Starting the week of November 14th , SUNY Old Westbury will be kicking off Commuter Appreciation Week, an entirely new program for Old Westbury students. Commuter appreciation week will be held once a semester with a full week of seminars, lunches, and events designed toward the “commuter student in making them more informed travelers, students, and people. The Director of Commuter Programs and Services Veronica Gerosimo, who began her job this semester, started the program to provide synergy between the resident and commuter populations, “to let the commuter student know we care,” and also as an incentive to get all students involved. The overall goal of commuter appreciation week is to increase knowledge and pride within the university.
The director’s office has jump started the events with a host of great incentives for the festivities which includes a Commuter Reward Card, where with 10 “punches” you become eligible to win $200 for transportation to SUNY Old Westbury. Student feedback about the events has been spectacular. Melissa Marinovich, a senior Media and Communications major and a commuter, said, “With Old Westbury having such a vast and diverse student population, it’s good to see the administration cater to the entire student body.”
Fulfilling the true college experience, many of the events center on fun and social involvement, this includes the food eating contest, the kickball game and a video game tournament. “We envision some great good natured battles between the commuters and residents,” Gerosimo said. Events have also been planned for the evening commuter student; Wednesday evening movie night and the Friday evening Women’s basketball game will keep them in the loop as well. In addition to the fun events, a self-defense class, a commuter town-hall meeting, and an ever important career counseling and resume refresher is also being provided.
Since more than half of the total student population at SUNY Old Westbury are commuters, one of the initiatives the director’s office has taken was to create a Facebook group giving weekly updates of the school’s functions and activities to keep the commuter student advised. But communication will have to be reciprocal, having student input will be vital to success, Gerosimo noted.
Being a student commuter herself, Veronica, she is currently pursuing her Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership at Hofstra University. As a communications graduate from Hofstra, Gerosimo has worked as a public relations liaison for Lincoln Center. Having “a passion for higher education and working with students, I implemented a program that incorporated students with Jazz at Lincoln Center.”
Groups such as the Commuter Programs and Services Committee and the Commuter Advisory Board will also be instrumental in adjusting policy for the betterment of all commuters.