SUNY Oneonta, UB partner to help future Oneonta students pursue pharmacy degree

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ONEONTA — Qualified students at SUNY Oneonta will have the chance to earn a bachelor’s degree in biology and a doctor of pharmacy degree in seven years, rather than eight. SUNY Oneonta forged an agreement with the University at Buffalo (UB) School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. The collaborative 3+4 agreement guarantees space for qualified […]

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VIEWPOINT: Trump Signs Executive Order, “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports”

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On Feb. 5, President Donald J. Trump signed an executive order, “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports.” The executive order states that “[i]n recent years, many educational institutions and athletic associations have allowed men to compete in women’s sports,” a situation that the order states has denied women and girls equal athletic opportunity. The executive

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The executive order states:

“Therefore, it is the policy of the United States to rescind all funds from educational programs that deprive women and girls of fair athletic opportunities, which results in the endangerment, humiliation, and silencing of women and girls and deprives them of privacy. It shall also be the policy of the United States to oppose male competitive participation in women’s sports more broadly, as a matter of safety, fairness, dignity, and truth.”

This executive order follows another order signed by President Trump on Jan. 20, 2025, “Defending Women From Gender Ideology Extremism And Restoring Biological Truth To The Federal Government,” which sets more broadly the federal government’s position that there are two immutable biological binary sexes, male and female, and that the executive branch will enforce all sex-protective laws accordingly.

Effective Feb. 5, 2025, the executive order directs the Secretary of Education to:

• Enforce Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 to “affirmatively protect all-female athletic opportunities and all-female locker rooms,” including through regulations and policy guidance; and,

• Prioritize Title IX enforcement actions against educational institutions and athletic institutions composed of, or governed by educational institutions that deny women an equal opportunity to participate in athletics by “requiring them, in the women’s category, to compete with or against or to appear unclothed before males.”

The executive order also directs all executive departments and agencies to review grants and educational programs and “where appropriate” to “rescind funding to programs that fail to comply with the policy established in this order.”

The executive order may be challenging for educational institutions, particularly those with transgender female students currently participating on girls and women’s teams. Additionally, in jurisdictions with state or local laws, including New York State, that extend rights based on gender identity, the executive order conditions federal funding on actions that may be inconsistent with state and local laws. College and university leadership should consult with legal counsel about the impact of this executive order on their athletic programs.

Kristen J. Thorsness serves as of counsel in the Rochester office of the Syracuse–based law firm Bond, Schoeneck & King PLLC. She concentrates on athletics regulation, specifically gender equity in athletics (Title IX). Thorsness brings a unique perspective to her work. She is an Olympic gold medalist (1984) as part of the first U.S. women’s rowing team ever to win Olympic gold. Thorsness is a former Division I collegiate rower, and she won three World Championship silver medals as a member of the U.S. national rowing team and multiple U.S. national championships. Contact her at: kthorsness@bsk.com. This article is drawn and edited from Bond’s Higher Education Law Report blog.

In CNY stop, Hochul talks free adult tuition at community colleges

Education & Training, Health Care, Subscriber Only

Also highlighted state’s $200M in funding for Upstate’s emergency dept. Gov. Kathy Hochul used a Jan. 29 visit to Onondaga County to discuss her plan to offer free community college tuition for adult learners aged 25 to 55 in New York. She also met with the leadership of Upstate Medical University to discuss the

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Also highlighted state’s $200M in funding for Upstate’s emergency dept.

Gov. Kathy Hochul used a Jan. 29 visit to Onondaga County to discuss her plan to offer free community college tuition for adult learners aged 25 to 55 in New York.

She also met with the leadership of Upstate Medical University to discuss the state’s $200 million in funding for Upstate University Hospital’s proposed new emergency department.

New emergency department

The governor’s office says hospital leadership thanked Hochul for the funding for the project. That money is in addition to the annual $50 million in capital for ongoing maintenance to the facility, the office noted.

The governor publicly announced the funding as part of her state-budget proposal on Jan. 21. That same day, budget director Blake Washington spoke in a technical briefing about the fiscal year 2026 budget proposal and mentioned the funding for Upstate University Hospital.

“$2 billion [is] for SUNY and CUNY capital projects including $450 million for SUNY Downstate; this is part of an agreement that we entered into with the Legislature just last year helping to build SUNY Downstate into a world class institution — one that serves the community well. And similarly, we provide $200 million for SUNY Upstate as they too are starting to figure out what their next act is. … Obviously, there’s a lot of activity in Central New York now with Micron on the horizon, and SUNY Upstate must be there to provide services to tens of thousands of people that arrive, God willing, to Central New York once Micron is up and running. They need a world-class hospital as well. SUNY Upstate is the only sort of trauma center in the region. It’s absolutely essential there, so we have an investment as well for capital there,” Washington said, per the transcript of the briefing.

Hochul’s state-budget proposal includes $2 billion for new capital projects at SUNY and CUNY (City University of New York) campuses. The figure includes $650 million for the modernization and revitalization of SUNY hospitals, broken down as $450 million Downstate, $200 million for Upstate University Hospital’s new emergency department, per the budget book provided to news outlets on Jan. 21.

Free adult tuition

Hochul discussed her proposal during a visit to Onondaga Community College. The plan is part of the governor’s 2025 State of the State.

Statewide, more than 4 million working-age adults don’t have a college degree or credential. The proposal would cover tuition, fees, and books at any SUNY or CUNY community college for these adult learners who have never earned a degree and are pursuing an associate degree in a high-demand field, including nursing, teaching, technology, and engineering.

“Under my plan, every New Yorker will have the chance to pursue a free associate degree at SUNY and CUNY community colleges to help fill the in-demand jobs of tomorrow,” Hochul said in the announcement.

Besides the governor’s remarks, SUNY Chancellor John B. King, Jr. joined the event as Onondaga Community College President Warren Hilton updated the governor on the campus’s readiness to expand enrollment in academic programs tied to in-demand jobs.

The tour at OCC included the construction site for the $15 million, 5,000 square-foot Micron Simulation Lab at the campus, which will help to train students. The clean room is expected to be fully operational during the summer of 2026.

Micron Technology Inc. (NASDAQ: MU) has plans for a massive semiconductor-manufacturing campus in the town of Clay, that officials are saying will transform the Central New York economy.

“Governor Hochul has and continues to be a strong supporter of workforce opportunities to boost high-skilled manufacturing and strengthen the statewide economy,” Randy Wolken, president & CEO of DeWitt–based MACNY, The Manufacturers Association, said in a separate Jan. 29 statement. “Her proposal to offer free community college tuition to adult learners 25-55 years old in New York builds upon this commitment. This plan would fill a workforce shortage in advanced manufacturing and other high-demand professions.”

Clarkson University selects its first female president

Education & Training, North Country, Subscriber Only

POTSDAM — Clarkson University has named Michelle Larson as its next president, who will become the first woman to lead the school in its 128-year history. Larson will succeed previous school president Marc Christensen when she begins her new duties on April 1. Clarkson University’s board of trustees had appointed David Heacock to serve as

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POTSDAM — Clarkson University has named Michelle Larson as its next president, who will become the first woman to lead the school in its 128-year history.

Larson will succeed previous school president Marc Christensen when she begins her new duties on April 1.

Clarkson University’s board of trustees had appointed David Heacock to serve as the school’s acting president and trustee in July 2024 after Christensen had resigned due to “personal reasons,” a Clarkson University spokesperson tells CNYBJ in an email.

Larson joins Clarkson University from the Adler Planetarium in Chicago, where she has served as president and CEO since 2013.

A physicist by training, Larson brings both academic and nonprofit-business leadership expertise to the Clarkson campus in Potsdam in St. Lawrence County.

“Naming Dr. Larson as Clarkson’s next leader is a significant milestone for the institution,” Nancy Reyda, chair of the Clarkson University board of trustees, said in the school’s Feb. 5 announcement. “Michelle has the personal character and a unique blend of professional experience that will enable her to lead Clarkson to a transformational future. She’s a powerful, visionary leader we believe in.”

From the outset, the search process was “intentional and inclusive,” per the Clarkson announcement.

“We established a Search Committee representing a wide range of perspectives within our university community,” Reyda explained. “Undergraduate and graduate students, professors, alumni, staff and Trustees all had a voice. Inclusivity was paramount.”

The search began with more than 50 applicants, and Reyda said that “Dr. Larson’s exceptional balance of academic excellence, bold business acumen and leadership grace distinguished her immediately.” The sentiment among the search committee and the board of trustees was “unanimous.”

Larson earned her bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in physics from Montana State University and served in academic leadership for more than a decade, including as vice provost at Utah State University, before leading the Adler Planetarium for the past 12 years.

Her career includes helping NASA “forge partnerships to engage the world with the universe” and working to make new discoveries in science, technology, engineering and math understandable for society as a whole, Clarkson said.

First impression

During her visit to the Clarkson campus, the Alaska native observed the Student Projects for Engineering Experience and Design (SPEED) Lab and the Student Innovation Hub (IGNITE). She also visited with faculty, staff, and students.

“Clarkson University captured my head and my heart from the start. It’s clearly a place where curiosity grows, ideas illuminate the path forward and collaboration drives success,” Larson said in the school’s announcement. “As I came to know the Clarkson community, I was impressed by each person’s palpable commitment to this University. Everywhere I looked, I saw a spark in people’s eyes and the talent to ignite it. Clarkson is a bold yet humble community learning together and tackling the world’s challenges.”

Larson’s husband, Shane Larson, an astrophysicist, will join Clarkson’s Coulter School of Engineering and Applied Sciences.

“We are excited to get to know the people,” Michelle Larson said. “We come from rural roots, and we are so pleased to join the Clarkson and North Country communities. I am eager to work with faculty, staff, students and trustees to forge a bold new path forward for Clarkson.”

Commerce Chenango launches workforce-development initiatives

Education & Training, Employee Benefits & Human Resources, New York News, Nonprofits, Small Business, Southern Tier, Sports, Entertainment & Tourism, Subscriber Only

NORWICH, N.Y. — Commerce Chenango, which serves as the chamber of commerce, tourism, and economic development entity for Chenango County, is working on a number of initiatives designed to encourage growth in the county with a focus on the visitor economy, workforce development, leadership, and more. With Chenango County serving as home base to a

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With Chenango County serving as home base to a number of companies including Chobani, Raymond, and Golden Artist Colors, it’s no surprise that workforce development is high on the list of priorities.

“I believe that’s our most important initiative we’re working on here,” Commerce Chenango President/CEO Sal Testani tells CNYBJ. The goal is to retain and grow existing businesses by ensuring they have an ample, well-trained workforce.

To achieve that, Commerce Chenango has spearheaded a collaborative initiative between employers, area schools, and SUNY Morrisville to create the region’s first workforce-development courses on an array of topics.

The first, a pilot program focused on basic manufacturing skills — created by working closely with GE Aviation — began Feb. 6 with 20 high-school seniors participating. The 12-week program will equip students with essentials for a career in manufacturing including certification.

Planning is under way for courses on other topics such as essential employment skills — things like answering the phone, composing an email, and other basic work skills — with hopes to eventually add more courses focusing on various industries, Testani says. Eventually, the hope is to make the program available regionally and not just in Chenango County.

Next on Commerce Chenango’s agenda is the upcoming second annual Chenango Women’s Leadership Conference from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. on March 25 at the Canasawacta Country Club, 261 County Road 44, Norwich.

“It’s quite quickly become our signature event,” Testani says. The event is completely developed by women for women and aims to be an inspirational event that helps women connect, network, and socialize.

This year’s keynote speaker is Barbara Schindler, president and COO of Golden Artist Colors. Other highlights of the event include panel presentations from women living and working in Chenango County focusing on topics including leadership, wealth, and health, as well as networking opportunities.

Tickets for the event are $60 per person, and Testani expects to draw a crowd close to 200 people. To register, visit the “events” tab at commercechenango.com.

Training workers and cultivating the female leaders of tomorrow goes a long way to helping the county, Testani notes, but people can’t go to work if they don’t have childcare for their families.

That’s why Commerce Chenango is working with The Christian Neighborhood Center of Norwich, Inc., which does business as The Place, to use the ground floor of Commerce Chenango’s new headquarters at 19 East Main St., Norwich, to open a 46-slot childcare center for children under age 3.

Finally, Commerce Chenango has engaged Jones Lang Lasalle for a nine-month study to help assess trends, identify growth opportunities, and improve infrastructure to help bolster the county’s tourism industry.

“What would get you to want to come here?” Testani asks. That’s what the study aims to find out and then help Commerce Chenango act on those findings.

While the various initiatives might seem separate, they really all work together and involve acting locally, but thinking regionally.

“Our whole mission is to make Chenango County a better place to visit, work, and live,” Testani says.

Hobart and William Smith receives $70 million gift

Education & Training, Nonprofits, Subscriber Only

GENEVA — Hobart and William Smith (HWS) ended 2024 by receiving the largest gift in the college’s history to the tune of $70 million from Trustee Chair Emeritus L. Thomas Melly (Class of 1952), and his wife, Judith Hershey Melly. “It’s a wonderful gift and a phenomenal act of philanthropy and generosity that will really

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“It’s a wonderful gift and a phenomenal act of philanthropy and generosity that will really benefit generations of HWS students,” President Mark D. Gearan tells CNYBJ in an interview.

The gift was finalized last fall in meetings between the Mellys, Gearan, and VP and Senior Philanthropic Advisor Bob O’Connor. Thomas Melly passed away in late December, but Gearan says the college is committed to fulfilling Melly’s vision with the funding, which will support the core priorities of the college’s “Further Together: The Campaign for Our Third Century.”

The biggest portion of the funding will go toward financial aid, Gearan says, because Melly believed that education should be accessible. HWS plans to create an endowed fund that will provide up to 100 scholarships of $10,000 each year.

Along with the belief that education should be accessible, Melly was a supporter of innovation in education. HWS will use a portion the funding to create the Melly Strategic Innovation Fund, which will allow leadership to address immediate needs and drive initiatives that enhance campus culture, professional development, and operational excellence.

The final key initiative the college will use the funding for aligns with expanded academic and co-curricular programs to integrate the values of a liberal arts and sciences education with the skills needed in the working world. One element of that will be establishing the Melly Institute for Business, Innovation, and Leadership.

HWS has seen steadily growing interest in business management and entrepreneurship, so it just makes sense to establish a center that supports those interests, Gearan says.

There is no set timeline for the launch of any of the initiatives, he adds, as the college takes time to make sure all of them are implemented thoughtfully.

For the business center, there is a general framework for things, but HWS is taking the time to determine how to build it out in a way that best serves students and integrates well into the existing campus culture, Gearan says.

“We’re anxious to get going to serve our students,” he adds.

The gift comes at a time when many private institutions have faced financial difficulties, with some — such as The College of St. Rose in Albany, Wells College in Aurora, Cazenovia College — closing their doors in recent years.

Receiving the gift is a privilege, Gearan says. “It allows us to go into this next chapter with confidence.”

Even more rare is receiving such a gift with flexibility in how it is utilized.

“[Melly] encouraged us to think big, so that’s what we’ll be doing,” Gearan says.

Melly graduated from HWS in 1952 with a degree in economics. He was first appointed to the college’s board of trustees in 1981 and led numerous committees and capital campaigns. He also served as board chair for a decade. His contributions earned him the recognition as the college’s only trustee chair emeritus.

Melly’s other philanthropic efforts include funding the Melly Academic Center, the Gearan Center for the Performing Arts, and scholarships. The college awarded him the Alumni Citation, an honorary degree, and the Hobart Medal of Excellence.

Originally founded as two schools — Hobart for men and William Smith for women — Hobart and William Smith today serves 1,798 undergraduate students with 166 full-time faculty.

Woodbine Hospitality buys The Lodge in Skaneateles for $8M

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SKANEATELES — The Lodge, an upscale wedding and events venue in Skaneateles was recently sold to the Woodbine Hospitality Group for $8 million. Woodbine — which owns Tailwater Lodge in Altmar, the Parkview Hotel in downtown Syracuse, as well as the Skaneateles Fields Resort & Spa and Skaneateles Boutique Hotel in Skaneateles — announced in

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Rep. Mannion serves on House Education & Workforce Committee

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Representative John W. Mannion, a Democrat representing New York’s 22nd congressional district (NY-22) in the U.S. House of Representatives, was recently appointed to serve on the House Education and Workforce Committee. He was also appointed to the House Agriculture Committee. These assignments reflect Mannion’s extensive teaching and organized-labor experience and he contends will ensure strong

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Safe Schools Mohawk Valley donates to MVHS cancer center patients

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UTICA — Safe Schools Mohawk Valley recently made a donation of hot-cocoa packets in handmade envelopes decorated with drawings and words of inspiration for patients at the Mohawk Valley Health System (MVHS) Cancer Center. “The MVHS Cancer Center is extremely grateful to the children from Safe Schools Mohawk Valley for thinking of our patients in

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Survey: Hiring managers say AI is top hard skill to have on résumé in 2025

Education & Training, Subscriber Only, Technology

As technology continues to advance and the workplace landscape changes, the skills that employers seek are also evolving. A recent survey of hiring managers by Resume Builder, a provider of professional résumé templates and career advice, found that artificial intelligence (AI) abilities represent the most-important hard skill for job candidates to have on their résumé.

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The survey found hiring managers cited AI abilities such as machine learning and generative AI tools (47 percent), followed by sales and customer relationship management skills using platforms like Salesforce and HubSpot (40 percent) as the top two most sought-after skills.

Skills in data analysis and visualization (39 percent), cloud computing and storage (37 percent), and project-management expertise (37 percent) rounded out the top five hard skills cited in the survey.

“It’s no surprise that AI skills are among the most sought-after by employers today,” Resume Builder’s Chief Career Advisor Stacie Haller, said in the survey report. “Organizations that aim to boost productivity and stay competitive recognize that AI expertise is a key driver in achieving these goals.

“Rather than investing time in training employees from scratch, companies are increasingly looking for candidates who possess AI skills, customer relationship management (CRM) expertise, and data analysis. Employees with these high-demand skills can be onboarded and start contributing meaningfully more quickly, improving business operations and tackling complex challenges.”

Resume Builder said it commissioned polling platform Pollfish to conduct the survey online on its behalf. A total of 1,000 U.S. full-time manager-level employees completed the survey. To qualify for the survey, all participants had to be over the age of 25, have a household income of at least $75,000, have a manager-level role or higher, be employed full-time, and work at a company with more than 11 employees. Respondents also had to indicate via a screening question that they currently are involved in hiring decisions.

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