The State University of New York: Tell Me About SUNY, Please?

[Liz]

I'm trying to choose a distance/online program to earn a degree, and I'm finding more and more respectable schools [as in not the University of Phoenix :rolleyes:] are offering this method. I don't know much at all about SUNY, but the tuition is shockingly reasonable and they offer a wide range of degree programs.

Any former or current students? Heard good or bad things about it? Please share!

[Ace309]

I went to the SUNY center in Buffalo, and I turned out alright. I quite enjoyed it, although I did the standard on-campus bit as opposed to distance learning. I took one web course, though, and that turned out well for me.

Anything more specific I can help with?

[AHunter3]

I'm an alumnus of two different SUNY campuses: I did my undergrad degree at SUNY at Old Westbury (an offbeat lefty 4-year campus, alternative department names & degree titles, some limitations but some stuff you can't get anywhere else) then went on to get an MA/MSW (and to fail to get a PhD) over at SUNY at Stony Brook, a mostly boring grey place with some shining hot spots (not the department I was enclosed in, unfortunately).

Each SUNY campus has its own flavor and culture. Is there a particular one that caught your eye?

[Götterfunken]

I also attended SUNY at Stony Brook (got my MA in Art History and Criticism there). AHunter3's right that the campus is pretty grey and depressing, but that obviously won't be a concern if you're doing online courses. I did enjoy taking the LIRR into Manhattan for quick and easy daytrips, though...

Most of the programs at Stony Brook are high quality--the faculty are typically esteemed and well-published scholars (for instance, it's fun to brag to other art history/crit folks that you've "studied" with Donald Kuspit). So it definitely fits the bill for a "respectable" school.

[RealityChuck]

I got a graduate degree in SUNY Albany (actually, I think the schools are dropping SUNY from their name -- it's now The University at Albany). Great teachers, but an administration bureaucracy that's dumber than slime mold.

[dasgupta]

I went to SUNY College @ Fredonia and SUNY Stony Brook.

Their distance learning programs are outlined a bit here (http://sln.suny.edu/), but I've never used them. It's not like Univ. of Pheonix in that you do get the degree from the specific school you're working through, or so it seems from the site.

However, as a distance learner myself, I can't knock Pheonix.

[ruadh]

I graduated from SUNY Albany. I don't have any complaints about it academically. My professors were all pretty good.

I'd say that distance learning is the best way to experience Albany :)

[Lute Skywatcher]

I have a sister who graduated from SUNY New Paltz.

[Marley23]

I have friends who went to a few different SUNYs and I can pass on some questions if necessary. They're all different schools in different places, so I'm not sure you can learn much by asking about SUNY in general.

[Liz]

Thanks, everyone. :)

Ace309, that's just what I wanted. People's experiences with the school in general and how it worked.

AHunter3, I'm looking at Empire State College, and I'll be doing it all online, so no worries about the hideous campus. ;)

Skopo, thanks! I didn't know anything about SUNY before stumbling across their website and was wondering if they were a legit school, unlike most of the online degree institutions.

RealityChuck, what kind of problems did you have with the admin? The usual "Oh, sorry, we're in so much red tape up to our ass that we forgot you ever existed" type stuff?

dasgupta, I actually looked into going to Phoenix when they were just beginning their big Online College boom. I'm afraid to say I've heard enough negative things about them, and received such shoddy treatment during the application process that they've pretty much scared me away for good. I don't want to run the risk of ending up with a useless diploma, and Phoenix is starting to get that rep. Thanks for your input about SUNY! Are you enjoying the online college thing? I'm actually pretty excited about starting next year.

Thanks, ruadh and Lute! It helps to hear about people who've actually been through it and graduated, instead of the "We graduated 145 billion students last year!" that so many of the online places offer you.

Marley, you're right -- I should have said which branch. Don't know why it didn't occur to me. It's Empire State College (http://www.esc.edu/esconline/online2.nsf/ESChome.html).

Thanks again, all.

[dasgupta]

Thanks, everyone. :)

dasgupta, I actually looked into going to Phoenix when they were just beginning their big Online College boom. I'm afraid to say I've heard enough negative things about them, and received such shoddy treatment during the application process that they've pretty much scared me away for good. I don't want to run the risk of ending up with a useless diploma, and Phoenix is starting to get that rep. Thanks for your input about SUNY! Are you enjoying the online college thing? I'm actually pretty excited about starting next year.

Yeah, I checked out UoP too and wasn't impressed, especially for the price. I did also check out the SUNY online deal, and I couldn't find an appropriate major. I ended up with American College of Computer & Information Sciences. They had my program, gave me a good amount of transferred credit, they're accredited plus I got a good deal per credit.

So far I'm happy with the distance learning thing, except I needed to find three proctors who will receive the final exam via email or UPS, give me the test and mail the exam back. And (of course) no family or friends. They recommend librarians. That's quite a pain in the ass.

Other than that, so far so good! :)

[AHunter3]

I did some courses with Empire State College while I was at SUNY/Old Westbury, and later as a grad student hooked up with an ESC professor to construct the coursework and be the primary liaison for another student's ESC coursework.

ESC is not a "where" (although it has administrative buildings at OW and some other places in NY) but presumably you know that. It's individual study, and can take the form of custom coursework designed between you and your tutor.

Be aware that as an ESC student you can also enroll in and attend individual SUNY courses at any campus for credit towards your degree (assuming you're on a degree path, you didn't say). Or at least you could back when I was a student although I did it the other way around.

[jgroub]

I graduated SUNY Albany in 1987, with a degree in European History. Now I'm an attorney. I enjoyed the school, although the architecture was like Versailles in gray concrete. I thought my professors were pretty good.

SUNY is pretty well respected as far as State schools go. I've heard the SUNY school system described as being among the best state school systems. I've also heard the 4 major SUNY schools (Albany, Buffalo, Binghamton and Stony Brook) as being a notch or two below the Ivy Leagues, but maybe that's just wishful thinking.

[RealityChuck]

RealityChuck, what kind of problems did you have with the admin? The usual "Oh, sorry, we're in so much red tape up to our ass that we forgot you ever existed" type stuff?Now you get me started. Not red tape, but just plain stupid.

Case 1. I was required to get a physical (I was going back as an adult) before the next term. I made an appointment; it was going to be in May, IIRC. Trouble was, I was taking something in the summer term. So I called the registrar and asked when the summer term began. Not the day, only the month.

They didn't know.

Case 2. This was the big one. In order to get my degree, I needed to take a final practical. According to the catalog, I was supposed to arrange this with my advisor, who would give it based on books she suggested. I contacted the departmental office to ask this be set up. The secretary insisted it wasn't done that way. She contacted my advisor and told her that. I kept quoting the catalog about it; she refused to listen. Finally, I asked to talk to the head of the department. It took several phone calls to try to get an answer; I got to the point where I asked the secretary if she was handing in my messages. She said, "No, I'm throwing them out." I immediately replied "I wouldn't put it past you." Later, I got a call from the head of the department. She told me exactly what I had been telling the secretary for days -- that the advisor would arrange for the practical. If you've ever seen I was a Male War Bride, you'll know how I felt.

Case 3. After I graduated, I was never mailed my diploma. Finally I called them up and asked about it. They're answer: "Oh, here it is. Do you want it mailed to you?" No, I spent all that money but really didn't need any proof I graduated. :rolleyes:

Case 4. After I graduated, I was notified that I would have to reapply for admission because I had taken too long (good thing I insisted they mail me the diploma. :rolleyes:

[pseudotriton ruber ruber]

I used to teach at SUNY-Albany in the late 80s. Anything specific I might be able to tell you? A former collegue also used to teach at Empire State--and he was certainly competent and knowledgable, though this is going back a ways. Generally SUNY faculty are as accomplished as, or more accomplished than, many of my current collegues at a respectable private university.

[saramamalana]

Wow I had no idea there were so many other SUNY Stony Brook alumni here! There's Moe, too - that's where I know him from.

SUNY SB has been prettified a bit. They totally redid the academic mall my freshman year (98-99) and now it's very pretty with benches and a fountain and stuff. Also, during my time there they renovated many many dorms and those are really nice quality now. Like I think has been said already, it's a large school so there's a lot of different opportunities for study. Yeah some buildings are old and depressing-looking but it depends on where you end up. Most of my classes were in the union, Staller arts center or the library, and those were fine. I worked in the main library for 2 and a half years while there if anyone was there the same time.

As far as other campuses, my friend went to SUNY New Paltz and left because there was nothing to do in the town. The town of Stony Brook isn't too happening either but Port Jefferson nearby is a nice area.

[Götterfunken]

It's nice to hear they've undertaken some beautificationi projects at Stony Brook. I always thought the campus had some nice open spaces; they just didn't take advantage of them to make them more hospitable. Fountains and benches are always good additions for public spaces.

The town of Stony Brook isn't much of a town--the most impressive attractions that I can remember (I graduated in 96) were a wagon museum, and the old post office which had a wooden eagle whose wings would flap (in a rather unconvincing manner) at the stroke of the hour.

But Port Jeff is really nice. We used to always go to the bars and restaurants up there. It was probably my favorite aspect of the Stony Brook area.

[saramamalana]

Yeah, what Skopo said. SUNY SB is what you call a "suitcase school." Because there's not much to do on weekends other than go to the mall or drink, people go home a lot. I mean some people come from far away, like way upstate (too far to hop home), so they find things to do on the weekends because they don't have a choice. Later in my years there I ended up staying more often because I was involved in shows so I stuck around more. But yeah, weekends that place empties out.

[Götterfunken]

SUNY SB is what you call a "suitcase school." Because there's not much to do on weekends other than go to the mall or drink, people go home a lot.Smithaven Mall! I used to work at a B. Dalton there (I understand the bookstore, like many in its chain, has since closed). And if I wasn't at school or at work, I was indeed usually out drinking with fellow grad students. Ah, good times...

And almost all of my professors lived in Manhattan, and commuted to SB during the week. Very much a "suitcase school," indeed.

[clayton_e]

I'm in my second year at SUNY Plattsburgh. Its a nice campus with really good (as well as some great obscure) majors. I'm a Canadian Studies student (this past wednesday[?] in the NYTimes there was a feature on our major which, IIRC, is not a major in any other college).

Cons: The college is currently in a major $ problem and some classes that they had last year are not on this semester's list. Also, an issue brought up quite often in the college paper, a good portion of my tuition is going to help out other SUNY schools rather than my own.

Overall I'd say the SUNY system is awesome. The professors are great and the class size (at least at my college) is never so large that you feel like you're one in a million.

[VarlosZ]

RealityChuck:
I got a graduate degree in SUNY Albany (actually, I think the schools are dropping SUNY from their name -- it's now The University at Albany). Great teachers, but an administration bureaucracy that's dumber than slime mold.
Wow, the main point I wanted to make was that SUNY Albany's administration was surprisingly helpful and efficient for a large, state-run University. I graduated in 2002; when were you there?

I'm not exactly the most organized person in the world, so I generally had little idea what papers I should be filing to whom, and by what date. If the school's various secretaries and administrators hadn't been so able to fix my problems and explain my solutions on the spot, I'd still be about 30 credits short. In four and a half years of juggling drop/adds, tuition, housing, financial aid, and degree requirements, I never got fucked in the least by the bureaucracy -- rather, they pulled my ass out of the fire on more than one occasion.

In contrast, I once took a single summer course at Columbia University. I spent two years haggling with the registrar over my transcipt before giving up.


For the most part, I liked the school very much (and the price was right). I found Albany to be a depressing place, however, so I generally stuck to the campus.

Fun Fact: Albany's municipal bus service is excellent (and free for SUNY students) -- they cover virtually the entire region, the buses accept dollar bills, and the schedules are surprisingly accurate.

[davenportavenger]

I don't have experience with SUNY, but I am in a distance learning course (offered by a legitimate college, not the U of Phoenix or anything like that), so if you have any questions about those feel free to ask.

[AndyPolley]

Just want to chime in as a Suny SB alum. Also a friend of Moe's.

Not much too add other than a big ol "yep" to what's already been said.

Also, there's a pub outside SUNY Albany named the "Washington Tavern" (Also Called Tee's) and they make a fine Martini. Not terribly relevant, but I have many a fine memory there...[wistfull look] Aaaahhh....[/wistfull look]

[saramamalana]

OH! For anyone that hasn't been back to Stony Brook since 2002 - the bridge from the Union to Staller and the Library is gone! They took it down that summer, and I stopped dead in my tracks the first time I came back to visit. I don't know why they got rid of it, I liked being sheltered from the rain, but oh well.

AndyPolley, have we met, or are you that one housemate I never met? :) (I don't think Moe is still in that house anyway, haven't talked to him in forever, he's maybe in Brooklyn now?)

I will say this about SUNY SB. In my original college search I wanted to go somewhere small. I ended up at SB by default, and I was intimidated by the size of the school. Even though there's many thousands of people, it feels smaller. As is the case with most schools, the more specialized you get into your major (the upper division courses), the more you find you run into the same classmates over and over. You sort of end up on the same track as other people so they'll be in the same electives and requirements. I had people I was with over and over again in 3 departments. Also, I'd find that people I knew in different areas of the school knew each other somehow. Very six degrees.

Also, yes there are some large lecture halls, i.e. the Javits building. At my current school, where a class is rarely larger than 20, people are aghast at the idea of a 700 person hall. However there other rooms in that building that hold around 200 people. At the same time, I had classes there that were only 10-15 people. So large university does not equal all large classes.

[ruadh]

Also, there's a pub outside SUNY Albany named the "Washington Tavern" (Also Called Tee's) and they make a fine Martini. Not terribly relevant, but I have many a fine memory there...[wistfull look] Aaaahhh....[/wistfull look]

Hah. When I was living there WT's (as it was known at the time, not that I ever drank there) got busted for secretly filling all its taps with some cheap domestic pisswater like Milwaukee's Be(a)st.

The best bar in Albany was a place closer to Lark Street/Downtown, I can't remember the name of it (possibly Ricky's or Rico's), run by a five-foot-tall, 100 year old WW1 veteran. I'm sure he's gone by now, bless his soul.

[VarlosZ]

As long as we're reminiscing, I once got thrown out of the Post for talking back to a bouncer. Ahh, I was so young . . . of course, it being the Post, so was everyone else there.

[friedo]

I'm starting some distance-learning classes through Empire State College in January. I get to do the Orientation right now, though. Well, not right now, since I just got up after a triptofan-induced coma and I'm gonna watch TV for a bit. But I'll post all the juicy details later.

[Liz]

Case 3. After I graduated, I was never mailed my diploma. Finally I called them up and asked about it. They're answer: "Oh, here it is. Do you want it mailed to you?"
Nah, why have it mailed to you? You know people will just take your word for it. :rolleyes: Idiots. Anyway, I'm sorry you had such a bad experience with the admin. If it helps at all, every school I've ever been to or applied at has been a mishmash [at best] or a complete clusterfuck [at work] in the admin department. Thanks for giving me a heads up.

dasgupta, thanks for your info. I was wondering how exams and things would work.

Sweet! I can just watch and learn from friedo. Don't be surprised if I start trailing around behind you at the Dope. :D In all seriousness, I'd love to hear about orientation! Sleep off all the turkey and pie first, though.

For you guys [continuity eror, et al] doing distance learning currently [at SUNY or any school], how are you liking the online learning? Are the teachers available when you're confused or having questions? By e-mail? IM? And what about tests? Are they mostly papers or do you have some online testing, as well? Do you have to take any "live" classes [be in a chat room/on a message board/cam] at the same time as everyone else? Or is it all do-it-as-you-please, with the lectures and assignments posted on a message board or something? Did you have to buy actual textbooks? I know the U of Phoenix [:rolleyes:] doesn't use textbooks; instead using e-format for all of the materials.

Er, sorry for asking so many questions.

As for you guys who are talking about the campuses [campusii?] of the various branches... you're starting to make me kind of wistful for the whole "college experience", something I thought I'd never be!

Thanks, everyone, for all of the great answers.

[davenportavenger]

Are the teachers available when you're confused or having questions? By e-mail? IM? I email my writing mentor about every week or so. We've never IMed, but that's because I prefer not to--some of the professors in the program will IM their students. I've always received prompt replies from the professors in the program, they're always available either through the messageboard or e-mail.

And what about tests? Are they mostly papers or do you have some online testing, as well? Can't speak for this part of it, since I'm in a writing program and we don't have tests per se but project requirements. My boyfriend did take an online class last semester (he goes in-person to school most times) and he took a test online--he had to be logged into the server at a certain time, and they logged him out automatically after an hour. I'd imagine that most online tests would be conducted similarly.

Do you have to take any "live" classes [be in a chat room/on a message board/cam] at the same time as everyone else? I physically go to the school twice a year (one week each time) for residency learning. We also (the entire student body--though that's only about 75 people) have monthly chats on the school server, and post on a closed-membership message board.

Or is it all do-it-as-you-please, with the lectures and assignments posted on a message board or something? I can work at my own pace, but I have specific page requirements every semester, which I contract for at the beginning of the semester. This year, I will have not page requirements but a revision requirement (a finished 400-page manuscript); I can work at my own pace but I have a finished goal in mind all the time.

Did you have to buy actual textbooks? Yes, but I am able to make up my own reading plan and choose my own textbooks. We do all have to read the same fiction book every year for in-depth study, but everything else is self-selected. There is a minimum amount of fiction and nonfiction books that have to be read and reported on every semester.