Bulletin Board
Announcements . . .
What's new at OAR and CIU!
- In spring 2021, Dave Sanders became OAR’s new Executive Director. He hit the ground running and has already infused CIU with his energy and vision.
- Sherron Brown is OAR’s first Deputy Director. Her position will include managing College Initiative Upstate. Sherron and Benay will work as a team during the Fall 2022 semester, with Benay coordinating CIU’s College Prep sessions.
- Expanded eligibility for CIU services – in addition to court involvement (current or past) and former incarceration, CIU has expanded eligibility to include:
- people with low income (including section 8)
- people in a stable place in their recovery.
Student Information
- TC3 Classes begin, Monday, August 29th
- Textbooks for Fall 2022! All Students - please call for an appointment to order your textbooks beginning Monday, July 25th. CIU’s office will be open (10 am – 2 pm) for students to order textbooks for Fall 2022. Orders will be taken IN-PERSON only. Call Sherron at 607-351-3201 or Benay at 607-351-5028 for more information.
College Prep Registration is now open!
College Prep is a FREE six-week Program for new and returning college students
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- Reading/Writing/Math/Computer Skills and more!
- Classes held Monday -Thursday Mornings: 10 am-12 noon
- Location: TC3 Extension Center on the Ithaca Commons Room 501
- Requirements: HS Diploma or GED & strong interest in pursuing college.
- Students who successfully complete College Prep will receive a Chromebook
See what Jodi Anderson and our other featured students have been up to!
Congratulations CIU Graduates!
Summer 2022
Jodi Anderson, Masters in Education
Stanford University
Nadie Phoenix, Masters in Social Work
Temple University
Spring 2022
Courtney Foster, A.S. General Studies
Tompkins Cortland Community College
State University of New York
Mike James, A.A.S Environmental Studies
Phi Theta Kappa, With High Honor
Tompkins Cortland Community College
State University of New York
Accepted to Cornell University for Fall 2022
Andrew Theusan, A.A.S. Paralegal
Phi Theta Kappa, With High Honor,
National Society of Leadership and Success
Tompkins Cortland Community College,
State University of New York
Accepted to SUNY Binghamton for Fall 2022
Verne Westhoven, A.A. Business Administration
Tompkins Cortland Community College,
State University of New York
Fall 2021
Daniele Drake, A.A.S. Chemical Dependency Counseling
Tompkins Cortland Community College
State University of New York
Samantha Gentz, A.S.D. Human Services,
Tompkins Cortland Community College
State University of New York
College Initiative Upstate creates pathways to and through college for people living in Tompkins County with barriers to higher education including: court involvement, former incarceration, low-income and people at a stable place in recovery.
College Initiative Upstate (CIU) is a learning community of students, educators, and volunteers who are working together to build pathways to and through college for people who are court-involved or formerly incarcerated, people in a stable place in their recovery, or low-income (including housing choice voucher recipients). CIU’s model provides the resources for college preparation, college enrollment, and community leadership – all free of charge. The only requirements are a high school diploma or equivalency, residency in Tompkins County, and a strong desire to continue their educational goals. By effectively addressing the individual and structural barriers to higher education, including the gap in preparation for college, CIU offers a life-changing path for non-traditional students experiencing issues related to legal involvement, poverty, and recovery.
This button will direct you to our contact page to send us an inquiry. This is the first step to getting involved with CIU.
CIU's office is located at the TC3 Extension Center, Room 501
Above the M&T Bank Building on the Ithaca Commons
Office Hours at TC3 Extension: M - Thurs. 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Meet the CIU Staff
Sherron Brown: sbrown.oar.ciu@gmail.com, (607) 351-3201
Benay Rubenstein: benay.rubenstein@gmail.com, (607) 351-5028