(SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – April 4, 2016) Jeannine McCanney, a secretary at the Ft. Drum location, is the 2016 recipient of the Empire State College Foundation Award for Excellence in Support Service. She received her award at the annual All College Conference held at the end of March in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

College President Merodie Hancock said, “Congratulations. I join the cabinet, the (Empire State College) foundation board and the rest of your colleagues in extending my thanks and appreciation for your extraordinary efforts on behalf of our students.

“Thanks also to all those who support the foundation’s mission and programs. This ceremony itself – and many other programs – would not be possible without your support.”

In announcing the winner, Roe Liedke, residency secretary at the Buffalo location, who was last year’s recipient, said, “This year’s recipient has been at the college for six years, during which time she has become the face of her unit, having developed close relationships with students, faculty and other staff. She manages the office efficiently and professionally, serving the unique needs of the students with the utmost care and consideration. Jeannine McCanney is always ready to help colleagues across the college, offers support whenever asked and has been a great resource and a steady presence during times of transition.”

“This is awesome; I am not worthy,” said McCanney. “It is just what I do every day. It is part of my job.”

Interim Dean Nadine Fernandez said, “Jeannine McCanney unselfishly offers her support whenever asked, and volunteers to help with special events such as graduation. The Ft. Drum location is on the Ft. Drum military base and the student population is unique. McCanney has mastered working with active-duty military students and their spouses. Numerous incoming students have said that McCanney’s pleasant and informative responses to questions were an important factor in their final decisions to apply to our college. Alumni have expressed their appreciation for McCanney’s support, saying that she was there for them and never dismissed their questions, concerns or dilemmas, but listened patiently and worked with them to address their issues throughout their time at Empire State College.”

About the Excellence in Support Services Award

Criteria for the Excellence in Support Services include superb performance in fulfilling the duties in the job description, demonstrated flexibility and adaptability to institutional needs and excellence in the areas of leadership, decision making and problem solving. Additional criteria may include initiation of ideas or development of proposals for improving effectiveness in her position.

About SUNY Empire State College

Empire State College, the nontraditional, open college of the SUNY system, educates more than 20,000 students worldwide at eight international sites, more than 35 locations in the state of New York, online, as well as face to face and through a blend of both, at the associate, bachelor’s and master’s levels.

The average age of an undergraduate student at the college is 35 and graduate students average age 40.

Most Empire State College students are working adults. Many are raising families and meeting civic commitments in the communities where they live, while studying part time.

In addition to awarding credit for prior college-level learning, the college pairs each undergraduate student with a faculty mentor who supports that student throughout his or her college career.

Working with their mentors, students design an individual degree program and engage in guided independent study and course work onsite, online or through a combination of both, which provides the flexibility for students to choose where, when and how to learn.

Students have the opportunity to enroll five times during the year.

The college’s 73,000 alumni are active in their communities as entrepreneurs, politicians, business professionals, artists, nonprofit agency employees, teachers, veterans and active military, union members and more.

The college was first established in 1971 by the SUNY Board of Trustees with the encouragement of the late Ernest L. Boyer, chancellor of the SUNY system from 1970 to 1977.

Boyer also served as United States commissioner of education during the administration of President Jimmy Carter and then as president of the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching

More information about the college is available at www.esc.edu.

 

Contact:

Hope Ferguson, senior writer
518 587-2100, ext. 2509
Hope.Ferguson@esc.edu