SUNY Operation Inform Brings Guidance Counselors to Campus
125 guidance directors, school counselors, and college advisors from 72 school districts throughout New York State and representatives from 38 SUNY institutions were on campus on Oct. 15 as part of SUNY’s Fall 2026 Operation Information. SUNY Schenectady was selected as one of only five SUNY campuses to host this annual professional development opportunity where school counselors learn more about SUNY initiatives.
Performing Arts: Music major Lexi Thayer performed a song from The Phantom of the Opera to open up the event. Throughout the day, high school staff were able to attend workshops on SUNY initiatives, learn more about SUNY Schenectady programs, and network with representatives from other SUNY schools. They attended workshops about advising students, the advantages of a SUNY education, college majors within the SUNY system, financial aid toolkits for students and their families, universal guaranteed admission for high school seniors, the student journey from College in the High School through enrollment at SUNY Schenectady, and Aviation/Air Traffic Control degree programs at SUNY Schenectady while touring the simulator lab.
Director of Admissions and Matriculated Enrollment Mary Silvestri said, “School counselors are among the most influential partners in helping students explore their college options and achieve their educational goals. We were honored to host OpInform and welcome counseling professionals to SUNY Schenectady to learn more about the opportunities available through SUNY, while also highlighting the programs, resources, and supports that help our students succeed and make SUNY Schenectady a great community college.”
Five Questions With…Christina Charette, Student Activities Advisor
Christina Charette brings people together. Whether she’s organizing the recent Harvest Fest in the Quad or overseeing Student Government Association meetings, Christina specializes in creating fun and engaging opportunities for students and making sure that they feel like their voices are heard.
What path led you to getting involved with student life at the college level?
I started in Early Childhood Education. I taught K-12 Physical Education and Health. I have also coached at the middle school and high school or college level for either football, girls basketball, softball, and lacrosse. I got involved in student life as an instructor of Physical Education and Health Education at another community college. I started a wellness institute through community education. That branched off into my own business where I would travel to colleges all over New York State and put on team building and personal development sessions and courses for new student orientations, college programs, and staff development days. That’s where it all started as far as extracurricular student life.
Student life on campus is wonderful, from Harvest Fest to having food trucks pull up on campus for giveaways. What’s your secret to organizing so many great things for students?
It’s my belief system that connection is at the heart of what makes all humans thrive and so I think creating something that’s inclusive for everyone is a celebration of life and joy. At the heart of it all is the idea that everyone can connect and that’s what keeps us united. It brings us together and helps us celebrate what it means to be human. My philosophy in teaching was always to keep it real, keep it simple, keep it fun, and have it connect to real life.
What does student life bring to the college experience?
I believe that student life brings a sense of belonging, connection, and engagement to the college experience. When we look at the overall well-being of an individual, having meaningful connections and feeling part of a community are essential. Student life provides opportunities for students to build relationships, explore their interests, develop leadership skills, and find their place on campus. I believe that when students feel a sense of belonging, they are more likely to stay engaged, feel supported, and remain connected to their educational goals. Ultimately, student life helps make college about more than earning a degree; it creates a community where students can grow, thrive, and feel that they are part of something meaningful.
You have a great group of student leaders in the Student Government Association (SGA) this semester. What are some plans for this year?
It’s always exciting for me having a new SGA each semester. New students bring something amazing to the experience of advising them. They want to bring different things to the College. This group has different ideas than the students who were in SGA before them. They will build on what past SGA members have done and bring a new voice. SGA leaders are listening to students and bringing those initiatives or concerns to the Board of Trustees and to the President. This semester SGA leaders want to be more involved in recruitment and retention as ambassadors out in the community.
We have 11 students going to the SUNY Student Assembly Conference in Syracuse from Nov. 20 to Nov. 22. They are going to be meeting with other SUNY student leaders and getting a broader picture of SUNY’s mission and ideas about what other SUNY schools are doing. Also, they will attend personal development workshops and bring back skills to be able to engage differently in the classroom and in terms of how they lead.
Want to plug upcoming events?
We have a very large Diwali celebration happening on Nov. 9. We are going to bring back the International Gala in April and we will have lots of other things in between!
Faculty co-host Dr. Babette Faehmel, student co-host Warren Baynes, students Neha Khani, Jenna Barker, Angel Parker, Rodney Dukes, and student co-host Patrick Truax during a recent taping of the Many Voices, One Call podcast. (Not pictured: student Lonny Davenport)
New Podcast Episode Out Now: From Hidden Gems to Bad Apples, Students Spill the Tea
SUNY Schenectady’s declared mission and vision states that we are “driven to empower every student in their pursuit of lifelong success,” through “equitable practices, innovative education, and community engagement.” Podcast co-hosts wanted to know: How are we doing? Are we living up to our ambitious goals? Where do we meet our students’ needs? Where are we sometimes letting them down?
To help answer these important questions, co-hosts Warren Baynes, Patrick Truax, and faculty host Babette Faehmel invited students to join the discussion for the latest episode of the Many Voices, One Call podcast. Students shared what they see as the College’s greatest assets and where we still have room to grow.
Open House Is Coming Up
The College will welcome prospective students, their families, and friends to campus for Open House on Nov. 7 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Open House is always an exciting time when attendees can meet current students, faculty, and staff and learn more about our degrees, certificates, microcrendentials and the many supports we offer to help them achieve their goals. In addition to tours of campus and informations sessions, guests will have the opportunity to enjoy signature experiences like our flight and air traffic control simulators, food truck, mobile classroom, student musical performances, and eSports arena. Please spread the word that everyone is invited to Open House to learn more about SUNY Schenectady!
Celebrating Autumn During Harvest Fest
A fun Harvest Fest featured cider donuts, Maple Bros. popcorn, caricatures by artist Mark Brennan, giveaways, pumpkin decorating, Meg-A-Bites food truck, and Afro-Cuban drumming by Jordan Taylor Hill. Organized by Student Activities, this annual tradition brought together students, faculty, and staff to enjoy the mild Autumn weather and one another’s company out in The Quad.
Welcome New Americans Research Guide Available
The Begley Library’s Welcome New Americans Research Guide serves as an educational and support resource for students, faculty, and staff. The guide is non-partisan and features a curated collection of reliable information on immigration, including:
- Official federal and state governmental resources, such as the NYS Office for New Americans
- SUNY resources
- SUNY Schenectady's campus support services
- Community and non-profit organization links
Whether you're researching a topic, looking for guidance, or helping others find information, this research guide is intended to be a useful resource for our campus community.
Events
Find out what’s happening around campus! Visit our events calendar.