SUNY Potsdam, FLCC sign environmental education transfer agreement

Students who complete one of three FLCC associate degrees can now transfer seamlessly to a related bachelor's degree at SUNY Potsdam.

FLCC and SUNY Potsdam have announced a new articulation agreement that streamlines the path to environmental careers.

The partnership allows students to transition from earning their associate degrees at FLCC to completing their bachelor’s degrees at Potsdam.

To mark the new agreement, a group of FLCC students and faculty traveled to the SUNY Potsdam campus on Tuesday, Oct. 21, to meet with their counterparts in the environmental programs. Tuesday was Laker Day at FLCC, a longtime tradition where faculty and students get outside the classroom for career exploration, enrichment and community activities.

Brechante Jolivain, an FLCC student from Geneva, explores the WISER Greenhouse during a visit to SUNY Potsdam on Tuesday, Oct. 21. Photo by Jason Hunter/SUNY Potsdam By matching coursework between SUNY Potsdam and FLCC, the agreement guarantees that college credits completed at Finger Lakes will be accepted at Potsdam. This helps students stay on a direct path to a four-year degree without earning surplus credits unrelated to their program of study.

“This partnership reflects our shared commitment to preparing the next generation of environmental leaders. Together, we’re creating a clear and affordable path for students who want to make a difference in the world — allowing them to study and conduct fieldwork in two of the most beautiful corners of New York state along the way,” said SUNY Potsdam President Suzanne R. Smith.

Under the new pathway, FLCC students completing associate degrees in environmental science, fish and wildlife technology, or natural resources conservation can receive guaranteed admission to SUNY Potsdam’s Bachelor of Science program in Environmental Science or the Bachelor of Arts program in Environment and Sustainability.

The partnership is designed so that students can complete the remaining coursework for their bachelor’s degrees within two years, with dedicated advising to ensure continuity.

“Some of our best alumni completed this path, and it will really benefit future students to have this formal arrangement established. Their foundation at FLCC truly prepares them to expand their hands-on work at SUNY Potsdam,” said Jess Pearson, chair of the Department of Environment and Sustainability.

“SUNY Potsdam provides another favorable transfer option for our students within the SUNY system and a clear path to a bachelor’s degree in a growing field,” said John Foust, chair of the FLCC Department of Environmental Conservation and Horticulture.

SUNY Potsdam’s bachelor’s in environmental science is an interdisciplinary major that gives students the knowledge and skills to understand the complex interactions among the biological, chemical and physical aspects of the natural world. The curriculum equips students with interdisciplinary tools to address today’s most urgent environmental challenges, combining cross-training on Earth’s major systems with the policy knowledge needed to solve real-world problems.

The environment and sustainability major is also interdisciplinary and prepares future environmental leaders. The bachelor of arts curriculum emphasizes four aspects of environmental knowledge: humanities, social sciences, natural sciences and hands-on skills. It provides students with an understanding of human attitudes and behaviors toward nature, grounded in science to help them shape effective environmental policy and practice.

Both baccalaureate programs take advantage of SUNY Potsdam’s location, offering outdoor classes, field trips and hands-on research projects — from the nearby shores of the Raquette River to the heights of the Adirondack High Peaks. Faculty are dedicated to applied learning, working directly with students on field experiences, internships and research.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, environmental-related occupations are projected to increase by 4 to 6 percent over the next 10 years. Graduates are prepared for careers in:

• Environmental science
• Conservation and geoscience
• Nonprofit environmental leadership
• Graduate studies in related fields