SUNY Cobleskill and SUNY Oneonta Sign Pathway Agreement

COBLESKILL - Dr. Mark Davies, Dean, School of Education, Human Ecology, and Sports Studies at SUNY Oneonta; Assemblyman Chris Tague; Senator Peter Oberacker; Dr. Enrique Morales-Diaz, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at SUNY Oneonta; Dr. Darcy Medica, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at SUNY Cobleskill; Elise Weiss, Assistant Dean and Chair of Early Childhood at SUNY Cobleskill; Erik Hage, Interim Dean for Academic Affairs and Teaching Faculty at SUNY Cobleskill; Paul Acosta, Director of Admissions at SUNY Cobleskill; Anna Miarka-Grzelak, Vice President for Strategic Enrollment and Innovation at SUNY Cobleskill. 

COBLESKILL — Administrators from SUNY Cobleskill and SUNY Oneonta today officially signed a new articulation agreement providing a seamless transition of graduates from Cobleskill’s Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) in Early Childhood Studies to Oneonta’s Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree program in Childhood Education/Liberal Arts as matriculated students with junior status. Oneonta and Cobleskill recognize their responsibility in helping transfer students maximize their opportunities, and to the state’s education field as it continues to experience teacher shortages. 

Cobleskill students who have graduated or will graduate with an A.A.S. in Early Childhood Studies must apply to Oneonta and meet the admission criteria to gain acceptance to Oneonta’s B.S. degree program. In turn, Oneonta will extend every opportunity to help full-time students who begin their courses in the fall semester to complete the B.S. in Childhood Education in two additional years of full-time study.

Dr. Marion Terenzio, President of SUNY Cobleskill, said, “I am proud to witness the formalization of this pivotal agreement between SUNY Cobleskill and SUNY Oneonta, denoting a significant step toward a solution in the pressing need for highly qualified educators in our state. This articulation agreement not only streamlines the transition for graduates of SUNY Cobleskill's Early Childhood program into SUNY Oneonta's Childhood Education program, but also reinforces our shared commitment to maximizing opportunities for transfer students. By offering this seamless pathway, we empower aspiring educators to easily continue their academic journey.”

Dr. Alberto Cardelle, President of SUNY Oneonta, said, “This year marks SUNY Oneonta’s 135th anniversary as an institution that began with a mission to teach educators. While our mission has broadened to prepare students for a multitude of career paths, we remain dedicated to providing the training necessary to build the future class of teachers with a special emphasis on fulfilling shortages here in our rural New York school districts."

Dr. Darcy Medica, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at SUNY Cobleskill, said, “Our two institutions see collaboration as an essential element in offering students choice and opportunity in how they achieve success along their academic journey. Partnerships like this signify to our Teacher Education-bound students that there are clear pathways to teacher certification that are attainable and accessible while providing them with diverse experiences that prepare them for the complexities of the modern classroom."

Dr. Mark Davies, Dean, School of Education, Human Ecology, and Sports Studies at SUNY Oneonta, said, “The early childhood program at SUNY Oneonta is grounded in the belief that all children can learn therefore we focus on the assets children and families bring to the classroom setting. We are committed to creating new inclusive educational pathways to diversify the teacher workforce, with particular attention to welcoming and supporting first-generation college students.”

Senator Toby Ann Stavisky (NY-11), New York State Senate Higher Education Chair, said, “This partnership between SUNY Oneonta and SUNY Cobleskill is a creative way to help address New York’s teaching shortage. I am encouraged by this decision, and I hope to see more collaborative efforts between colleges and universities in our SUNY system.”

Assemblymember Patricia Fahy (NY-109), Chair of the Assembly’s Standing Committee on Higher Education, said, “New York will need to hire thousands of teachers in the next decade just to meet current demand. I commend SUNY Oneonta and Cobleskill for getting creative in addressing what’s becoming a workforce crisis and opening up new pathways for prospective students hoping to enter the field. Innovative, local partnerships like this are exactly what will deliver the highly skilled workers and teachers we need in Upstate New York to continue delivering the nation’s top quality public education.”

Senator Peter Oberacker (NY-51) said, “Teachers play a vital role in developing our young people and preparing them for future success.  It is crucial that we address the ongoing teacher shortage and break down barriers that are making it more difficult for individuals to enter the education profession.  The collaboration between SUNY Cobleskill and SUNY Oneonta is a winning concept that will offer a major advantage to early education students. Additionally, this is a model that should be duplicated throughout the state university system in other disciplines to maximize opportunities and ensure that New York students continue to receive exceptional, affordable education.”

Assemblyman Chris Tague (NY-102) said, “It is so refreshing to see two administrations come together to conquer a mutual issue. As our state continues to struggle with teacher shortages, this articulation agreement is going to provide new opportunities and experiences to better prepare our future teachers. Thank you to both SUNY Cobleskill and SUNY Oneonta for taking the initiative to address this shortage. These students have a bright future ahead of them!”

Education is SUNY Oneonta’s oldest academic program, and one of its largest. The university offers 25 educator preparation programs, including bachelor’s degrees in early childhood, elementary and adolescence education. At the graduate level, SUNY Oneonta offers in-person master’s degree programs in school counseling and special education, online master’s degree programs in literacy education and educational technology, and online certificate programs in bilingual education and school counseling. SUNY Oneonta’s education programs have been continuously accredited since 2000 and recently earned accreditation by the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation.

Students in SUNY Cobleskill’s Early Childhood programs have multiple opportunities to interact with infants through 5-year-olds while observing how early childhood professionals work with, guide, and present lessons to the children. Current research from the fields of developmental psychology, early education, infant mental health, cultural anthropology/family studies, and pediatric science is woven throughout the curriculum to ensure students understand the complex nature of early development and learning.

In addition to our conventional classrooms, the College operates two excellent early childhood laboratory schools, the Cobleskill Campus Child Care Center and a half-day preschool program at the Child Development Center. It bears noting that, while many colleges have either just one lab school or none at all, the fact that SUNY Cobleskill has two helps set our programs apart.