Category Archives: Business News

Desiree Drindak, SUNY Empire State College’s interim director of the award-winning Office of Veteran and Military Education, was appointed president-elect for the New York State Advisory Council on Military Education.

“Serving as a leader of the New York State Advisory Council on Military Education is a great honor,” said Drindak. “New York state veteran and military students, and their dependents, have done so much for our nation and they deserve to be represented in statewide discussions on higher education.”

The advisory council focuses on three areas:

• Evaluating and restructuring policies related to acceptance and transfer of credit for veterans, military students and their adult family members.

• Enhancing the educational aspirations of the military populations in the state.

• Making educational programs accessible in cost, location and scheduling.

Unemployment insurance reforms started in 2013 have resulted in additional savings for New York state employers in terms of their contributions, according to Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

Employers have already saved an estimated $200 million through the early repayment of federal debt with each saving, on average, an estimated total of $1,200 or $84 per employee, according to Cuomo. As a result, the unemployment insurance contribution rate schedules have been adjusted downward, further reducing costs and saving employers up to an additional $42.80 per employee.

Additionally, the state Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund, which pays out benefits to claimants and is funded by employer contributions, ended the year with a positive balance for the first time in six years.

“Our commitment to reducing the cost of doing business in New York is paying dividends in growing our economy,” said Cuomo. “The unemployment insurance reforms we put in place in 2013, coupled with record jobs growth and controlled government spending have resulted in year-over-year savings to businesses. Now, New York businesses can reinvest these savings into their operations and employees, further strengthening our economy.”

Unemployment Insurance contribution rates paid by employers are determined by their individual experience in the system and by the level of reserves in the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund. Over the past five years, employers paid higher contribution rates because the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund’s deficit and the Great Recession’s high unemployment rates, state officials said.

Now that reforms have made the fund more sustainable, employers whose use of the system has been consistent in recent years will be assigned a lower rate.

SUNY Empire State College was awarded
$400,000 to develop a Bachelor of Science degree
program in health science, a new program that
will contribute to achieving SUNY’s system-wide
completion agenda of awarding 150,000 degrees
each year by 2020, officials said.

Modeled after the college’s successful RN-to -B.S.
in Nursing program, SUNY Empire’s new bachelor’s
degree will provide a clear, direct and efficient path
for radiologic technicians, emergency medical technicians,
dental hygienists, physical therapy assistants
and many others who have earned an associate and
want to complete their bachelor’s degree, according
to the college.

“The B.S. in health science is the latest example
of SUNY Empire’s dedicated faculty and staff using
innovative, alternative and flexible approaches
to higher education that transform people and
communities through rigorous programs that connect
individuals’ unique and diverse lives to their
personal learning goals,” said Associate Professor
Kim Stote, who was a member of the team that developed
the successful proposal. “The B.S. in health
science is designed to promote seamless academic
progression for students moving from the associate
to completion of a bachelor’s degree.”

Graduates of this program can become directcare
providers, managers, educators or individuals
focused on state-population health issues.

The Saratoga Builders Association Inc. announced
its continued monetary commitment to
education with the awarding of a $1,000 student
scholarship in 2016.

The organization makes this scholarship
available annually to high school seniors who are
planning to pursue a construction industry education
at a two- or four-year accredited college
or university or to students who would like to
purchase tools for employment in construction.

The association said students must have a
GPA of 3.0 or higher to be eligible. They must
also demonstrate current or past involvement
in the construction field, including classes taken
in high school. Each applicant must also submit
a high school transcript or list of construction
classes taken, plus a short essay describing why
they are interested in a construction industry
career and what events led to this decision.

Applications for the scholarship program
must be postmarked on or before April 1. Only
the first 25 completed applications will be accepted.
The winner and their school will be
notified by June 1.

The New York State Brewers Association
(NYSBA) launched its Draft Beer Quality Certification
Program, the first of its kind in the
U.S. for a state brewers association, intended
to help retailers consistently pour great beer
and preserve profits through industry-accepted
best practices.

The program “could be the best thing to happen
to craft beer in New York state,” said David
Katleski, owner of Empire Brewing Co. and
NYSBA president. “NYSBA will work closely with
retailers to help ensure that their draft beer systems
are cleaned and maintained in accordance
with the association guidelines.”

He said poor draft line maintenance is the
number one factor affecting the quality of draft
beer. Over time, deposits such as yeast and bacteria
begin to build up in draft lines. Without
proper cleaning these deposits can affect beer
flavor and the system’s ability to pour properly.
Not to mention, dirty draft lines are extremely
unsanitary for consumers.

When draft lines are cleaned properly, using
the right equipment and chemicals, it prevents
the build up of deposits and eliminates the flavor
changing microbes, Katleski said. Industry
experts say draft beer lines should be properly
cleaned every two weeks.