News

College of Professional Studies Recognizes 12 Post-Traditional Students Inducted into Alpha Sigma Lambda Honor Society

Alpha Sigma Lambda is the nation’s largest and oldest chapter-based honor society for nontraditional students. The Society was founded in 1945-46 and today has more than 300 institutional chapters. The Syracuse University chapter is the Beta Delta Chapter and was established in 1977.

Alpha Sigma Lambda’s aim is to recognize the special achievements of adults who accomplish academic excellence while facing competing interests of home and work. Alpha Sigma Lambda is dedicated to the advancement of scholarship and recognizes high scholastic achievement in an adult student’s career. By so doing, this Society encourages many students to continue toward and to earn associate and bachelor’s degrees.

To be considered for membership a candidate must be matriculated and have completed a minimum of 24 credit hours and represent the top twenty percent of the class, with a minimum grade point index of 3.2 on a 4.0 scale.

On March 8, the College of Professional Studies recognized the following students at the 2024 Alpha Sigma Lambda reception:

  • Marisa Ashworth
  • Victoria Barnum
  • Sarah Blair
  • Samantha Bonocora
  • Katie Brody
  • Alexander Cook
  • Teagan Dow
  • Miguel Rodriguez Peraza
  • Robert Salvato
  • Ryan Simmons
  • Jason Smith II
  • William Stewart III

Syracuse University Ranks No. 1 in Best Online Bachelor’s in Business Programs of Private Universities

Syracuse University continues to rank as one of the top private universities in the nation for online undergraduate education, according to U.S. News and World Report’s 2024 Best Online Programs rankings.

Syracuse University’s AACSB-accredited business management degree, a partnership between the College of Professional Studies and the Whitman School of Management, ranked No. 1 in Best Online Bachelor’s in Business Programs of private universities, while Syracuse University additionally ranked No. 3 for Best Online Bachelor’s Programs for Veterans of private universities and No. 5 for Best Online Bachelor’s Programs of private universities.

“This recognition as a top 5 private university for online undergraduate education is not achieved without an unwavering commitment to exceedingly high-quality course designs, rigorous curricula and learning, and a differentiated level of superior student support,” says Michael Frasciello, dean of the College of Professional Studies. “This recognition is also notable as this is only our fourth year participating in the rankings, illustrating our excellence among our peer institutions and our distinction among private universities.”

The College of Professional Studies currently offers 12 Syracuse University online undergraduate degrees, eight online undergraduate credit certificates, as well as a master of professional studies and a certificate of advanced study in project management.

With high-touch admissions, advising, and financial aid counseling, the College of Professional Studies continuously prioritizes student success. The holistic treatment of the online student experience expands the definition of what it means to be an online learner, and the thoughtful design of the online programs provides access to a Syracuse University credential for those who otherwise could not earn one on campus.

The University’s No. 3 ranking as the Best Online Bachelor’s Programs for Veterans of private universities is a recognition of Syracuse University’s commitment to being the best school for veterans, active military, and military-connected students. Syracuse is the only R1 private university in the Northeast that offers online and residential part-time undergraduate study to active-duty military, National Guard, and reservists at their respective tuition assistance (TA) rates beyond the member’s annual benefit. Active-duty and reserve students pay no more than the current DoD TA rate after they expend their annual TA allotment.

“Ranking No. 3 in the Best Veterans programs of private universities is a demonstration of our dedication to the superior support we have established for veterans and military-connected students,” Frasciello says.  

To learn more about continuing online education, visit professionalstudies.syracuse.edu.


About the College of Professional Studies

The College of Professional Studies is a global, inclusive and future-facing college, providing access to diverse students and learners seeking a Syracuse University degree, credential, certificate, or education experience.

How the Center for Online and Digital Learning is Redefining Online Education

The Center for Online and Digital Learning at Syracuse University celebrated a new chapter of innovative online education at a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Nov. 9.

Founded in 2017 as a signature One University initiative within the College of Professional Studies, the Center for Online and Digital Learning is the unit that develops Syracuse University’s world-class online programs and meets “the needs of students seeking a Syracuse University education from anywhere in the world.” The Center for Online and Digital Learning has moved up the hill to 100 Sims Drive from its previous location at the College of Professional Studies at 700 University Ave. The newly renovated and expanded space positions the Center for Online and Digital Learning for success as Syracuse University’s portfolio of online programs rapidly grows.

 

“Quality, scalability, and innovation have always been at the core of our mission,” says Dr. Judy Teng, executive director of the Center for Online and Digital Learning. “Our new facility allows us to reimagine the online learning experience, while our cutting-edge technology and methodologies allow us to enhance teaching and learning.”  

The University has positioned itself to offer more engaging online learning possibilities for graduate and undergraduate students as the Center for Online and Digital Learning grows substantially, says Jim Gaffey, executive director of administration and strategy at the College of Professional Studies.

“This new facility signifies the University’s investment in the Center for Online and Digital Learning and also recognizes the growth of online programs,” Gaffey says. “We want students to have the most up-to-date information available, and these new resources will allow us to refresh courses at a faster rate to better serve our students.”

 

 

Ranked at No. 21 among national universities and ranked No. 5 for private schools in the U.S. News & World Report 2023 Best Online Programs rankings, Syracuse University has proven its commitment to online education.

“The Center for Online and Digital Learning is in the vanguard of Syracuse University’s efforts to face head-on the many disruptions to higher education—to produce and align differentiated academic offerings for a rapidly changing marketplace. Through the talent, creativity, innovation, experimentation, and excellence located at the Center, Syracuse University will achieve its online and digital innovation goals over the next 20 years,” says Michael Frasciello, dean of the College of Professional Studies.


About the Center for Online and Digital Learning

The Center for Online and Digital Learning provides evaluation, development, and delivery of world-class online programs at Syracuse University.

About the College of Professional Studies

The College of Professional Studies is a global, inclusive and future-facing college, providing access to diverse students and learners seeking a Syracuse University degree, credential, certificate, or education experience.

College of Professional Studies at Syracuse University Announces Municipal Government and Community College Employees Tuition Incentive Program

The College of Professional Studies at Syracuse University announces the Municipal Government and Community College Employees Tuition Incentive Program.  

The tuition incentive program for municipal government and community college employees is open to any employee of a county, town, village, city, district, or authority (as demonstrated by a recent pay stub). Participants matriculating into any online, part-time undergraduate degree or credit certificate from the College of Professional Studies are eligible for a 50 percent discount off Syracuse University’s part-time rate and must not exceed 11 credits per semester.

“This new tuition incentive is one small part of Syracuse University’s larger commitment to the region,” says Michael Frasciello, dean of the College of Professional Studies. “As the largest private employer in Central New York, we have an obligation to providing access to transformational education for individuals who serve and support the communities in which we live.”

As the College of Professional Studies continues to expand its program offerings, the Municipal Government and Community College Employees Tuition Incentive Program acknowledges those in our communities who are dedicated to public service and provides an accessible path for them to a Syracuse University education.

To learn more about the tuition incentive program, visit https://go.syr.edu/uc/onondaga-county.


About the College of Professional Studies

The College of Professional Studies is a global, inclusive and future-facing college, providing access to diverse students and learners seeking a Syracuse University degree, credential, certificate or education experience.

Syracuse University Graduate Tells Stories With Vintage Clothes at the Black Citizens Brigade

Cjala Surratt ’22 in her shop, Black Citizens Brigade. / Hope Alvarez

On a recent trip to visit extended family, Cjala Surratt ’22, Syracuse University alumna and founder of the Black Citizens Brigade, was presented with a gift– her late grandmother’s boiler room jacket. Surratt’s grandmother had been a ship-fitter in Norfolk, Virginia, and the clothing item had been a welcome surprise for Surratt, a vintage clothing fanatic.

Even more surprising than the jacket, however, was the history behind the woman who wore it. “Did you know she was the first Black female union leader for the shipyard?” a relative asked Surratt during her visit. Surratt’s grandmother, who had stepped up to do the job no one else wanted, had been trailed by a security detail at the time, as the owners of the commercial port were against unionization.

“I was like, wait, what?” says Surratt. “This is exactly what I mean– that clothes can be the prompt for these broader stories.”

For Suratt, clothes have always been a conduit for storytelling. Following her graduation from Syracuse University and ten subsequent years spent as the Director of Marketing for Light Work, the University’s nonprofit photography studio, Suratt opened the Black Citizens Brigade, a downtown storefront dedicated to amplifying Black history through clothes, books, and art.

“For Black and brown people, or those who’ve historically experienced economic disparity, upcycling has always been an economic imperative,” says Surratt. “I think I’m part of continuing that legacy.”

Surratt’s grandmother’s jacket is displayed at the Black Citizens Brigade. / Hope Alvarez

Legacy is the through line of Surratt’s work. Her love of vintage clothing came from growing up in a family of seamstresses, milliners, and creatives. During the early days of COVID-19, Surratt and her daughter would peruse the racks of Goodwill, one of the few businesses open at the time. With many elders being pushed into nursing homes, the pandemic made thrift stores abundant with discarded clothes from families cleaning out their parents’ closets, says Surratt.

Once her home began overflowing with garments from thrifting trips, she decided it was time to finally take the leap and pursue establishing her own shop. After months of working with the Syracuse Downtown Committee, scouring listings for vacant storefronts, and organizing her collection, Surratt opened the Black Citizens Brigade in June of 2023 and has been providing downtown Syracuse with an eclectic mix of clothing, culture, and community ever since.     

Today, Black Citizens Brigade sells hard-to-find items that center on Black history, specializing in clothes from the 1950s-1980s, along with vintage books, magazines, and records. The time period of the clothes is an ode to Surratt’s fascination with the aesthetics of that time, while the book selections represent her commitment to education. 

“The clothes and the books are prompts for larger conversations about race, culture, history, and gender,” says Surratt. “And so, the books all center on Black community, Black history, Black culture.”

Surratt’s blending of learning through culture stretches back to her time at Syracuse University, where she studied Stage Theatre through the College of Visual and Performing Arts and minored in Cultural Anthropology and Psychology. Later on, she came back as a continuing education student to finish credits part-time through the College of Professional Studies. She credits specific parts of her education, such as doing character studies that involved thinking about the history of trends, as helping her in her current career.

“The common thread is understanding people– a desire to know why people arrive at the choices they make, and also a deep curiosity about culture and community,” she says.

Since its opening, Black Citizens Brigade has Surratt’s community to thank for the store’s success. She’s leveraged her upbringing in Syracuse and attendance and former job at the University to bring more attention to her space.

Downtown, where businesses founded by BIPOC owners statistically don’t last as long as businesses with white business owners, is where the physical storefront is located, Surratt says. However, Surratt knows that being a visible part of the community beyond the brick-and-mortar is crucial, as it shares the message that Black and brown businesses are here to stay.

“We’re at a very pivotal time in our city to bring the message,” says Surratt.

Looking forward, Surratt hopes to expand her storefront and host interactive events, such as poetry workshops and listening sessions. In her store lined with archival photos of Black domestic life, Surratt is aiming to cultivate a feeling of homecoming for all who enter.

“I want it to feel like you’re coming into a Black family photo album.”

By Isabel Bekele