Paul Smith's to bring bachelor's degree program to Onondaga Community College

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (12/05/2012)(readMedia)-- Students at Onondaga Community College will be able to work toward bachelor's degrees from Paul Smith's starting this fall, as part of an agreement signed between the two colleges today.

The partnership expands Paul Smith's Accelerated Career Experience program to Onondaga. It is the third campus to participate in the ACE program.

The program gives students who graduate from Onondaga's hospitality management program the opportunity to earn a bachelor's degree from Paul Smith's while attending classes at the Regional Higher Education Center on the Onondaga campus. Paul Smith's joins four other institutions in offering classes at the center.

Dr. Richard Nelson, Paul Smith's provost, and Onondaga Interim President Margaret M. "Meg" O'Connell signed the agreement in the kitchen that Onondaga students use as their classroom.

This accelerated degree program will combine on-campus and online learning to afford students the ability to complete a bachelor's degree in hotel, resort and tourism management within five semesters.

"I'm thrilled that Onondaga is our newest partner in the Accelerated Career Experience program," said Dr. John W. Mills, president of Paul Smith's College. "The ACE curriculum is a great fit for students who are eager to put the Paul Smith's experience to work for them, but aren't able to relocate to the Adirondacks to complete their studies. At Paul Smith's, we're committed to making higher education accessible to people in all walks of life. ACE is just another example how we make that happen."

In addition to Onondaga, Paul Smith's also offers the ACE program at SUNY Adirondack and Finger Lakes Community College. The FLCC program has been operating the longest, since 2009.

"We are excited to partner with Paul Smith's in order to provide our students with a seamless transition from an associate's degree to a baccalaureate degree," said O'Connell. "There is a need in the community for workers with these skills. We're honored to work with Paul Smith's and provide solutions." A Department of Labor study estimates the Central New York hospitality industry will grow by 14 percent over the next 10 years.

For more information about Paul Smith's College, visit www.paulsmiths.edu. For more information about Onondaga Community College, visit www.sunyocc.edu.

Onondaga Media Contact: Roger Mirabito, (315) 498-2054 (office), (315) 420-7496 (cell), r.h.mirabito@sunyocc.edu

###

About Paul Smith's College

At Paul Smith's College, it's about the experience. Our programs, in fields including hospitality, culinary arts, forestry, natural resources, entrepreneurship and the sciences, draw on industries and resources available in our own backyard while preparing students for successful careers anywhere.

About Onondaga Community College

From humble beginnings at Midtown Plaza a half century ago, to the bustling 280-acre campus atop Onondaga Hill, Onondaga Community College – the community's college - remains dedicated to serving the needs of students. Onondaga is the second-largest undergraduate institution in Central New York and is a two-year college operating under the State University of New York (SUNY). A 2010 "Model of Efficiency" honoree by University Business magazine, Onondaga offers nearly 50 programs of study, bachelor and master's degrees available on campus through a regional higher education center, and more than 80 transfer agreements with four-year colleges and universities. The College is home to the six-time NJCAA national champion men's lacrosse team and the two-time NJCAA national champion women's lacrosse team. Both won the national title in 2012. Onondaga has 15 intercollegiate men's and women's athletic teams.