Making a difference Pioneer strong
Alfred State College
Spring 2020 Alumni & Friends Magazine
In times of need, Alfred State Pioneers step up and do their part to help, whether it’s providing nursing assistance in Haiti, hurricane relief in Texas, or even just painting walls during a local community service event.
So when the coronavirus pandemic continued to spread earlier this year, it’s no surprise that Pioneers everywhere were doing their part to make a positive impact.
We’ve collected a number of stories about how Alfred State was able to change and adapt as a college, what students and faculty have done to help, and other ways that Pioneers have made a difference in the lives of others during this difficult time. These stories are truly inspiring and make us all proud to be a part of the Alfred State Family.
Making a difference Pioneer strong
Alfred State College
Spring 2020 Alumni & Friends Magazine
How we changed
as a college
On March 23, students moved their education onto the web, with learning transitioning from hands-on to online. To help ease students’ transition to online learning, the college took a number of steps, including:
• Hosting live Online Learning Training Sessions.
• Providing laptops to dozens of students.
• Ensuring that Student Success Center professionals are able to provide assistance through online support such as teleconferencing and email.
• Maintaining an FAQ section with advice for free internet, technical support, academic advising contacts, tutorial assistance, financial aid counseling, and more.
While most students moved back home after spring break, those facing financial or technology hardships were allowed to remain on campus while also practicing social distancing.
To assist students who needed to remain on campus, one of the college’s dining locations named Alfie’s expanded its menu to accommodate these students’ dietary preferences and provide an even wider array of meal options tailored to the tastes of the limited campus population.
As for its employees, Alfred State launched a telecommuting program to allow nonessential faculty and staff to work from home. Many employees also began utilizing Microsoft Teams in order to stay in contact with one another and virtually attend meetings.
The college also established a task force to tackle issues related to operational changes this summer and the reopening of its campuses for the fall semester. The task force has been divided into 12 subcommittees that oversee different aspects of the reopening process, from academic continuity, to the budget, to employee support, to health services, and more.
Making a difference Pioneer strong
Alfred State College
Spring 2020 Alumni & Friends Magazine
Nursing student Alex Vroman enlisting in the National Guard.
Finally, to keep students, employees, and the community informed and up to date, Alfred State created a collection of COVID-19 web pages, which includes an FAQ section that addresses many common questions related to academics, student services, student support, and tributes to loved ones who are casualties of the virus at www.AlfredState.edu/COVID-19.
What students and employees have done
to help
While classes and regular job responsibilities may have shifted to online, Pioneers were still able to find ways to make personal connections and make a difference in the lives of others.
Facilities Services donated more than 2,000 N95 face masks and a handful of gowns to local medical workers at hospitals and nursing homes in Hornell, Wellsville, and Dansville. After donating these surplus items, the college also maintained a supply of 800 N95 masks for campus use.
Speaking of face masks, Alfred State teamed up with Benjamin Noble, owner and operator of Brooklyn Casting and Fabrication in Arkport, and 2019 computer engineering technology grad Trevor Kokot of Saxon Glass Technologies, Inc. to provide personal protective equipment (PPE) to healthcare workers. Utilizing 3D printers, Kevin Tucker, an instructional support associate in the Architecture and Design Department, is able to produce 32 masks every 24 hours.
Nursing faculty also helped make a difference at local healthcare facilities. While some faculty members began working at these locations for the first time, others took on more shifts and worked longer hours at facilities where they have already been providing care in addition to their teaching responsibilities. Alfred State also offered for local healthcare workers to use dorm facilities to rest between shifts. At times during the crisis, these medical workers feared going home and potentially exposing their families to the virus.
Alex Vroman, a nursing student from Canajoharie, also stepped up by enlisting in the New York Army National Guard as a private second class due to earning his Eagle Scout certification. He chose to serve as a combat medic and is helping others while stationed on the front lines in Long Island.
Making a difference Pioneer strong
Alfred State College
Spring 2020 Alumni & Friends Magazine
Student Dakota Hastreiter provided an inspiring Pioneer Game Plan video.
Read more of the inspiring poems presented during the virtual poetry reading in the latest issue of Ergo. Alumni are invited to contribute original works of art, poetry, and prose to Ergo, Alfred State’s literary and artistic publication at ergo@alfredstate.edu.
Throughout the crisis, Alfred State has also shared dozens of quick videos called “The Pioneer Game Plan” with short bits of advice for motivation and inspiration. The entire college community can use a boost for morale and it’s fun to see students, faculty, staff, and alumni members featured in the videos.
In addition to caring for people’s physical well-being, the college also looked to boost their mental and emotional states during this difficult time. The English and Humanities Department, for example, held a virtual poetry reading on Blackboard Collaborate that drew over 100 participants – students and employees – who came together to connect, share poems, and lift one another’s spirits. By sharing their talents and stories of inspiration, all participants were supporting and uplifting one another.
Assistant Professor Dr. Travis Matteson said the reading “really fulfilled a need for human contact and a need for a sense of normality.”
Making a difference Pioneer strong
Alfred State College
Spring 2020 Alumni & Friends Magazine
Another alum who showed great generosity was Tami Maglier, a floriculture merchandising graduate, who owns Tami’s Floral Expressions in Wellsville. After a customer purchased $1,000 worth of flowers to be delivered to Jones Memorial Hospital and three Wellsville area nursing homes, Tami decided to match their kindness by providing another $1,000 worth of flowers to the same locations and other local residents who were having a hard time.
Virtually speaking, Alfred State also helped make some very important connections that are typically formed in-person on campus. In March, the Career Development Center hosted virtual career fairs for the Alfred campus and the Northland campus in Buffalo, with more than 32 employers attending and over 100 chats taking place between students and companies. In April, the college hosted five virtual open houses for prospective students and their families, with each one geared toward a specific area of interest, from healthcare to skilled trades.
Pioneers helping others
Alfred State Pioneers were also making a difference in their communities and helping out those in need.
Agricultural technology graduate Justin Recktenwald, who owns Wild Brute Winery and a wine bar known as The Brute, partnered with Cider Creek Hard Cider, Krooked Tusker, and Bellangelo Vineyards to convert alcohol into hand sanitizer. This was then distributed locally, with hospitals, first responders, and law enforcement receiving top priority among recipients.
For students and their families who were also going through a tough time because of financial needs that arose due to COVID-19, Alfred State launched the Support Our Students (SOS) Emergency Fund. The purpose of this fundraiser is to address some of the biggest obstacles Pioneers and their families face, including technology needs, financial concerns, and food insecurity.
In addition to the SOS campaign, Alfred State also made sure that students – and others within the community – didn’t go hungry during the pandemic by launching a food drive for students and others who had been impacted by food insecurity. Also, several employees volunteered to drive food to the homes of shut-ins and others who don’t have the resources necessary to get their own food.