New York Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado visited Oneonta Monday, April 29, to help formally open a new downtown location of SUNY Oneonta’s Extended and Community Learning Center.
The new off-campus location on lower Dietz Street was conceived as a local destination for high school students looking to get a head-start on college courses, community members who want to get training for a new career or new drivers seeking the five hour pre-licensing course.
The ExCL Center also offers trainings for career paths in key local industries to fill vacancies through partnerships with Bassett Healthcare Network, Springbrook, Pathfinder Village, ARC Otsego and ONC BOCES.
Delgado — who represented the 19th U.S. Congressional District from 2019 to 2022 before Gov. Kathy Hochul tapped him to serve as lieutenant governor — joined SUNY Oneonta President Alberto Cardelle, other state elected officials and local leaders Monday.
Delgado said he met with students at SUNY Oneonta and Hartwick College earlier in the day to get a sense of how to continue to cultivate their desire to connect with and give back to the community.
“They’re looking for ways to make those connections,” he said, “and looking for ways to build those bridges. It’s incumbent upon us as leaders to offer those pathways, and to build those spaces where those opportunities can present themselves.”
New York state and SUNY awarded more than $450,000 to SUNY Oneonta for the formation of the ExCL Center.
“This center represents our university’s continuous growth,” Cardelle said, “and our commitment to providing high quality and accessible pathway to higher education to all students, including those that are looking to begin that journey and looking as an entry point into our workforce.”
Incoming ExCL Center Director Misty Fields, who will start work Friday as departing director Michelle Thibault retires, brings more than 20 years of experience in higher education as the former director of Continuing Education and Workforce Development at SUNY Delhi.
“The opening of the ExCL Center marks a significant milestone for the university in fostering community engagement,” Fields said in a statement. “The center looks to develop comprehensive, collaborative approaches to community development and partnerships to address various educational needs within the local and regional areas, as well as foster workforce training initiatives, economic growth and career development.”
The downtown ExCL Center hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. The on-campus location is open 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday.