 Agilent 7890B/5977A EI/CI MSD with MMI/SS and 7693 Autosampler, Agilent 7890/5975C Inert XL EI/CI MSD with SS/MMI and 7693 Autosampler, 2 Waters HPLC-GPC Breeze preparation systems, FMS PowerPrep and PowerVap Automated Sample Cleanup, Dionex Accelerated Solvent Extractor (ASE) 350, and 2 Biotage TurboVap II Workstations.

Studies conducted at the ERC have included: USEPA Great Lakes Fish Monitoring and Surveillance Program, USEPA/Wisconsin’s Assessment of Healthy Consumption of Great Lakes Fish, Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe - Lake Sturgeon Restoration Project, Xenobiotics in Fish from New York’s Great Lakes International Waters, Ambient Levels of Persistent and Emerging Air Toxics in Acadia National Park, wildlife contaminant studies, development of analytical methods for the determination/separation of congener-specific PCBs/PCTs/OC pesticides/PBDEs/dioxins/furans in sediments, biota and water. Research funding is provided through collaborative grants from USEPA, Great Lakes National Program Office, Great Lakes Commission, National Science Foundation, ATSDR, National Institutes of Environmental Health Sciences, NYS Great Lakes  Protection Fund, Great Lakes Research Consortium, Novelis Corporation, and World Wildlife Federation.

Opportunities exist for interested faculty and students to become involved in collaborative and multidisciplinary research projects.  Highly qualified undergraduate and graduate students are supported with extramural research funding and environmental fellowships.  Independent study and Capstone research experiences are also offered for qualified students through the Department of Chemistry.

34 E. Bridge St., Oswego, NY 13126
315-312-3492
obcr@oswego.edu
www.oswego.edu/obcr

The Office of Business and Community Relations:

Administers the Leadership Oswego County program, a nine-month program that prepares a select group of county residents to become the community stewards of the future. This group embarks on a nine-month course on Oswego County and its resources, vital issues of today, and visioning for tomorrow.

• Provides technical assistance to non-profit boards and through consultation and training on board governance and organizational development.
• Administers the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), which places people aged 55 and older in volunteer assignments that satisfy community needs.
• Administers the Workforce Skill Building Training (WSBT) Contract, which provides professional development training to employees of the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA).
• Acts as a point of contact between community, business and government agencies interested in accessing the expertise and resources of SUNY Oswego.

The Business Resource Center
121 East First St., Oswego, NY 13126
315-312-3493

The Business Resource Center:

• Administers the Small Business Development Center, which utilizes SUNY Oswego faculty, professional staff and students to counsel individuals who want to start or expand a small business.
• Provides classroom training and workshops to groups of individuals who want to start small businesses
• Administers the Workforce Development Board of Oswego County, which administers the Federal Workforce Innovation Opportunities Act (WIOA) funds that support employment and training in Oswego County and oversees the One Stop Center located in Fulton where employment and training services are offered.
• Provides technical assistance, research, and impact analysis to support grant development and management on behalf of local government and community agencies, using SUNY Oswego  faculty and professional staff.
• Administers the MGMT Request for Qualifications (RFQ) contract; SUNY Oswego secures services and training consultants and awards and manages consultation sub-contracts on behalf of the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA).
• Serves as a conduit between various campus department research programs and business community.

112 Penfield Library
315-312-2571
www.oswego.edu/ols

SUNY Oswego provides academic and tutoring support services for many lower level (100-200) courses as well as a select number of 300-level courses.

The Office of Learning Services (OLS) is located on the first floor of Penfield Library and employs dozens of peer tutors.  Our three Centers (STEM, Tutoring, and Writing) provide free in-person and online assistance. Students can schedule appointments in TutorTrac.  Automated confirmation emails will direct students the tutor’s in-person station in the appropriate Center or to their tutor’s unique GoBoard page for online tutoring.

Our Peer Tutors are trained and supervised by full-time professional staff of the college. These students have been successful in the courses they tutor, and are referred by their faculty. They receive training based on the College Reading and Learning Association (CRLA) certification guidelines on how to effectively assist students in improving their basic skills, mastering their understanding of course content, and learning how to be a better student

In conjunction with the aforementioned services, OLS also holds academically based workshops every semester through the Write Ways series other workshop series. 

Students may learn more or request any of the services OLS provides by visiting our website https://www.oswego.edu/ols, inquiring in person in 112 Penfield Library, email us at ols@oswego.edu or calling us at 315-312-2571.

315-312-2560
www.oswego.edu/library

Penfield Library, located in the heart of campus, is a technology-rich learning center providing the SUNY Oswego community with information resources, user-centered services and engaging spaces. The Library houses a physical collection of over 400,000 books, CDs, videos, and other resources, and provides online access to over 60,000 e-journals and 150,000 e-books. Over 150 computer workstations are available throughout the library, including over 25 workstations in our 24-hour study room and 30 laptops that can be checked out for in-library use. Convenient printing services are available from all computers.

The four-story, Wi-Fi equipped building has seating for over one thousand students including individual and group study areas, individual study carrels, a quiet study floor, and technology-enhanced spaces for collaborative work and presentation practice. The Library’s Lake Effect Cafe is a popular campus eatery with a wide range of menu options and comfortable seating.

The Library brings together many services to support student learning, including the Ask A Librarian research help desk, technology assistance from Campus Technology Services, and tutoring from the Office of Learning Services. EOP and CSTEP are also located within the Library. SUNY Oswego librarians are available to answer questions in person, or by telephone, chat, video conference, text message, and email. Librarian help is also available through our collaborative 24/7 online chat service and via our online tutorials. Subject specialist librarians provide an orientation to library research and information sources in many courses and also offer personal research appointments.

Penfield Library provides access to materials in other libraries through its inter-library loan service, featuring a statewide, quick-delivery service. The Library’s Special Collections houses the College archives, rare books, and local history materials, including the papers of the United States’ thirteenth president, Millard Fillmore.

315-312-6677
www.oswego.edu/rice-creek/home

The College operates a Field Station located on Thompson Road, one mile south of the main campus as a year-round facility to provide opportunities for field oriented biological, geological, and astronomical science teaching and research. Guiding this effort is the mission of the Rice Creek Station to be a living laboratory for the advancement of knowledge through ecological research, education, and stewardship of the natural world. To accomplish this mission, the Station has a newly constructed central building, which contains two state-of–the-art laboratories, a lecture/seminar room and a small museum area housing collections of plants, vertebrates and invertebrates, a weather station, an observatory, and a small reception area for visitors. Additionally, the grounds surrounding the station include an herb garden and 300 acres of fields, forests, ponds and streams that are used for ecological research by faculty and students in formal course work and independent study projects. In addition to academic offerings, the Field Station provides public programs in nature education for groups and individuals, school aged to adult. Four nature trails, open to the public, provide opportunities for hiking, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing. The Orange trail, about two miles in length, is also open for bicycling. The trails pass through fields and woods in several stages of succession. Trail maps are available at the Field Station building or can be downloaded from web link above.

131A Sheldon Hall
315-312-2587
www.oswego.edu/other_campus/children

The Children’s Center provides child care and preschool programs for children ages 18 months-5 years. The curriculum areas include art, science, music, cognitive and language development, and outdoor play. Meals and snacks are provided. Tuition is based on a sliding scale according to household income and child care tuition subsidies are sometimes available for low income SUNY students. Call the center as early as possible to be put on the waiting list.

Tyler Box Office
315-312-2141
tickets.oswego.edu(online sales)
www.oswego.edu/theatre

Waterman Theatre is located in Tyler Hall, the Fine and Performing Arts building. After a two-year renovation, the Theatre reopened in Fall 2016 as a 420 seat theatre, fitted with hearing loops for assisted hearing and ADA elevator access. The theatre includes state-of-the-art lighting and sound systems and equipment, counter weighted fly lines, stage traps, an elevated orchestra pit, and audio/video and intercommunication systems throughout the support spaces. The support spaces also finished up a renovation in Fall 2019, and include well-equipped scene and costume shops, a craft room, a lighting design lab, storage areas, dressing rooms, quick change rooms, rehearsal room with a sprung floor, Lab Theatre, and a very comfortable and large green room. Waterman Theatre is used by the Departments of Theatre, Music and ARTSwego for their performances, the Dr. Lewis B. O’Donnell Media Summit, and has hosted campus groups such as ALANA and Del Sarte, as well as community groups such as the Oswego Opera Theater.  For more information and photos of the spaces, please visit https://www.oswego.edu/theatre/performance-spaces.